Mumbai, March 13: The Maharashtra government is set to present the ‘Maharashtra Religion Freedom Bill 2026’ in the assembly on Friday. This legislation aims to identify and penalize individuals and organized groups involved in forced conversions.
The proposed law seeks to prohibit religious conversions that occur through coercion, fraud, or inducement. The state cabinet approved the bill following recommendations from a high-level special committee during a meeting on March 5.
This committee, chaired by the Director General of Police (DGP), was established on February 14, 2025. Its goal is to examine legal frameworks and create a robust mechanism to address complaints related to illegal conversions.
Once the bill receives approval from both houses of the state legislature, it will be sent to the governor for assent. Upon receiving the governor’s approval, the law will come into effect.
According to the agenda released by the Maharashtra Legislative Secretariat, the bill will be introduced after the question hour in the assembly.
The bill proposes strict administrative conditions and criminal penalties to ensure that conversions are entirely a matter of personal choice, free from coercion.
Individuals wishing to convert their religion must notify district authorities 60 days in advance. Following the conversion, it must be officially registered within 25 days to be legally recognized.
Additionally, the bill allows blood relatives of the person converting to file complaints if they suspect coercion or inducement in the process.
The government asserts that this law is essential to protect vulnerable individuals from deceptive conversion practices.
Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane and other officials have been strong advocates for the law against forced conversions. This legislation follows a trend seen in other states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, which have enacted similar “freedom of religion” laws in recent years.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
Leave a Comment