The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution opposing the Centre’s proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, and urged the Union government to withdraw the legislation in its current form.
The resolution was moved by Tamil Nadu Minister Rajmohan, who told the Assembly that several provisions in the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, or FCRA, could have serious consequences for institutions involved in education, healthcare and social welfare.
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Rajmohan said the Union government had introduced the Bill with the stated objective of regulating foreign contributions and international aid. However, he argued that some of its provisions could unintentionally affect legitimate organisations that rely on such funding to provide public services.
According to the Minister, educational institutions run by minority organisations, hospitals, elderly care homes and charitable bodies could face difficulties if their FCRA registrations were cancelled or not renewed.
“The Union Government has introduced the Foreign Contribution Regulation Bill in Parliament to legally regulate international aid. Because of this, educational institutions run by minority organisations and others are being affected,” Rajmohan said while presenting the resolution.
He said institutions working in education, healthcare and social welfare should not be adversely impacted by regulatory measures intended to prevent misuse of foreign funds.
“Hospitals, elderly care homes and educational institutions will be affected through FCRA. The Tamil Nadu government objects to this,” he said.
Rajmohan emphasised that any regulatory action against such organisations should follow constitutional principles and ensure fairness. He also raised objections to provisions that could allow the government to take over, manage, dispose of or sell the assets of charitable institutions when their FCRA registration is cancelled, refused, not renewed or voluntarily surrendered.
The Minister argued that organisations facing such action should first be given a proper opportunity to explain their position before any decision affecting their assets is taken.
“The institutions that are being handed over to the government must be given an opportunity. If there are no charges against that institution, it should not be taken over through FCRA,” Rajmohan said.
At the same time, the Tamil Nadu government clarified that its opposition was not directed against measures designed to safeguard national security or prevent the misuse of foreign contributions.
Rajmohan said the state government remained fully committed to ensuring national security and supported reasonable regulations aimed at stopping illegal or improper use of foreign funding.
“The state government is also firm on ensuring national security. Therefore, we have some objections,” he said.
He explained that Tamil Nadu’s concerns centred on protecting genuine educational, medical, charitable and social welfare institutions from being unfairly affected by the proposed amendments.
Following the Minister’s remarks, the Assembly unanimously adopted the resolution, calling on the Union government to reconsider the Bill and withdraw it in its present form.
The resolution reflects Tamil Nadu’s position that while effective regulation of foreign contributions is necessary, the law should contain adequate safeguards to protect legitimate organisations that provide essential services in education, healthcare and social welfare from unintended consequences.
