Jail term up to 10 years, ₹7 lakh fine for repeat offender: Maharashtra anti-conversion law comes into force

Maharashtra's anti-conversion law has come into force after receiving President Droupadi Murmu's assent and being published in the official gazette, news agency PTI said.

The development paves the way for action against religious conversions carried out through coercion, fraud, inducement or marriage.

The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026, passed by both Houses of the state legislature during the budget session in March, received Presidential assent and was notified in the state gazette on July 30.

The legislation was passed by the Assembly during the Budget Session in March and subsequently cleared by the Legislative Council before being sent to the Governor and then the President for assent.

The Bill had sparked sharp political debate when it was introduced. The ruling Mahayuti alliance backed the legislation, while the Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar) and Samajwadi Party opposed it. Shiv Sena (UBT) supported the Bill.

The Act prohibits religious conversions carried out through coercion, fraud, allurement, misrepresentation or under the promise of marriage.

Under the new law, a person intending to embrace another faith must inform the district magistrate at least 60 days in advance. The prescribed post-conversion procedures must also be followed.

The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026, makes religious conversions carried out through force, coercion, fraud, undue influence, allurement, misrepresentation, or marriage-related deception a punishable offence.

A first-time offender can face imprisonment of up to seven years. The punishment can extend to 10 years for repeat offences.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said earlier that the objective of the law was to curb forced or fraudulent religious conversions. The state government has maintained that the legislation is not aimed at voluntary religious conversions or interfaith marriages.

With the new law, Maharashtra joins at least a dozen states, including Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh, in enacting anti-conversion legislation.

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