31-Member JPC to Examine the FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026: Parliamentary Scrutiny and Foreign Funding Regulation Polity, Parliament and Governance GS Paper II 5 September 2026 Read highlighted facts first FAST READ — read only this box if short on time
- A 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) has been constituted to examine the FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026.
- Chairperson: **Sanjay Jaiswal.
- Composition**: 21 Lok Sabha + 10 Rajya Sabha members.
- The committee is to report by the first week of the Winter Session 2026.
- Core issue: balance transparency and national-security safeguards with legitimate civil-society activity.
WHY IN NEWS
- Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla constituted the JPC for detailed scrutiny of the proposed FCRA amendments.
- A JPC allows members from both Houses to examine clauses, hear stakeholders and recommend changes.
- The issue is important because foreign contributions can support social work while also raising transparency and security concerns.
TOP DATA & FACTS
- JPCs are ad hoc, not permanent parliamentary committees.
- They may be created to examine a Bill or a matter of public importance.
- This JPC has 31 members.
- Lok Sabha representation: 21 members.
- Rajya Sabha representation: 10 members.
- FCRA regulates acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution by specified persons and organisations.
- The Union government administers FCRA through the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Committee recommendations are influential but Parliament retains final legislative authority.
- Parliamentary committees permit more detailed scrutiny than floor debate alone.
- Stakeholder consultation can improve legislative evidence.