Rajasthan Anti-Conversion Law Comes into Force | 11 Oct 2025

Why in News? 

Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde has approved the Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, 2025, which was passed by the state Assembly in September 2025. 

• The 2017 guidelines by the Rajasthan High Court stipulated that conversions could only occur for adults, with prior notification to the District Magistrate and a public declaration of intent.

Key Provisions of the Act 

• Advance Notification for Marriages: Priests or clerics must inform the district administration at least two months before officiating inter-religious marriages. 
  • Individuals must inform the District Magistrate at least three months in advance of their marriage. 
• Penalties for Violation:  
  • Failure to adhere to these requirements can lead to penalties for forced conversions, including Imprisonment ranging from 7 to 14 years and fines starting from ₹5 lakh. 
  • Escalated Penalties for victims from protected groups (e.g., women, minors, SC/ST) include jail terms extending up to 20 years and fines rising to at least ₹10 lakh. 
  • For mass conversions, offenders could face life imprisonment and fines of at least ₹25 lakh. 
  • Repeat offenders could face life sentences and fines up to ₹50 lakh. 
• Court Provisions: The law stipulates that all offences will be cognizable, non-bailable, and triable by the sessions court. 
• Void Marriages for Conversion: Marriages intended solely for conversion will be declared void, and conversions before or after such marriages will be considered unlawful. 
• Exemptions: Individuals returning to their "ancestral religion" are exempted from the provisions of the law. 
• Similar Legislation in Other States: Rajasthan joins other states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh, which have passed similar laws aimed at curbing forcible religious conversions.