The Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2025, is a comprehensive anti-conversion law enacted to prohibit religious conversions through force, coercion, misrepresentation, allurement, fraud, or marriage for conversion purposes.
This law mandates individuals wishing to convert must notify district authorities well in advance and subjects unlawful conversions to severe penalties, including imprisonment and fines.
The law also criminalizes mass conversions, conversions involving minors or vulnerable groups, and receiving foreign funding for conversion activities.

Key Provisions

• Religious conversions by force, coercion, misrepresentation, undue influence, fraud, or marriage for conversion are prohibited.
• Individuals must inform the District Magistrate (DM) at least 60-90 days before a voluntary conversion; the person conducting the conversion must also give advance notice.
• The DM, with police help, conducts investigations into the genuineness of the conversion.
• Converted individuals must submit declarations to authorities, which are publicly displayed.
• Marriages done solely for conversion purposes can be declared void by courts.
• Penalties range from 7 to 14 years in prison with fines up to Rs 5 lakh for fraudulent conversions.
• Conversions of minors, women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and disabled persons attract jail terms of 10-20 years and fines.
• Mass conversions can result in 20 years to life imprisonment and hefty fines.
• Acceptance of foreign or illegal funds for conversion activities results in 10-20 years prison and fines.
• Properties used for forced conversions can be confiscated.
• Repeat offenders face enhanced punishments.
• Conversion back to the original religion ("ghar wapsi") is exempt from penalties.

Context and Controversy

• The law aims to curb what the government describes as "forced" and fraudulent conversions and "love jihad."
• Several opposition parties and civil liberties groups have criticized the law as draconian and a threat to individual liberty and religious freedom, arguing it targets minority communities and may create a climate of fear.
• Similar anti-conversion laws exist in states like Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh.

Legislative Status

• The Bill was passed by the Rajasthan Assembly in September 2025 and has been enforced since early 2025.
• The opposition Congress did not participate in the debate and protested the provisions.

This law introduces one of the strictest regulatory frameworks on religious conversions in India, emphasizing procedural requirements and harsh penalties to control conversions deemed unlawful by the state.

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