Toko Teki, UCF Spokesperson for the Northeast Region, called on Union Minister for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju in New Delhi on 21 July, Tuesday, and submitted a letter seeking the government’s intervention on the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026.
During the meeting, Teki raised the United Christian Forum’s (UCF) concerns about the proposed legislation. He urged the minister to ensure that the views of charitable, educational and faith-based organisations are taken into account before Parliament passes the Bill.
Teki had earlier written to Members of Parliament from Northeast India in a letter dated July 20, appealing to them to support wider consultation on the proposed amendments and to intervene in Parliament. In the letter, he asked lawmakers to press the government “to stop passing such a draconian law that would block natural justice to its law-abiding citizens.”
The Forum acknowledged the need for accountability in regulating foreign contributions but said the proposed changes should not create obstacles for genuine civil society groups. It asked that the Bill be sent to a Parliamentary Standing Committee for closer examination before passage.
Among its specific demands, the Forum sought safeguards for due process and judicial oversight, and asked that penalties such as asset seizure not be imposed disproportionately for administrative lapses. It called for protections to preserve the autonomy of charitable, educational and faith-based institutions, a regulatory framework built on proportionality and trust, and an independent appellate body to hear and decide grievances fairly. The letter also asked the government to “promote a regulatory framework based on transparency, proportionality, and trust.”
The Forum pointed to the long-standing role of voluntary and faith-based organisations in India, noting their work in education, healthcare, humanitarian relief and support for marginalised communities across religions and regions. It said any new law should build on this record rather than restrict it.
The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25, 2026, by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai. Moving the Bill, Rai said its objective was to make the use of foreign contributions more transparent and accountable, and that institutions whose objectives align with India’s sovereignty and integrity would not be obstructed.
The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act was originally enacted in 2010 and has since been amended in 2016, 2018 and 2020, with the most recent amendment fixing a 25 per cent limit on administrative expenses funded through foreign contributions. As of mid-July 2026, official FCRA portal data showed 14,449 active certificates, alongside 22,498 cancelled and 15,212 deemed to have expired.
“India’s strength lies in its pluralism, compassion, and spirit of service,” Teki’s letter to the MPs stated, adding that legislative measures “must safeguard these values and enable, rather than hinder, the vital contribution of civil society.”
The United Christian Forum, headquartered in New Delhi, has been active since January 19, 2015, working towards justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. It also runs a toll-free helpline, 1-800-208-4545, to assist people, particularly those unfamiliar with the legal remedies available to them.
The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, is currently before Parliament.
