Maharashtra Cabinet Approves Anti-Conversion Bill, ‘Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act 2026’ Likely Soon

Mumbai, 6th March 2026: The Maharashtra cabinet has cleared a proposal to bring in a new law aimed at curbing forced religious conversions, with the state government planning to introduce the legislation during the ongoing budget session of the state legislature.

State Fisheries and Ports Minister Nitesh Rane said the proposed legislation will be titled the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act 2026 and is intended to address cases involving alleged forced conversions, often referred to in political discourse as “love jihad”.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Rane said the ruling alliance had promised such a law before the 2024 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election and that the cabinet’s approval marks a step towards fulfilling that commitment.

“The Mahayuti government had assured people that a strong law against forced religious conversions would be introduced. The cabinet has now approved a comprehensive bill on the matter,” Rane said, adding that the proposed law is intended to provide legal safeguards against coercive or fraudulent conversions.

According to government officials, the bill is likely to be tabled in the legislature soon and may subsequently be referred to a joint select committee of both houses for further examination before final passage.
Rane claimed the proposed legislation would include stringent provisions.

“The government wants to ensure that no individual is subjected to forced or deceptive religious conversion. The law has been drafted with strict provisions to address such offences,” he said, adding that violations could attract non-bailable charges.

He also asserted that Maharashtra’s proposed law would include stronger provisions than similar legislation enacted in states such as Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

The move follows the formation of a seven-member committee by the Maharashtra government last year to examine legal options related to alleged forced conversions. The panel, chaired by the state’s Director General of Police, included senior officials from departments such as law and judiciary, home affairs, women and child development, minority affairs, and social justice.

The committee was tasked with studying existing anti-conversion laws in other states and recommending legal measures to deal with reported cases of coercive religious conversions.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier defended the decision to form the panel, stating that while interfaith marriages are not inherently problematic, the government must address situations where religion is allegedly concealed or misrepresented to facilitate conversion.

The government resolution establishing the committee had specifically mentioned the issue of “love jihad” and directed the panel to review similar laws in other states, examine complaints, and suggest an appropriate legal framework for Maharashtra.

However, the proposal has faced opposition from some religious groups. In November 2025, members of the Christian community urged the state government not to move ahead with the bill, expressing concerns about its potential impact.

Community leaders had said that ambiguities in the draft legislation could lead to misuse. “There is apprehension that the proposed law may result in harassment of religious minorities under the pretext of preventing conversions,” they had stated while appealing to the chief minister to reconsider the move.