Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026 Comes Into Force with Punishment Up to 7 Years

Key facts

• The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026 came into force after receiving President Droupadi Murmu's assent and being published in the official gazette.
• The Act was notified in the Maharashtra state gazette on July 30, 2026.
• Under the new law, a person intending to embrace another faith must inform the district magistrate at least 60 days in advance.
• Religious conversions carried out through force, coercion, fraud, undue influence, allurement, misrepresentation, or marriage-related deception are punishable offences.
• A first-time offender can face imprisonment of up to seven years, while repeat offences can attract up to ten years of imprisonment.
• The victim's parents, siblings, and other close relatives are allowed to lodge a complaint under the law.
• With this law, Maharashtra joins at least a dozen states including Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Himachal Pradesh in enacting anti-conversion legislation.