31-Member Joint Parliamentary Committee Formed to Examine FCRA Amendment Bill, BJP MP to Chair

A 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) has been constituted to examine the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, with BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal appointed as the chairperson of the panel. The committee will undertake a detailed review of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, before submitting its recommendations to Parliament.

The committee consists of 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha, with representation from several political parties. The BJP has the largest number of members on the panel, while the Congress and other opposition parties have also been given representation. The formation of the committee comes after the government agreed to send the proposed legislation for wider parliamentary scrutiny following strong opposition during its introduction in Parliament.

The FCRA governs the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contributions by individuals, associations and organisations in India. The proposed amendments have generated considerable political debate, particularly over provisions dealing with organisations whose FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered or not renewed.

One of the key issues expected to come under the JPC's examination is the treatment of assets acquired or created using foreign contributions. The proposed changes seek to establish a framework for dealing with such assets in circumstances where an organisation loses its permission to receive foreign funding. Opposition parties have questioned the extent of government powers under the proposed provisions and have called for greater safeguards.

The government has maintained that the amendments are intended to strengthen transparency and accountability in the handling of foreign contributions and ensure that funds received from overseas sources are used for legitimate purposes. The legislation is expected to be examined clause by clause by the parliamentary panel, which may also consider views from relevant stakeholders before finalising its recommendations. The JPC has been given a deadline to submit its report during the Winter Session of Parliament. Its findings could lead to changes in the proposed legislation before it is taken up for further consideration by both Houses.

The committee's examination will therefore be closely watched by non-governmental organisations, charitable institutions and other bodies that depend on foreign contributions. The final recommendations are expected to provide greater clarity on the government's proposed regulatory framework and the safeguards that may accompany it.

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