US lawmaker warns India FCRA changes could strain bilateral ties

US Congressman Riley Moore has objected to proposed changes in India's FCRA law. He says the bill could enable state control of churches and affect India-US ties.Stock photo used for illustrationA US lawmaker has raised concern over proposed amendments to India’s foreign donations law, saying the changes could affect bilateral ties. US Congressman Riley Moore said the amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act would allow the Indian government to take over churches and religious charities, and called it a “clear attack against Christians”.Moore, a Republican from West Virginia, made the remarks on Tuesday as India’s Parliament considers changes to the law that governs foreign donations received by NGOs, trusts, educational institutions and religious organisations. He said the proposed bill would be “a point of major concern” in ties between the two countries if it moved ahead in its present form.In a post on X, Moore said, “Christians have been in India since St Thomas the Apostle travelled to the Malabar Coast just decades after the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. But despite this long Christian history, India’s Parliament is considering amending Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment (FCRA) rules to permit government takeovers of churches and religious charities.”He added, “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.” The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 seeks to empower the government to create a “Designated Authority” to take over the management of foreign contributions and assets created using foreign contributions when an organisation’s FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered or ceases because it is not renewed.The bill also says that in cases where such assets are a place of worship, the Authority must ensure that their religious character is maintained. It also proposes to reduce the maximum penalty for violation of the Act from imprisonment of five years to one year. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, 13,520 organisations received Rs 55,741 crore in foreign contributions between 2019 and 2022. The FCRA portal shows that as of July 15, 2026, there were 14,449 active FCRA certificates, while 22,498 had been cancelled and 15,212 were deemed expired.The proposed changes to the FCRA have drawn criticism from Moore, who says they could allow government control over churches and religious charities, while the bill sets out provisions for management of foreign-funded assets and retention of the religious character of places of worship.With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 5, 2026 10:08 IST