The Uttarakhand Cabinet has approved the Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introducing some of the country’s toughest measures against forced or fraudulent religious conversions.
Under the amended provisions, offenders could face life imprisonment, a fine of up to ₹10 lakh, and even seizure of property linked to the conversion offence. The Bill also empowers authorities to make arrests without a warrant, significantly strengthening the enforcement framework.
The move comes amid rising concerns in the state over alleged cases of coerced religious conversions. With this approval, Uttarakhand has joined the list of states that have enacted stringent regulations to curb conversion practices deemed illegal.
Once tabled and passed in the Legislative Assembly, the Bill will replace the earlier version of the Freedom of Religion Act. The new provisions make Uttarakhand’s law among the strictest in India in terms of penalties and enforcement powers.
