Part IX · External Actors

Chapter 43

Transnational Christian Organisations

Arena 8.7 · weight 0.45 · reading 48.6 · contested

43.1Scope

Mission agencies, FCRA funding, USCIRF and Congress lobbying, persecution indices.

Principal evidence: Demography counted twice: Hindus 79.8% vs Christians 2.3% (Census; 2.6% after switching, Pew). Plus India’s counter-leverage (FCRA, anti-conversion laws in 13 states) vs mission reach, and foreign religious money (Hindu ₹328 cr vs Christian ₹1,345 cr, 2024-25).

43.2Significance

Conversion activity, foreign pressure on religious-freedom laws.

43.3Indicators and weights

Table 43.1 lists the 4 indicators of the arena, the weight of each within the arena, and each indicator’s reading (the Hindutva-aligned share, from 0 to 100).

Table 43.1. Indicators of arena 8.7

Indicator	Weight	Reading
Demography (Hindus 79.8 vs Christians 2.3, counted once)	0.35	97.2
Foreign religious money (FCRA)¹	0.25	19.6
Gatekeeping: anti-conversion laws and FCRA channel shut²	0.20	48.3
Persecution-index sources³	0.20	0.0
Arena reading	1.00	48.6

43.4Reading

The arena reads 48.6, 1.4 points below parity, and is classified as contested (a reading from 45 to below 60). With a weight of 0.45 of a total 107.7, it contributes 0.20 points to the composite reading of 45.7.

The indicators diverge: the highest reading is for demography (Hindus 79.8 vs Christians 2.3, counted once) (97.2), the lowest for persecution-index sources (0.0).

Figure 43.1. Readings of arena 8.7 by indicator

050100

Demography (Hindus 79.8 vs Christians 2.3, counted once)97.2

Foreign religious money (FCRA)19.6

Gatekeeping: anti-conversion laws and FCRA channel shut48.3

Persecution-index sources0.0

Arena reading48.6

Hindutva-alignedOpposed

Each bar divides the indicator between Hindutva-aligned (left) and opposed (right) holdings. The vertical rule marks parity.

43.5Measures and exhibits

The exhibits below are the Atlas’s own views of the data behind each measure: shares by side, the largest units, breakdowns by source, recipient and country, money-flow diagrams and time series. Full row-level ledgers are in the data file (Appendix D).

Measure 1. Demography (Hindus 79.8 vs Christians 2.3, counted once)

Reading 97.2%

Figure 43.2. Each counted row (%)Rates and shares are not added up: each row is its own reading.

Hindus share of India population (Census 2011)79.8

Christians share of India population (Census 2011)2.3

0100%

Hindutva-alignedOpposed

Data table

	%	Side
Hindus share of India population (Census 2011)	79.8	Hindutva-aligned
Christians share of India population (Census 2011)	2.3	Opposed

Measure 2. Foreign religious money (FCRA)

Reading 19.6%

Hindu ₹328 cr vs Christian ₹1,345 cr

Figure 43.3. Hindutva-aligned vs opposed, counted rows (₹ crore)

Hindutva-aligned 328 ₹ crore · 1.1%Opposed 7,085 ₹ crore · 23.3%Transactional 0 ₹ crore · 0.0%Neutral / not counted 23,025 ₹ crore · 75.6%

Data table

	₹ crore	Share
Hindutva-aligned	328	1.1%
Opposed	7,085	23.3%
Transactional	0	0.0%
Neutral / not counted	23,025	75.6%

Figure 43.4. The 8 biggest of 8 (₹ crore)

FCRA total receipts (all associations)22,974

Global Christianity: FCRA receipts, Christian associations (MHA religion table; 32.8% of all FC)3,386

Global Christianity: FCRA religious-programme receipts, Christian associations (Hindu 328; Buddhist 51; Muslim 19)1,345

FCRA religious-programme receipts: Christian associations1,345

Global Christianity: Ayana Charitable Trust (Gospel for Asia vehicle) FC received826

FCRA religious-programme receipts: Hindu associations328

Global Christianity: Compassion International FC to India (top donor; exited India 2017)184

FCRA religious-programme receipts: Buddhist associations51

Hindutva-alignedOpposedNeutral / not counted

Data table

	₹ crore	Side
FCRA total receipts (all associations)	22,974	Neutral / not counted
Global Christianity: FCRA receipts, Christian associations (MHA religion table; 32.8% of all FC)	3,386	Opposed
Global Christianity: FCRA religious-programme receipts, Christian associations (Hindu 328; Buddhist 51; Muslim 19)	1,345	Opposed
FCRA religious-programme receipts: Christian associations	1,345	Opposed
Global Christianity: Ayana Charitable Trust (Gospel for Asia vehicle) FC received	826	Opposed
FCRA religious-programme receipts: Hindu associations	328	Hindutva-aligned
Global Christianity: Compassion International FC to India (top donor; exited India 2017)	184	Opposed
FCRA religious-programme receipts: Buddhist associations	51	Neutral / not counted

Figure 43.5. The 9 biggest of 9 (₹ crore)

Misereor1,279

Brot fuer die Welt371

Unbound (CFCA)259

Kindernothilfe91.6

World Vision (US/International)64.4

Compassion International56.8

Samaritan's Purse8.2

Mission India3.2

Tearfund (UK)1.5

Data table

	₹ crore	Side
Misereor	1,279	Opposed
Brot fuer die Welt	371	Opposed
Unbound (CFCA)	259	Opposed
Kindernothilfe	91.6	Opposed
World Vision (US/International)	64.4	Opposed
Compassion International	56.8	Opposed
Samaritan's Purse	8.2	Opposed
Mission India	3.2	Opposed
Tearfund (UK)	1.5	Opposed

Figure 43.6. The money flow: from whom, through which camp, to where85 flows counted, ₹3,320 crore.

Opposed ₹3,320 cr · 100.0%

Left: where the money comes from · Middle: the camp it strengthens · Right: where it goes

Figure 43.7. The biggest sources, by the camp their money strengthens (₹ crore)

Misereor (incl. KZE/BMZ funds)1,279

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation608

Brot fuer die Welt (incl. EZE/BMZ funds)371

Unbound259

Chalice (Canada)100

Children International96.2

Kindernothilfe91.6

Conrad N. Hilton Foundation73.8

Compassion International56.8

The Bible League Of Canada44.7

The Leprosy Mission International29.0

India Gospel Outreach27.3

Hindutva-alignedOpposedTransactionalNeutral / not counted

Data table

	Opposed	Total
Misereor (incl. KZE/BMZ funds)	1,279	1,279
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation	608	608
Brot fuer die Welt (incl. EZE/BMZ funds)	371	371
Unbound	259	259
Chalice (Canada)	100	100
Children International	96.2	96.2
Kindernothilfe	91.6	91.6
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation	73.8	73.8
Compassion International	56.8	56.8
The Bible League Of Canada	44.7	44.7
The Leprosy Mission International	29.0	29.0
India Gospel Outreach	27.3	27.3

Figure 43.8. The biggest recipients (₹ crore)

Christian Medical College Vellore606

Indian partner organisations of Misereor (n=118 316

Partner organisations in South Asia/India of Unb259

Indian partner organisations of Misereor (n=123 240

Indian partner organisations of Misereor (n=86 p189

Indian partner organisations of Misereor (n=106 189

Indian partner organisations of Misereor (n=111 179

Indian partner organisations of Misereor (n=97 p167

Indian partner organisations of Brot fuer die We109

total expenditure of India-only charity (proxy; 97.6

Partner organisations in South Asia/India of Chi96.2

Indian partner organisations of Brot fuer die We92.6

Hindutva-alignedOpposedTransactionalNeutral / not counted

Data table

	Opposed	Total
Christian Medical College Vellore	606	606
Indian partner organisations of Misereor (n=118	316	316
Partner organisations in South Asia/India of Unb	259	259
Indian partner organisations of Misereor (n=123	240	240
Indian partner organisations of Misereor (n=86 p	189	189
Indian partner organisations of Misereor (n=106	189	189
Indian partner organisations of Misereor (n=111	179	179
Indian partner organisations of Misereor (n=97 p	167	167
Indian partner organisations of Brot fuer die We	109	109
total expenditure of India-only charity (proxy;	97.6	97.6
Partner organisations in South Asia/India of Chi	96.2	96.2
Indian partner organisations of Brot fuer die We	92.6	92.6

Figure 43.9. By country of origin (₹ crore)

DE1,742

US1,122

CA275

GB176

DK4.19

NL1.53

Hindutva-alignedOpposedTransactionalNeutral / not counted

Data table

	Opposed	Total
DE	1,742	1,742
US	1,122	1,122
CA	275	275
GB	176	176
DK	4.19	4.19
NL	1.53	1.53

Measure 3. Gatekeeping: anti-conversion laws and FCRA channel shut

Reading 48.3%

13 of 28 states; FCRA 50.2

Measure 4. Persecution-index sources

Reading 0.0%

USCIRF citations RW 0

Figure 43.10. Over time: Open Doors World Watch List rank · rank

Data table

	Open Doors World Watch List rank
2019	10
2020	10
2021	10
2022	10
2023	11
2024	11
2025	11
2026	12

Figure 43.11. Over time: USCIRF status for India · 2 = CPC recommended, 1 = Tier 2, 0 = none

Data table

	USCIRF status for India
2014	1
2015	1
2016	1
2017	1
2018	1
2019	1
2020	2
2021	2
2022	2
2023	2
2024	2
2025	2
2026	2

Measure 5. Context: shown for reference, not part of the reading

Figure 43.12. Planning threat of each global player (reach × hostility, out of 100)Each player’s weight out of 5 = threat ÷ 20, unless set by hand.

Western media, academia, philanthropy and rights bodies84.6

USA72

China72

Big Tech53.1

Global Islam47.1

India Abroad: Diaspora & Soft Power40

Others16.5

Global Christianity9

Data table

	Value	Side
Western media, academia, philanthropy and rights bodies	84.6	Other
USA	72	Other
China	72	Other
Big Tech	53.1	Other
Global Islam	47.1	Other
India Abroad: Diaspora & Soft Power	40	Other
Others	16.5	Other
Global Christianity	9	Opposed

43.6Evidence base

The arena rests on 30 coded units, 85 money flows and 21 time-series points. Of the units and flows, 6 are coded Hindutva-aligned, 107 opposed and 2 neutral, mixed or transactional. By source grade: 106 grade A, 8 grade C, 1 grade D.

The full set of rows for this arena, each with its source, is in the Atlas data file (Appendix D).

Notes

Hindu ₹328 cr vs Christian ₹1,345 cr. ↩
13 of 28 states; FCRA 50.2. ↩
USCIRF citations RW 0. ↩