Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to reconsider the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), expressing concern that the changes could place additional pressure on churches and Christian charitable organisations involved in education, healthcare and social welfare in the state.
In a letter to Shah on August 10, Rio proposed that the FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026, be referred to a parliamentary committee for detailed examination. He also called for relevant stakeholders to be given an opportunity to present their views on the proposed changes.
Rio said such a process would help address concerns, dispel apprehensions and strengthen public confidence while maintaining transparency, accountability and national interest. He said referring the Bill to a parliamentary panel would reflect an inclusive approach and reaffirm India’s constitutional values, secular ethos and respect for the contributions of different communities.
The FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25 and is expected to come up for discussion during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Rio said concerns had been raised by various sections of society, particularly the Christian community. He pointed out that the Nagaland Baptist Church Council and the Bishop of Kohima had also submitted representations to the Union Home Minister regarding difficulties faced by churches and charitable organisations.
The chief minister said he had met Christian leaders, including representatives of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council and the Bishop of Kohima, on August 9 to discuss the proposed amendments. According to Rio, the discussions highlighted concerns over the impact of regulatory requirements on churches and Christian organisations providing humanitarian and community services.
With more than 90 per cent of Nagaland’s population being Christian, Rio said churches had historically played an important role in the state’s social and community life. He noted their contributions to education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, social welfare and livelihood support, particularly in remote and economically disadvantaged areas.
Rio said legitimate foreign contributions, partnerships and assistance had supported several educational, healthcare, humanitarian and social-service initiatives in the state. He added that increasingly stringent FCRA compliance requirements had already created significant financial and administrative challenges for churches and charitable organisations.
According to the chief minister, implementing the proposed amendments in their current form could further increase those difficulties and affect ongoing welfare, education, healthcare and social-service programmes. He also cautioned that smaller grassroots organisations with limited resources could face a disproportionate impact.
Rio raised concerns over reports of FCRA renewal applications being rejected in some cases on grounds related to the alleged use of foreign contributions for religious conversion. He urged the Centre to examine such cases individually and on the basis of the actual activities and objectives of the organisations concerned.
The chief minister also called for a review of rejected renewal applications to ensure that legitimate charitable, educational, healthcare and social-welfare activities were not affected by broad or generalised assumptions.
Highlighting the humanitarian role of churches and Christian organisations, Rio referred to their participation in relief operations during floods and landslides in Nagaland and their contribution during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said churches and Christian institutions had mobilised resources, infrastructure and volunteers to assist communities and government agencies during emergencies.
Rio also pointed to the more than 150-year history of Christianity and the Church in Nagaland, noting their longstanding links with Christian communities and organisations abroad. He referred to historical ties between the Baptist movement in Nagaland and the Baptist community in the United States, as well as the longstanding international connections maintained by the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations.
The chief minister said Christian missions and institutions had contributed to Nagaland’s development for more than a century, including before the state attained full statehood. He said these institutions had helped extend education, healthcare and humanitarian services to remote communities when modern infrastructure was limited.
Rio further highlighted the contribution of Christian institutions to nation-building through schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, healthcare facilities, charitable bodies and social-service organisations serving people across religious and social backgrounds.
