Atiya Mujeeb
Jammu, August 11: BJP spokesperson and Convenor, International Affairs, J&K, Gaurav Gupta has welcomed the Centre’s proposed changes to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), saying the reforms will improve transparency, accountability and protect national interests.
Gupta said the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 seeks to address gaps related to foreign-funded assets and contributions when an organisation’s FCRA registration expires, is cancelled, surrendered or not renewed.
He said the government’s objective is not to stop genuine charity or international cooperation but to ensure that foreign funds are not misused in ways that could affect India’s sovereignty, security, public order or social harmony.
According to Gupta, the proposed law would create a Designated Authority to oversee foreign contributions and assets belonging to organisations that no longer have a valid FCRA registration.
He explained that such funds and assets would initially remain under the authority’s control. If an organisation later obtains fresh registration or restores its certificate, unused funds and assets would be returned.
However, if the organisation fails to regularise its registration within the given time, the assets could be permanently transferred to a government department, agency or local authority for public use, as per the law.
Gupta said the proposed system would also ensure that schools, hospitals and other institutions built with foreign donations do not become unaccounted for or fall into private hands after an organisation becomes inactive.
He further said the reforms would introduce timelines for prior permission, provide rules for assets during suspension and clarify the responsibilities of organisations that are no longer active.
Responding to criticism from some international human-rights groups and UN representatives, Gupta said India has the sovereign right to regulate foreign funding according to its Constitution and national interests.
“Regulation of foreign contributions is India’s sovereign and internal matter. Indian laws will be decided by Parliament in accordance with the Constitution and national interest,” he said.
Gupta also referred to the United States’ Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), arguing that other countries too regulate foreign funding and foreign influence in accordance with their national interests.
He said around 16,000 associations reportedly receive nearly ₹22,000 crore in foreign contributions every year and added that it is important for the government to know the source of foreign funds, their recipients and how the money is being used.
Gupta also welcomed FCRA 2.0, describing the fully digital system as an important step towards easier compliance and greater transparency. He said the system uses technologies such as Aadhaar authentication, e-signatures and OCR, along with links to PAN, NGO Darpan, banking systems and the ICAI’s UDIN platform.
He said the reforms would make compliance easier for genuine organisations while helping authorities take action against misuse of foreign funds.
