The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recommended that the US State Department designate India as a 'country of particular concern' in its 2026 assessment. During a hearing in Washington, commissioners and experts discussed the deteriorating conditions for religious minorities in India, including Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, and Dalits. USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler noted that the Indian government continues to facilitate violations of religious freedom through discriminatory laws and arbitrary detentions. She pointed out that 13 out of 28 Indian states enforce strict anti-conversion laws, which impose severe penalties for conversions from Hinduism. Concerns were also raised about transnational repression, with USCIRF Vice Chair Asif Mahmood highlighting the targeting of religious minorities abroad, including surveillance and assassination attempts against Sikhs in North America. US Representative Chris Smith warned that proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) could enable the Indian government to expropriate assets of religious organizations, particularly affecting Christian charities. Stephen Rapp, former ambassador-at-large for global criminal justice, emphasized the normalization of violence against minorities in India, stating that accountability for such acts remains rare. The hearing concluded with calls for urgent action to address these human rights violations.