India’s NGOs at a new funding crossroads

When the first Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) was passed in 1976, a government of a different political hue was in power from the one that has now proposed the more fierce FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026. But the underlying political apprehensions were similar — the fear that foreign powers could destabilise the country by funding civil society organisations (non-governmental organisations or NGOs). In the present case, there is also an unstated fear of religious conversions by Christians and other religious minorities. The Bill is yet to be enacted because of strong reactions by the Opposition parties and several civil society groups, particularly Christian organisations.