India rejects US lawmaker criticism of proposed FCRA amendment bill

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs responded on Friday to remarks made by US Congressman Riley Moore, who had publicly criticized the proposed Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment Bill, 2026. Moore had characterized the bill as an attack on Christians and suggested it could negatively impact bilateral relations between India and the United States. In a press briefing in New Delhi, ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal rejected the criticism, asserting that the legislation is an internal matter for India and that decisions regarding such laws are the sole prerogative of the Indian Parliament.

During the briefing, the ministry emphasized that India is not unique in its approach to regulating foreign financial inflows. Jaiswal pointed out that the United States and various other countries enforce their own legal frameworks to monitor and control foreign funding. The proposed 2026 amendment bill, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha in March, includes provisions that would allow the government to set time limits for organizations to spend foreign contributions and grant authorities the power to seize assets if a license renewal is rejected or not sought.