Mumbai, March 6, 2026 — In a significant move fulfilling a long-standing election promise, the Maharashtra Cabinet on Thursday (March 5, 2026) approved the draft of the Dharma Swatantrya Adhiniyam 2026 (also referred to as the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act or Anti-Conversion Bill). The legislation aims to curb religious conversions carried out through force, fraud, allurement, inducement or coercion — issues often framed by the ruling Mahayuti alliance as “love jihad”.
The bill introduces one of the strictest regulatory frameworks among Indian states for religious conversions, mandating prior government oversight and post-conversion registration. It will be tabled in the ongoing Budget Session of the Maharashtra Legislature for debate and passage, after which a detailed Government Resolution (GR) will be issued.
### Key Provisions of the Proposed Law
According to officials and ministers who briefed the media, the draft bill includes the following core requirements and penalties:
Mandatory 60-day notice and prior permission: Any person intending to convert to another religion must give a 60-day advance notice to the designated authority and obtain explicit permission before the conversion can take place.
Post-conversion registration: The conversion must be formally registered with the authorities within 25 days of occurrence. Failure to do so will render the conversion null and void.
Complaint-triggered investigation: If any blood relative of the person converting files a complaint alleging that the conversion was unlawful (force, fraud or inducement), the police are required to register a First Information Report (FIR) and launch an investigation.
Penalties: Unlawful conversions (by force, fraud, allurement or inducement) will attract imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine of up to ₹5 lakh. Offences under the law are proposed to be non-bailable. Organisations or groups involved in such activities can also face penalties. The bill explicitly states that the constitutional right to religious freedom does not extend to conversions obtained through coercive or deceptive means.
The legislation has been drafted after studying constitutional provisions, Supreme Court guidelines and anti-conversion laws already in force in over a dozen other states.
### Government’s Rationale and Statements
Minister of State for Home Nitesh Rane (BJP), who has been vocal on the issue, hailed the approval as a major achievement. “We had firmly stated during the Assembly elections that once we come to power, we will bring a strong anti-conversion law, also referred to as a law against love jihad, in Maharashtra,” Rane said. “Today, I feel a deep sense of satisfaction that such a strong anti-conversion law has been approved by the cabinet… With this bill, no one will be able to forcibly marry and convert Hindu girls.”
Rane thanked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, and noted that the demand for such a law had been raised repeatedly by Hindutva organisations and activists through marches and agitations. The government maintains that the bill protects vulnerable individuals — particularly women — from coercive practices while respecting voluntary faith choices that follow due process.
The drafting process began in earnest after a February 2025 Government Resolution. A high-level committee headed by the Director-General of Police studied laws in other states and submitted its recommendations; the first draft was finalised and presented to the government on February 26, 2026.
### Background and National Context
Maharashtra becomes the latest state to enact such legislation. Similar “Freedom of Religion” or anti-conversion laws are already operational in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and others — a total of at least 12 states. These laws typically prohibit conversions by “allurement” or “force” and have been justified by BJP-led governments as safeguards against demographic change and fraudulent inter-faith marriages.
The Maharashtra bill is described by ministers as “even stricter” than those in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, particularly with the mandatory 60-day notice and relative-triggered FIR mechanism.
### Reactions: Support from Ruling Alliance, Criticism from Opposition
The ruling Mahayuti partners welcomed the move. Hindutva organisations that had long campaigned for the law expressed satisfaction.
Opposition leaders, however, raised concerns about potential misuse and targeting of specific communities. Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Sachin Ahir questioned whether the law would apply uniformly or single out particular groups: “It needs to be understood that law considers whom and in what context… those who talk about ‘love jihad’ are speaking specifically about which communities.”
Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar criticised the timing and focus, asking “What are they trying to prove?” while pointing to other pressing issues facing the state. Senior Congress leader Hussain Dalwai described the measure as undue interference in personal matters such as marriage and faith. Legal experts, including senior Bombay High Court advocate Sunip Sen, called the 60-day notice requirement “ridiculous” and argued that it infringes on an individual’s fundamental right to choose their religion without state oversight.
Minority communities, particularly Christian groups, have historically opposed such bills nationwide, fearing criminalisation of charitable or missionary work and potential harassment. The Supreme Court is currently examining petitions challenging similar laws in multiple states.
### What Lies Ahead
Once introduced in the Assembly, the bill is expected to sail through given the Mahayuti government’s majority. However, it is almost certain to face legal challenges in the Bombay High Court and possibly the Supreme Court on grounds of violating Articles 25 (freedom of religion) and 21 (right to privacy and personal liberty).
Civil rights groups have already signalled that they will closely monitor implementation, particularly the burden of proof clauses and the scope for complaints by relatives.
The Maharashtra government has maintained that the law is not against voluntary conversions or inter-faith marriages per se, but only against those involving coercion, concealment of identity or inducement for the purpose of religious change.
As the bill moves to the legislative floor, it is set to intensify the national debate on balancing religious freedom with protection against alleged fraudulent conversions — a contentious issue that has divided political and social opinion for years.
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