The Indian FCRA Is Not an Exception. It Is the New Frontier of Democratic Sovereignty
India hosts more NGOs than the rest of the G20 combined. Carlo Lombardi argues that scale — not authoritarian instinct — explains why Delhi is tightening the rules on foreign funding.
While the Indian Parliament prepares to once again discuss the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), a now-familiar narrative has re-emerged. Critics describe this legislation as an attack on civil society, an offensive against Christian organisations, and yet another demonstration of an alleged departure by India from democratic principles. This narrative, however, ignores a fundamental question: why should India be denied the sovereign right to regulate foreign influence when practically all major democracies are moving in the same direction?
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