India (MNN) — A proposed National Christian Welfare Board in India may sound helpful at first glance, especially in a country where Christians make up an estimated 2.3% of the population according to the last census. 

But a new bill put forward in April 2026 has many believers concerned. They fear it’s another attempt at government control.

“What has so far kind of leaked out that this welfare board is to address community issues: marriage, funeral rights, interfaith marriage issues, things like that,” says John Pudaite of Bibles For The World. 

The issues Pudaite names are all legitimate challenges that Christians face within India. “But since it [the bill] is linked to the FCRA amendment bill, it just raises a lot of question and caution as we give this some thought here,” he adds.

The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) governs how non-governmental organizations can receive foreign money. A 2026 amendment bill for that act was tabled earlier this year after significant protests. If passed, it would have allowed the government to seize the assets of any NGO that lost its FCRA license. 

(Read our report here on why the FCRA amendment would be deeply concerning for Christian NGOs.)

Bibles For The World works in areas where there is restricted access to God’s Word, where copies are scarce or among peoples where Christianity is beginning to take root — such as Nepal, Cambodia, areas of India, and other Asian and SE Asian nations. (Photo, caption courtesy of Bibles For The World)

Yes, it’s complicated. But here’s the connection between the two bills: According to a report from Christian Today, the National Christian Welfare Board could potentially be the “Designated Authority” that the FCRA amendment would assign to handle any seized NGO assets.

“Whoever is in power is going to just stack that board with people that are sympathetic to their political position,” says Pudaite.

The good news is that the proposal for a National Christian Welfare Board is only a proposal. However, it’s yet another potential tool in the Indian government’s already wide arsenal. Christians are staying vigilant and speaking out.

“I know that [a lot of] the Christians will join hands with some of the other minorities in India and begin working to try to get this removed,” says Pudaite.

Please pray that God will open the eyes of those opposing the Body of Christ. Pray also for the faithful witness of Christians, that they will reach many with the hope of Christ. In the challenges, they are not waiting for easier times. Pudaite says that Bibles For The World recently printed 500,000 copies of the Gospel of John in nearly a dozen languages for distribution across the country. 

“We just continue to see amazing growth and amazing — what would I say? — passion to share the gospel,” Pudaite says. 

 

Header photo: Woman in Bengalaru, India (Stock photo courtesy of Marie Couffon de Trevros via Unsplash)