Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act Takes Effect August 28
In a place called Maharashtra in India, a new law is starting on August 28.
The law says people cannot be tricked or forced into changing their religion.
If someone is forced or fooled, the people who did it can go to jail for up to seven years and pay a big fine.
The fine can be as much as five lakh rupees, which is a lot of money.
If adults want to change their religion on their own, they must tell the government 60 days before.
The law applies to everyone, no matter which religion they follow.
If a person changes religion unfairly and then has a child, the child is seen as belonging to the mother's original religion.
The government says the law protects people from bad conversions.
Some people say the law stops them from choosing their religion freely.
The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026 takes effect on August 28 after publication in the official gazette.
Forced or fraudulent religious conversion becomes a non-bailable criminal offense punishable by up to seven years in prison.
Voluntary converts must file an application with the government 60 days before the intended conversion.
Fines reach up to Rs 5 lakh, with maximum seven-year jail terms for cases involving women, minors, mentally ill persons, or Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Repeat offenders face up to ten years' imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh.
- Who
- The Maharashtra government and Legislature, with Minister of State for Home Pankaj Bhoyar; several organizations opposed the Bill.
- What
- The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026, which criminalizes forced or illicit religious conversion, comes into force.
- When
- August 28, 2026, following publication in the official gazette.
- Where
- Maharashtra, India.
- Why
- To prevent religious conversions carried out by force, fraud, coercion, seduction, or undue influence while protecting constitutional rights.
State government
Opposing organizations
Religious freedom
State government
The Act does not violate the fundamental right to practise and profess faith; it builds safeguards against conversions done by fraud, coercion, or incentive.
Opposing organizations
The legislation infringes on a person's ability to choose their religion.
- Law
- Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026
- Effective date
- August 28, 2026
- Applicability
- All religious communities
- Maximum penalty for unlawful conversion
- Seven years' imprisonment, non-bailable
- Maximum fine
- Rs 5 lakh
- Repeat offenders
- Up to ten years' imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh
- Voluntary conversion notice
- Application 60 days before conversion
- Child's religion
- Child of an unlawful-conversion marriage follows the mother's pre-marriage religion