Anti-Conversion Laws in India
Historical and Legal Context
Anti-conversion laws in India (often called "Freedom of Religion Acts") have existed at the state level since the 1960s. Odisha was the first state to enact one in 1967. These laws do not prohibit conversion per se — they prohibit conversion by force, fraud, allurement, or coercion. The constitutional basis is that the right to propagate religion under Article 25 does not include the right to convert another person.
The Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, commonly called the "love jihad law," went further than earlier state laws by: - Covering conversion through marriage (Section 3): conversions through marriage by prohibited means are deemed unlawful - Requiring prior notice to the District Magistrate before conversion - Making certain offences non-bailable and cognizable - Prescribing up to 10 years imprisonment for aggravated forms (conversion of minors, women, SC/ST persons) - The 2024 Amendment strengthened penalties further
- Odisha Freedom of Religion Act, 1967: first anti-conversion law in India
- Article 25: right to freely profess, practise, and propagate religion — does not include right to convert others by force
- UP Act, 2021: prohibits conversion by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement, or fraud
- Section 5: punishment 1-5 years imprisonment; aggravated forms 2-10 years; minimum fine Rs. 15,000-25,000
- Currently 11 states have anti-conversion laws: UP, MP, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha
● Tracked since February 26, 2026 · last seen March 19, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes