India Delays Bill That Would Allow Government to Seize Christian Nonprofit Properties
India's government referred the Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment Bill to a parliamentary committee in August, pausing legislation that would have let authorities seize assets from Christian nonprofits. Church leaders welcomed the delay but warned the bill could return in December.
India's government has temporarily halted the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, sending it to a Joint Parliamentary Committee after sustained pressure from Christian organizations and opposition groups.
The bill, introduced in March 2026 by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, would have created a "Designated Authority" with power to take control of assets and properties belonging to organizations that lose, surrender, or fail to renew their FCRA licenses. Critics said the legislation would allow the government to seize and sell schools, hospitals, and community centers without the possibility of legal recourse.
Christian leaders called the bill "draconian" and argued it was part of a broader effort by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party government to suppress Christian influence and social services. More than 10,000 Christian organizations have already lost their FCRA licenses over the past decade.
The government defended the bill as necessary to close legal loopholes and prevent the misuse of foreign funds, with officials specifically citing concerns about foreign contributions being used for forced religious conversions, a claim Christian organizations disputed.
By referring the legislation to a Joint Parliamentary Committee, the government provided a temporary reprieve. Church leaders welcomed the move but remained cautious, with many viewing the committee process as a potential delaying tactic. Several leaders expressed concern that the government may pursue the bill's passage during the winter session of Parliament, expected in December 2026.
