The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has appealed to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to intervene with the Government of India and seek the withdrawal of the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, saying the proposed legislation could have “serious and far-reaching consequences” for churches, Christian institutions, charitable organisations and civil society.
In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister on behalf of the NBCC, the council stated that it represents “21 Baptist Associations, four Associate members, with 1,626 congregations and 7,48,532 baptized members across the state of Nagaland.”
The NBCC said it was “respectfully” urging the Chief Minister’s “immediate intervention with the Government of India to seek the withdrawal of the proposed Bill,” which, if enacted in its present form, “would have serious and far-reaching consequences for churches, Christian institutions, charitable organizations, and the larger civil society engaged in humanitarian and developmental service.”
Highlighting the role of the Church in Nagaland, the council stated that it has, “for well over a century, stood as a faithful partner in the holistic development of our people,” investing in education, healthcare, peacebuilding, disaster relief, youth empowerment, women’s development, de-addiction ministries, and care for the poor and marginalised “not for profit, but as an expression of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
According to the memorandum, foreign contributions received through “lawful and transparent means” have enabled Christian organisations to sustain these ministries, particularly in remote and economically disadvantaged regions.
“These contributions are not instruments of political influence but expressions of Christian fellowship, compassion, and partnership in serving humanity,” the NBCC stated, adding that every legitimate contribution received under the existing legal framework has been subject to “statutory regulation, financial scrutiny, and public accountability.”
While affirming the Government of India’s authority to regulate foreign contributions in the interests of national security, transparency and financial accountability, the council said the proposed amendment “appears to move beyond reasonable regulation and toward excessive restriction.”
It cautioned that such measures risk placing “disproportionate burdens on genuine charitable and faith-based organizations whose primary mission is public service.”
The NBCC expressed concern that the proposed amendments could further restrict churches and charitable institutions from receiving and utilising legitimate foreign contributions for humanitarian, educational, healthcare and community development initiatives, impose additional regulatory burdens on smaller churches and grassroots ministries, disrupt long-standing partnerships between Indian churches and global Christian counterparts, undermine programmes serving vulnerable sections of society, discourage philanthropic support, and create “the possibility of takeover and confiscation of institutions/organization assets if their FCRA’s are cancelled through executive action and be handed over to Designated Authority.”
Referring to developments in Kerala, the council said it was “taking cognizance of the precedence in the Kerala Legislative Assembly where they have passed a resolution urging the Union government to repeal the FCRA Bill 2026.”
“We therefore, urge the Nagaland government to take a bold stand and do the same,” it stated.
The memorandum further said that, for Nagaland, the implications of the proposed amendments are “especially significant” because churches are “not merely religious institutions; they are foundational social institutions that have shaped the educational, moral, cultural, and humanitarian landscape of our State.”
The NBCC also referred to constitutional safeguards, stating that while regulations may be imposed, they “must remain proportionate, fair, and consistent with the principles of justice, equality, and democratic participation.”
Invoking Article 371(A), the council urged the Nagaland Legislative Assembly to subject the proposed amendments to “careful constitutional scrutiny,” examine whether they interfere with the protected religious and social institutions of the Nagas, and, if necessary, urge the Union Government to reconsider or modify the proposals or seek judicial clarification.
The NBCC further stated that “civil society and faith-based organizations should be viewed as partners in nation-building rather than institutions to be constrained through increasingly restrictive regulatory mechanisms.”
In its appeal, the council requested the Chief Minister to take up the matter with the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister, strongly urge the Centre to withdraw the proposed amendment Bill, advocate for a broad-based consultative process involving stakeholders before any changes to the FCRA are introduced, impress upon the Union Government the historical role of churches and Christian organisations in Nagaland, and support a regulatory framework that ensures transparency and accountability without unnecessarily restricting constitutional freedoms and humanitarian ministries.
“The people of Nagaland have always looked to your leadership in safeguarding the interests, identity, and welfare of our State,” the NBCC said, appealing to the Chief Minister to “champion this cause before the Government of India so that institutions dedicated to serving humanity may continue their work unhindered.”
