The contentious Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, is set to be taken up for discussion and passage in Parliament on August 12, with the Centre assuring that the proposed legislation will not be implemented retrospectively. The assurance came from Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a meeting with Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma and a delegation of church leaders, amid continued efforts by the government to break the ongoing Parliament deadlock and secure support for key legislative proposals.
Lalduhoma, accompanied by representatives of the Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitu Committee (MKHC) and the Council of Churches in Mizoram (CCM), met the Home Minister to express concerns over provisions in the Bill that would tighten oversight of foreign-funded organisations. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the Chief Minister said Amit Shah assured the delegation that the proposed law would only apply prospectively and would not affect organisations for actions taken before the law comes into force.
The Chief Minister also said the Home Minister informed the delegation that the Bill would be debated in Parliament on August 12. The proposed legislation was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25.
In a memorandum submitted to the Home Minister, the delegation urged the Centre to ensure that the legislation is implemented only prospectively. They argued that retrospective application could create legal uncertainty and unfairly expose genuine organisations to penalties for procedural lapses committed under earlier legal provisions. The MKHC and CCM represent several major Christian denominations in Mizoram, where many social and charitable institutions receive foreign funding under the existing FCRA framework.
The proposed amendment seeks to establish a comprehensive mechanism for the supervision, management and disposal of foreign contributions and assets through a designated authority. Under the Bill, the foreign contributions and assets of organisations whose FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered or allowed to lapse would automatically be placed under the provisional control of the designated authority from the date of cancellation or expiry of registration.
If such organisations fail to obtain fresh registration or restore their licence within the prescribed time, the assets and foreign contributions would be permanently transferred to the designated authority. The government maintains that the new framework is intended to ensure greater accountability and prevent misuse of foreign-funded assets, while critics fear it could significantly expand government control over civil society organisations.
The developments come as the Centre intensifies efforts to restore normal functioning in Parliament during the ongoing monsoon session. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has initiated fresh outreach to Opposition leaders in an attempt to build consensus on several pending legislative proposals.
Rijiju confirmed that he recently held a productive conversation with Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and also met him twice over the past ten days to discuss smooth functioning of Parliament. According to government sources, Rijiju sought Congress support for the proposed Women's Reservation and Delimitation Bill, while Gandhi reiterated the Congress' demand for an all-party meeting before extending support to the legislation.
The government is seeking broad political consensus on the constitutional amendment that would operationalise 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Emphasising the need for cooperation despite political differences, Rijiju said that political rivals should work together in the national interest and that prolonged disruptions ultimately affect Parliament's ability to function effectively. Responding to the Opposition's demand for Amit Shah's presence in the House, the minister said the Home Minister regularly attends Parliament and is present whenever legislation under his ministry is taken up for discussion.
The Centre is also holding consultations with NDA allies and several Opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party and the DMK, regarding the possible reintroduction of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill. The proposed constitutional amendment seeks to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to 816 seats through a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census, a move that would facilitate the implementation of women's reservation before the 2029 general elections.
With Parliament expected to take up both the FCRA Amendment Bill and other major constitutional measures in the coming days, the government is attempting to balance legislative priorities with political consensus while addressing concerns raised by states, religious organisations and the Opposition.
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