PRESS RELEASE - FCRA 2026

FCRA 2026: Regulation or Control?

Archdiocese of Bombay calls for withdrawal of proposed Amendment Bill

Mumbai, August 10, 2026

The Archdiocese of Bombay has expressed serious concern over the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 and the amended FCRA Rules, warning that the new framework risks moving beyond legitimate regulation towards excessive State control over charitable, educational and religious institutions.

The Archdiocese accepts the need to regulate foreign contributions and safeguard national interest. However, regulation must be based on demonstrable violations, due process and proportionate enforcement—not a presumption of mistrust towards civil society.

The most serious concern is the proposed plan to place foreign-funded assets under the custody and management of a Designated Authority, with provisions for their eventual disposal or transfer when an organisation’s FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered or not renewed. This could put schools, hospitals, buildings and other infrastructure created through foreign contributions at risk and represents an extraordinary concentration of State power.

The proposed purpose-specific and geographical restrictions also merit reconsideration. Charitable institutions often respond to complex social needs through an integrated mission involving education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, community development and humanitarian assistance. Such work cannot always be confined to narrowly defined purposes or geographical boundaries.

The Archdiocese further calls for greater procedural fairness and transparency in FCRA registration and renewal decisions, including clear reasons for adverse decisions and a meaningful opportunity to respond. Compliance requirements must promote accountability without becoming so burdensome that they discourage legitimate civil-society work.

The Archdiocese is also concerned about the increasing centralisation of regulatory authority without adequate consultation with stakeholders. Charitable and faith-based institutions have long been partners in nation-building, particularly in serving poor, vulnerable and marginalised communities.

The Archdiocese of Bombay therefore calls for the withdrawal of the FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026 and a comprehensive review of the amended Rules, particularly provisions relating to the vesting and disposal of foreign-funded assets and restrictions on the purposes and geographical areas of charitable activity.

National interest and institutional autonomy can and must coexist. The objective should be to prevent misuse of foreign contributions—not to undermine institutions that use them to serve society.

Archdiocese of Bombay