Home ministry briefs JPC on FCRA amendments, says only 8% of foreign funds go to religious purposes

New Delhi: The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), "at its core a national security legislation", is being amended to address internal security concerns, legal and operational gaps, and to strengthen transparency, home ministry officials told a parliamentary panel, where protests against projects such as the Kudankulam nuclear plant in Tamil Nadu and Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat also came up for discussion.

Home secretary Govind Mohan and senior home ministry officials briefed the joint parliamentary committee examining the FCRA (Amendment) Bill, 2026, chaired by BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal. The first meeting of the panel lasted more than three hours.

The ministry said the number of FCRA-registered NGOs has nearly halved over the past decade, even as foreign contributions rose from ₹17,832 crore to ₹22,974 crore.


Also read: FCRA registered NGOs down by half in last 10 years; contribution rises from Rs 17832 cr to Rs 22974 cr

Of the ₹22,974 crore received in 2024-25, ₹12,113 crore, or about 53%, came from the US, followed by the UK at ₹2,414 crore, or 10.5%. Germany, Switzerland and Singapore were among the other major sources.

Purpose-wise, 57%, or about ₹13,071 crore, went towards social activities, 30%, or ₹6,933 crore, towards education and 8%, or ₹1,841 crore, towards religious purposes.

Of the religious purpose contribution, 73.05% went to Christian bodies and 17.81% to Hindu organisations, while just over 1% went to Muslim organisations, according to data shared with the panel.

Officials stressed that the proposed legislation was not against any community or group, but sought to address concerns relating to internal security, law and order and the national interest.

The Union home ministry's background note said administration of the existing FCRA had revealed legal and operational gaps, resulting in administrative uncertainty, inconsistent practices and avoidable litigation. The proposed bill seeks greater legal clarity, transparency, proportionality and effective enforcement.

During the meeting, Jaiswal raised protests against the Kudankulam nuclear plant and Sardar Sarovar Dam, asking whether the projects ultimately proved beneficial. He noted that the nuclear plant faced protests during a Congress dispensation, while the dam faced protests during a BJP dispensation.

BJP member Nishikant Dubey raised questions about the Ford Foundation.