India Moves to Seize Assets of Christian Charities

A draft law in India would give the state access to the assets of aid organizations. Christians warn of expropriation and growing pressure on their institutions.

Christian nuns protest in India, holding signs calling for religious freedom and warning against division, amid growing concern over state pressure on church-linked institutions. Photo: Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images

India has taken another step to tighten its policy toward Christian charities. In New Delhi, the cabinet has approved a draft law that would allow the state to take control of the assets of non-governmental organizations, including many Christian institutions.

The proposal centers on a reform of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. In future, the state could automatically take control of all assets once an organization loses its registration or fails to renew it. The measure would affect not only bank accounts but also schools, hospitals and community centers, often built up over decades. No compensation is provided. Judicial protection would be limited.

The government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pursued this approach for years. Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah already announced in 2019 that authorities would take a tougher line against foreign-funded organizations. Since then, thousands of NGOs have lost their licenses. Officially, the aim is greater oversight and transparency. In practice, the measures primarily affect Christian organizations, which play a central social role in many regions.

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“Further Serious Escalation”

Felix Böllmann of ADF International describes the move as a “further serious escalation”. The legal grounds for revoking licenses are deliberately vague, he says. Even minor formal errors could lead to organizations losing their entire infrastructure. Effective legal remedies are scarce.

The consequences are already visible. The withdrawal of thousands of licenses has left people without access to medical care, education and aid. Facilities that were often the only functioning structures in poorer regions are disappearing or coming under state control.

Christians in the Crosshairs

From a Christian perspective, the direction is clear. Joseph D’Souza, president of the All India Christian Council, says the development is aimed at expropriating Christian property. The planned changes are a pretext to bring assets under state control.

Many of these institutions were built through donations from abroad and within India. They provide assistance to the poor, education and medical care. It is precisely these structures that are now the focus of state intervention.

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The figures underline the trend. Fewer than 15,000 organizations remain registered. More than 21,000 have lost their authorization. Tens of thousands more are considered defunct. Those affected include international organizations such as World Vision and Compassion International.

India has a population of around 1.4 billion, with Christians forming a small minority of about 5%. At the same time, the country is among those where Christians face significant pressure, according to Open Doors. The draft law still needs to be passed by parliament. For many Christian organizations, what is at stake is already clear: not only their work but their very existence.