New Delhi, Aug. 12 -- The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 was on Wednesday referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for detailed examination amid strong Opposition demands for its withdrawal, with Congress, Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress leaders alleging that the proposed changes could be used to target NGOs, minority institutions and organisations receiving foreign contributions.

The government, however, defended the legislation and said the proposed amendments seek to ensure that foreign funds are used transparently and without compromising the national interest.

The Bill was formally referred to a 31-member JPC after Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai moved a motion in the L...