Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 7: India on Friday rejected criticism from sections of the international community, including a US lawmaker, over proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), asserting that matters related to Indian legislation are internal affairs decided by Parliament.
Addressing a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said several countries, including the United States, regulate the flow of foreign funds.
"We have seen the comments; legislative matters concerning India are our internal affairs on which decisions are taken by the Parliament of our country. I would also like to point out that there are several nations, including the United States, which regulate the flow of foreign funds," Jaiswal said while responding to a media query.
The remarks came after US lawmaker Riley Moore commented on the amendments proposed by India to laws governing foreign donations.
The Central government is expected to introduce the FCRA amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.
The government has maintained that the proposed changes should be viewed in the broader global context of regulating foreign financial flows amid the expansion of international banking networks, digital transactions and cross-border funding mechanisms.
According to an official statement issued on July 22, regulations governing foreign contributions are aimed at ensuring financial transparency, preventing undue foreign influence and protecting democratic institutions.
"The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) should therefore be understood within this wider international context. Rather than restricting legitimate charitable activities, the Act provides a legal framework that enables genuine international cooperation while ensuring that foreign contributions are received, utilised and accounted for in accordance with Indian law," the government said.
The FCRA governs the receipt and utilisation of foreign contributions by individuals, associations, NGOs, trusts and companies in India. The law is administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The Act lays down who can receive foreign contributions, the conditions under which such funds may be accepted, and the manner in which they must be accounted for and reported. It also places restrictions on specific foreign-funded activities that may impact India's sovereignty, security or public order.
The government has pointed to similar regulations adopted by other democracies, stating that foreign funding transparency laws are becoming a common feature of governance systems worldwide.
It cited Canada's Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act, enacted in 2024, which recognises foreign influence registries as a tool to address interference in state affairs. India has had a comparable framework since 1976.
The government also referred to the United States' Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), originally enacted in 1938, stating that Washington has moved towards stricter enforcement of the law in recent years.
It further highlighted the European Union's efforts to address covert foreign interference and the United Kingdom's Foreign Influence Registration Scheme introduced under the National Security Act, 2023, which came into force from July 1, 2025.
India has maintained that the FCRA framework aligns with international practices, with democracies increasingly seeking greater transparency in cases involving foreign funding, direction or institutional relationships that may influence domestic processes.
The government said such laws are intended to promote accountability and ensure compliance while allowing legitimate international cooperation to continue.