Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 8: Amid growing speculation that the contentious Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 could be taken up in Parliament next week, the proposed legislation does not figure in the government's agenda for Monday's Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting.
The agenda also makes no mention of the proposed Constitution Amendment Bill linked to delimitation and women's reservation, amid speculation that the government could introduce it during the Monsoon Session, which concludes on August 13.
Instead, the government has listed four Bills for introduction and subsequent consideration, with the BAC expected to decide the time to be allocated for their discussion.
The four Bills are the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026; the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026; the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026; and the National Co-operative Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The absence of the FCRA Amendment Bill from the listed agenda assumes significance as there had been speculation that the government could seek to push the legislation for discussion and passage during the final week of the Monsoon Session.
The Congress on Friday issued a whip directing its MPs in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to remain present on August 10, 11 and 12, saying "very important" issues were expected to be taken up. The party has also asked its INDIA bloc allies to ensure the presence of their MPs on these dates, sources said.
Opposition parties have strongly objected to several provisions of the proposed FCRA amendments. However, they are yet to take a final decision on whether to participate in the debate if the government introduces the Bill next week.
The proposed legislation has also faced opposition from Christian organisations, with a delegation of Christian leaders led by DMK Rajya Sabha MP P Wilson meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday and urging him to withdraw the Bill.
The delegation described the proposed provisions as "confiscatory" and argued that the amendments could adversely affect institutions running schools, colleges, hospitals, orphanages, old age homes and other charitable facilities across the country.
The Christian leaders said they supported legitimate regulation of foreign contributions but maintained that the proposed amendments went "far beyond regulation" and could cause irreversible hardship to charitable institutions.
They urged the government to refer the proposed legislation, along with a comprehensive review of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, to a Joint Parliamentary Committee if it was unwilling to withdraw the Bill.
In a memorandum submitted to Shah, the delegation said the proposed changes could have serious consequences for organisations dependent on foreign contributions for their charitable and social welfare activities.
Meanwhile, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, who also met Shah on Thursday, said the FCRA Bill would be taken up for discussion and passage in Parliament on August 12. He said the legislation would not come into effect retrospectively.
Lalduhoma, accompanied by a delegation of church leaders from Mizoram, conveyed concerns to Shah over the proposed legislation, which seeks to significantly tighten oversight of organisations receiving foreign funding.
According to Lalduhoma, the Bill also proposes the creation of a powerful new authority with powers to seize and manage the assets of non-profit organisations whose FCRA licences are cancelled.
The developments come amid heightened political activity ahead of the final days of the Monsoon Session, with the government's legislative agenda and the possible introduction of the FCRA amendments expected to remain a major point of contention between the ruling party and the Opposition.