The Maharashtra government on Friday introduced the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026, in the state Assembly, to curb religious conversions carried out through coercion, fraud, inducement, or marriage.
Under the proposed law, the police will be required to register a complaint if any person reports an alleged case of unlawful religious conversion.
As per the Bill, anyone found carrying out a conversion under the pretext of marriage could face imprisonment of up to seven years along with a fine of ₹1 lakh.
Additionally, the conversion of minors, persons of unsound mind, women, or individuals belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will be punishable with up to seven years of imprisonment and a fine of ₹5 lakh.
Furthermore, those involved in mass conversions could face a prison term of up to seven years and a fine of ₹5 lakh. Repeat offenders may face stricter penalties, including imprisonment of up to 10 years, along with the same fine.
The Bill seeks to protect the constitutional right to freedom of religion while preventing conversions achieved through force, misrepresentation, undue influence, or other fraudulent means, as stated in the draft legislation.
As per the Bill, offering money, gifts, employment, free education, promises of marriage, a better lifestyle, or claims of divine healing to influence someone to change religion will be considered “allurement” and punishable.
The Bill also prohibits conversions via marriage or promises of marriage if such actions involve inducement, coercion, or deception.
The government stated that incidents of organised and forced religious conversions have been reported in several parts of the country, with vulnerable groups often targeted through inducements.
Introducing the Bill in the Assembly, Minister of State for Home Pankaj Bhoyar said the law aims to safeguard the right to freedom of religion while preventing unlawful conversions through coercion, fraud, inducement, or marriage.
After the bill is passed in the Assembly, Maharashtra will join states such as Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Uttarakhand, which have already enacted similar laws regulating religious conversions.
