The Rajasthan government has officially implemented the Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2025, introducing stringent penalties for forced, fraudulent, or inducement-based religious conversions in the state. A notification issued by the Home Department on Thursday put the law into immediate effect.
According to Jagran, under the new provisions, any case of conversion carried out through coercion, allurement, misrepresentation, or marriage arranged solely for the purpose of conversion will now be registered under this law, and bail will not be easily granted. In cases of love jihad or conversion through deception, the punishment may extend up to 20 years of imprisonment.
The law further states that marriages conducted solely for the purpose of religious conversion will be declared void. Additionally, organizations found to be involved in organizing or promoting mass conversions will face strict action, including the sealing or demolition of their buildings.
For individuals who wish to convert voluntarily, prior declaration and approval from the administration are mandatory. The person intending to convert must submit a written notice to the District Collector or Additional District Collector at least 90 days in advance, affirming that the decision is voluntary. Similarly, the religious officiant performing the conversion must notify the magistrate at least two months prior to the ceremony. The administration will publicly display the notice for transparency. Returning to one’s original religion (ghar wapsi) will not be counted as conversion under the Act.
The legislation was passed in the previous session of the Rajasthan Assembly and has now come into force across the state. Authorities have been instructed to ensure strict enforcement and immediate action on complaints related to unlawful conversion.
The Act now in force was originally introduced as a bill in November 2024 to curb rising concerns over coercive and deceitful religious conversions in the state. With its official implementation in 2025, the Rajasthan government has moved from proposal to strict enforcement, signaling that unlawful conversions will no longer be tolerated under the guise of forced love jihad, inducement, or social pressure. The legislation not only establishes legal clarity but also creates a preventive framework through mandatory prior declarations, public transparency, and penalties designed to deter organized conversion networks. In essence, what began as a legislative initiative in 2024 has now transitioned into a comprehensive legal mechanism aimed at protecting individual religious freedom and preventing exploitation in matters of faith across Rajasthan.
