FCRA Bill — expanding state control over civil society

The article analyzes the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment (FCRA) Bill, 2026, which significantly expands state control over civil society organizations. Key provisions include automatic cessation of FCRA registration and the provisional, and potentially permanent, vesting of organizational assets and foreign contributions in a government-designated authority without prior judicial review. Critics argue that these amendments undermine due process, increase executive discretion, and threaten fundamental rights such as freedom of association, religious autonomy, and property rights (Articles 14, 19(1)(c), 25, 26, 29, 30, 300A). The Bill is seen as a serious threat to the functioning and survival of NGOs, including those serving minority communities, potentially crippling essential services and creating a chilling effect on civil society.