USCIRF Recommends Sanctions on RSS and RAW, India Designated Country of Concern

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) designated India as a "country of particular concern" in its 2026 report, recommending targeted sanctions on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) over alleged religious freedom violations. The report cited deteriorating conditions for minorities, including stricter anti-conversion laws and vigilante attacks. India’s government and the Sufi Islamic Board rejected the findings as biased and politically motivated. The Indian National Congress called for a ban on the RSS, supporting USCIRF’s recommendations, while the External Affairs Ministry criticized the report and highlighted attacks on Hindu temples in the US.