{"id":122778,"date":"2026-09-04T12:32:40","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T07:02:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=122778"},"modified":"2026-09-04T12:32:40","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T07:02:40","slug":"joint-parliamentary-committee-on-fcra-bill-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/joint-parliamentary-committee-on-fcra-bill-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Joint Parliamentary Committee on FCRA Bill 2026, Need, Structure"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Joint Parliamentary Committee on FCRA Bill 2026 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">was constituted to examine proposed changes to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. The 31 member panel is chaired by Lok Sabha MP Sanjay Jaiswal. Both Houses approved referral of the Bill to a JPC on 12 August 2026. The committee will examine provisions concerning foreign contributions, organisational assets, regulatory oversight, accountability and compliance before submitting its report to the Lok Sabha.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What is the Joint Parliamentary Committee on FCRA Bill 2026?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Joint Parliamentary Committee on FCRA Bill 2026 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is a 31 member parliamentary panel formed for detailed scrutiny of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill 2026. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla constituted the committee. Sanjay Jaiswal was appointed its chairperson. The panel includes members from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. It has been directed to submit its report by the last day of the first week of Parliament&#8217;s Winter Session.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What is a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><b>Joint Parliamentary Committee <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is a temporary committee of Parliament formed by both Houses to examine specific bills, issues, or matters in greater detail. It includes members from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Purpose: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A JPC conducts detailed examination of a Bill or specific matter referred to it by Parliament.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Formation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A JPC is constituted through a motion adopted by Parliament. Its composition generally reflects the strength of political parties in Parliament.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Chairperson: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The committee is headed by a chairperson appointed as per parliamentary procedure. The chairperson conducts meetings and guides the committee&#8217;s proceedings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Functions: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A JPC examines provisions, hears views of stakeholders, studies relevant evidence and submits its findings and recommendations to <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/functions-of-parliament\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Parliament<\/strong><\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Temporary Nature: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A JPC is constituted for a specific purpose and period. It ceases to exist after completing its assigned task and submitting its report.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Joint Parliamentary Committee on FCRA Background<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Joint Parliamentary Committee FCRA provides Parliament with an opportunity to examine the proposed amendments, regulatory concerns and stakeholder objections before legislative consideration.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Referral to JPC: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both Houses of Parliament adopted motions on 12 August 2026 to refer the <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/foreign-contribution-regulation-amendment-bill-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill 2026<\/strong><\/a> for detailed parliamentary scrutiny.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Need for scrutiny: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bill proposes tighter oversight of foreign contributions and NGOs. Opposition parties raised concerns about its possible impact on minorities and civil society organisations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Government&#8217;s position: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The government rejected allegations that the Bill discriminates against minorities. It challenged the Opposition to identify any provision that specifically targets minorities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Northeastern concerns: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma sought parliamentary examination. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma also raised concerns regarding provisions of the Bill.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Asset management issue: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bill proposes a designated authority to manage and dispose of assets linked to organisations whose FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered or ceases.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Joint Parliamentary Committee on FCRA Structure<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Joint Parliamentary Committee has 31 members drawn from both Houses, with representation from several political parties and a defined deadline for submitting its findings.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Chairperson: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/lok-sabha\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Lok Sabha<\/strong><\/a> MP Sanjay Jaiswal of the BJP is the chairperson of the Joint Parliamentary Committee examining the FCRA Amendment Bill 2026.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Constitution: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla constituted the 31 member panel. It comprises 14 BJP members and five Congress members, besides representation from other parties.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Major Lok Sabha Members: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sanjay Jaiswal, Bhartruhari Mahtab, Tejasvi Surya, Kamlesh Jangde, Mukeshkumar Chandrakaant Dalal, Nishikant Dubey, Vishnu Dayal Ram, Ananta Nayak and Arvind Dharmapuri are included.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Major <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/rajya-sabha\/\" target=\"_blank\">Rajya Sabha<\/a> members: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">C Sadanandan Master, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Ujjwal Deorao Nikam, Alka Gurjar and P Wilson are included.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Timeline: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on 25 March 2026. Both Houses approved its JPC referral on 12 August 2026. The report is due before the first week of the Winter Session ends.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Core function: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The committee will scrutinise the FCRA Amendment Bill 2026, examine its provisions and consider concerns raised by political parties and other stakeholders before reporting to Parliament.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>What is FCRA Act?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act regulates receipt and use of foreign contributions in India. The 2026 Bill seeks further changes focused on transparency, accountability and regulatory clarity.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/foreign-contribution-regulation-act\/\" target=\"_blank\">Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 <\/a><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">governs foreign contributions received by individuals, associations, NGOs, trusts and companies from sources outside India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The FCRA is administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs. It regulates eligibility, receipt, utilisation, accounting and reporting of foreign contributions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act Amendment Bill 2026<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill 2026 was introduced in Lok Sabha on 25 March 2026. It proposes further amendments to the 2010 Act.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Main objective: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act Amendment Bill 2026 seeks greater transparency and accountability in the receipt, management and utilisation of foreign contributions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Designated authority: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bill proposes a designated authority for safeguarding, managing and disposing of assets connected with organisations whose FCRA registration ends.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Asset vesting: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Foreign funded assets would be provisionally vested when registration ends. Restoration of registration would allow return of assets and unused funds under the proposed framework.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Permanent vesting: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Permanent vesting would apply if registration is not restored within the prescribed period. The assets would be used for public purposes, with sale proceeds credited to the Consolidated Fund of India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Religious sites: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The proposed framework requires preservation of the religious character of places of worship. The designated authority cannot convert, repurpose or secularise such institutions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Judicial remedy: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An organisation affected by an order of the designated authority may seek revision within 90 days. A further appeal can be made before the District Judge.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Punishment: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The FCRA Amendment Bill 2026 proposes reducing the maximum imprisonment for FCRA violations from five years to one year.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Investigations: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State governments and agencies would require Central Government approval before initiating investigations under the FCRA, aiming to prevent parallel proceedings.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Joint Parliamentary Committee on FCRA Bill 2026 examines proposed changes to foreign contribution rules, NGO oversight, asset management, accountability, compliance and legal safeguards.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":122809,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[10004,10003,10002,10005],"class_list":["post-122778","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-general-studies","tag-fcra-bill","tag-joint-parliamentary-committee-on-fcra-bill","tag-joint-parliamentary-committee-on-fcra-bill-2026","tag-remove-term-joint-parliamentary-committee-on-fcra-bill-joint-parliamentary-committee","no-featured-image-padding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122778","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=122778"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122778\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":122813,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122778\/revisions\/122813"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/122809"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=122778"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=122778"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=122778"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}