Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill 2025 | 14 Aug 2025

Why in News? 

The Uttarakhand Cabinet has approved the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill 2025, introducing tougher penalties for forced, fraudulent, or coercive religious conversions.  

• The new amendments include life imprisonment, hefty fines, and increased provisions for protecting victims of illegal conversions. 
  

Key Points

• Stricter Penalties: 
  • The amended bill proposes life imprisonment for the gravest cases of forced conversions, alongside fines up to ₹10 lakh. 
  • General offences will carry 3 to 10 years imprisonment, while crimes involving sensitive classes such as minors or women will face 5 to 14 years imprisonment. 
  • Promotion through Digital Platforms: The bill criminalizes promoting conversions through social media, messaging apps, and other online channels. 
• Expanded Definition of Inducement: The bill broadens the definition of “inducement”, now including gifts, cash, goods, employment offers, promises of marriage, or portraying another religion negatively. 
• Protecting Victims: The bill includes provisions for victim protection, rehabilitation, financial assistance for medical care and travel, as well as legal aid  for victims of forced conversions. 
• Marriage and False Identity: It criminalizes marriage under false pretenses, where an individual conceals their religion, with penalties of 3 to 10 years in prison and fines of ₹3 lakh. 
• Asset Seizure and Warrants: Authorities will have the power to seize assets acquired through illegal conversions.  
  • Arrests can be made without a warrant in these cases (cognizable offenses), and bail will only be granted if the accused is not found guilty or is not likely to repeat the offense.