Skip to main content
HR 1802 105th Congress House

Human Rights in India Act

Official title: To suspend United States development assistance for India unless the President certifies to Congress that the Government of India has taken certain steps to prevent human rights abuses in India.

Introduced: April 28, 1998 See on congress.gov
International Affairs American economic assistanceArmed Forces and National SecurityArrestCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
CongressCongress and foreign policyCongressional oversightCongressional reporting requirementsCrime and Law EnforcementDetention of personsDissentersFamiliesFreedom of the pressGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernmental investigationsHuman rightsIndiaInternational agenciesMilitary lawMilitary personnelMinoritiesMissing personsPolicePolitical persecutionPolitical prisonersPresident and foreign policyPrisonersProsecutionReligionReligious libertyReporters and reportingRight to counselRight to travelSikhsSouth AsiaSpeedy trialTorture
This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 3, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
Jun 5, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
Jun 5, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1145)
Jun 5, 1997
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action July 3, 1997

Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Human Rights in India Act - Prohibits development assistance for India for any fiscal year unless the President certifies to the Congress that the Government of India: (1) has released all prisoners of conscience; (2) ensures that all political prisoners are brought to trial promptly and fairly and have access to legal counsel and family members; (3) has eliminated the practice of torture by the military and police forces; (4) impartially investigates all allegations of torture and deaths of individuals in custody; (5) has established to the best of its ability the fate or whereabouts of all political detainees who have disappeared; (6) brings to justice promptly members of the military and police forces responsible for torturing or improperly treating prisoners; (7) permits citizens who are critical of such Government to travel abroad and return to India; (8) ensures that human rights monitors are not targeted for arrest or harassment by the military and police forces; (9) permits human rights organizations and television, film, and print media full access to all states in India where significant human rights problems exist; (10) has investigated allegations of cremations of Sikhs who have died in police custody and has made every effort to bring those responsible to justice; and (11) has repealed certain special and preventive detention laws.

Waives such prohibition if such waiver is in the national security interest.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1802: Human Rights in India Act. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1802/
MLA
"H.R. 1802: Human Rights in India Act." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1802/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1802, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1802/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1802: Human Rights in India Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1802/)
Report a problem