The Lok Sabha on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, accepted the Central government's resolution to refer the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), amid intense Opposition uproar. Congress MP K.C. Venugopal immediately stepped outside Parliament to assert that the party's demand remained a full withdrawal of the FCRA Bill — not a referral.

How the Referral Unfolded

The resolution was moved by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, notably in the absence of Home Minister Amit Shah, who had originally been listed to pilot the Bill. Venugopal pointed to the timing as telling: the Opposition had received word from the Lok Sabha Secretariat only at 12 noon on Wednesday that Shah would move the Bill — the same day the session was set to conclude on Thursday.

'This Bill has been brought at the last minute. The session is going to end tomorrow. Today, at 12 noon, we received a message from the Lok Sabha Secretariat that (Home Minister) Amit Shah would move this Bill. However, Amit Shah is also absent today. The Minister of State moved the resolution to send it to the JPC. Instead of bulldozing the Bill amid the din, they are sending it to the JPC,' Venugopal told reporters.

Congress's Core Objection

The Congress MP was unambiguous that a JPC referral did not satisfy the Opposition's position. 'Our demand is that the Bill should be withdrawn. So, what is the purpose of passing this Bill? On one hand, the RSS is receiving donations from all over the world through registration, while on the other hand, you are targeting minorities and organisations doing good work in the fields of health and education. This is not acceptable,' Venugopal said.

The charge — that the FCRA amendment selectively burdens civil society groups in minority communities and the social sector while leaving certain organisations untouched — is likely to frame the Opposition's submissions before the JPC.

Composition and Mandate of the JPC

The JPC will comprise 21 Lok Sabha members and 10 Rajya Sabha members. Per the resolution text, the committee is required to submit its report to the Lok Sabha by the last day of the first week of the Winter Session 2026. The committee will operate under existing rules of procedure, with the Speaker empowered to make variations as needed. The Rajya Sabha has been recommended to nominate its members to the joint panel.

Why the FCRA Amendment Is Contested

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act governs how Indian organisations receive overseas funds. Amendments to the Act have historically drawn scrutiny from civil society groups, international donors, and Opposition parties who argue the law has been used to restrict legitimate NGO activity. This is the latest in a series of legislative moves touching the FCRA framework, making the JPC's eventual report politically consequential ahead of state elections.

What Happens Next

With the current session ending Thursday, the JPC will begin its work in the inter-session period. Stakeholders — including NGOs, minority bodies, and religious organisations — are expected to depose before the committee. The Winter Session 2026 deadline gives the panel several months, but the political temperature around the Bill is unlikely to cool.