India halts passage of bill targeting Christian nonprofits
Christianity Today
August 13, 2026
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Sajjad Hussain / Contributor / Getty
Amid sustained pressure by Christian groups, the Indian government decided not to bring before Parliament a controversial bill that would have led to Christian organizations losing their properties.
Instead, the Hindu nationalist government referred the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment (FCRA) Bill, 2026, to a committee of lawmakers to examine the concerns raised by Christian organizations. With the proposed law on hold, church leaders now have an opportunity to present their objections before a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) to suggest changes to the existing bill.
Welcoming the move, church bodies thanked the government for listening to the Christian community.
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“Legislation with consequences of this nature deserves careful examination, meaningful consultation and the fullest parliamentary scrutiny,” said Vijayesh Lal, general secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India, in a press statement.
In the face of a smear campaign by Hindu nationalist groups that linked foreign funds to Christian conversions in India, Christians across denominations came together to oppose the bill, which amends the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA). If enacted, it would give the government sweeping powers to permanently take control over properties owned by churches—including Christian schools, hospitals, hostels, and community centers—alleging they misused foreign donations.
Since the beginning of August, Christian groups have held consultations and appealed to the government to withdraw the proposed law. Chief ministers of the Christian-majority states of Mizoram, Nagaland, and Meghalaya urged the federal government to rethink the decision and address the concerns Christians have about the law.
The southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, which has a sizeable Christian community, passed a resolution in its legislative assembly that the upcoming law be scrapped. In the northeastern city of Aizawl in Mizoram, hundreds of believers protested with placards and slogans. Across social media platforms, Christian leaders countered allegations that efforts to scuttle the enactment of FCRA stemmed from the “conversion lobby.”
US congressman Riley Moore of West Virginia also stated his opposition to the law, alleging that it would permit the Indian government to take over churches and religious charities. “This is a clear attack against Christians. If this bill proceeds in this way, it would be a point of major concern in our bilateral relationship with India,” he said.
The Indian government enacted FCRA in 1976, mandating that nonprofits acquire a government license to receive foreign donations. The stated objective of the law was to regulate overseas funds in India, as well as to prevent foreign interference in domestic politics. The law has since undergone multiple amendments, with each strengthening the oversight mechanism, increasing the compliance burden, and deepening administrative scrutiny on charities.
Over the last decade, authorities have canceled or refused to renew licenses for more than 20,000 charities, blocking their access to funds from abroad. That includes more than 10,000 Christian organizations, including the Evangelical Fellowship of India, Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action, World Vision India, and Compassion International.
In India, church-run charities have long played a vital role in providing education, health care, and jobs to communities living in remote areas and to those cut off from the government welfare systems. However, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its Hindu nationalist supporters have accused Christian groups of using donations to carry out conversions. In response to Christian communities’ objections over such claims, a federal minister said the FCRA changes are “dangerous” only for those who engage in forced religious conversion using foreign contributions.
After years of the government canceling and suspending FCRA licenses because of procedural lapses, tax filing errors, and allegations of “anti-national” activity, Archbishop Joseph D’souza, president of All India Christian Council, told The Wire the proposed latest changes are the culmination of a larger conspiracy “by stealth … to grab … Christian institutions of the nation.”
Provisions under the latest bill empower the government to seize the properties and assets of charities that does not possess an FCRA license. The government is free either to transfer such properties to one of its departments or to sell them in the open market. Organizations cannot challenge the decision in the courts.
For years, Christian organization have created self-sustaining models by mortgaging or renting their premises, as accessing funds from abroad became difficult. With the seizure of properties, many charities would likely be forced to shut down. Many have already significantly scaled down their operations.
M. G. Devasahayam, coordinator of Citizens’ Commission on Elections, believes the BJP is targeting the “microscopic minority” Christian community for “punching far above its weight” in providing welfare to people on the margins. He also noted the government could be transferring the seized properties to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh—the ideological parent of BJP that believes in Hindu supremacy.
Devasahayam wrote that BJP leaders “feel that by seizing and breaking their institutions, it can crush Christians and reduce them to second [rate] citizens.”
Beyond Christians’ initial jubilation over the government’s decision to put the bill on hold, they still worry the government will go ahead and enact it as law. While the parliamentary committee can capture grievances against the proposed legislation, its recommendations are only advisory. Analysts point out that the government is likely to bring the bill back to Parliament in November during the winter session.
“JPC is a delaying tactic,” D’souza told Christianity Today. “Our campaign will not stop until the bill is completely withdrawn and buried.”
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