Raksha Bandhan Launch: Maharashtra's Anti‑Conversion Bill Protects Women

Mumbai, August 18 – On the eve of Raksha Bandhan, the Maharashtra government under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the rollout of the Maharashtra Religion Freedom Act, 2026. A Home Department notification dated August 17 confirmed that the law will be operational from August 28, 2026.

The bill is aimed at preventing any form of forced religious conversion, whether through physical force, psychological pressure, fraud, or monetary inducement. Anyone found guilty of coercing another individual to adopt a different faith faces a non‑bailable sentence of up to seven years.

For those who wish to change their religion of their own accord, the Act requires a formal request to be filed with the designated authority at least sixty days before the intended conversion. The process ensures that the change is voluntary and documented.

A distinctive provision deals with marriages that are entered into solely for conversion purposes. The law states that if a marriage is proven to be a sham for religious change, its legal standing will be re‑evaluated, and the child’s religious identity will be linked to the mother’s original faith before the marriage.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam endorsed the legislation, emphasizing its role in safeguarding women from being manipulated into conversion under the guise of marriage. He highlighted that the law, timed to coincide with Raksha Bandhan, is crafted with women’s safety and rights at its core.

The Maharashtra administration presents the Act as a balanced approach: it deters coercive conversion while providing a clear, lawful pathway for those who voluntarily wish to change their religion.