The Bhajan Lal Sharma-led Rajasthan Government is likely to introduce ‘The ‘Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill 2025’ during the budget session in the state assembly today.
In November 2024, the cabinet approved the draft of the bill aimed at curbing forcible religious conversions, making the state the latest BJP-ruled region to introduce such legislation. The bill mandates that individuals wishing to convert to another religion must submit an application to the district magistrate at least 60 days in advance. The district magistrate will assess whether the conversion is voluntary or forced, and if no coercion or temptation is involved, the conversion will be allowed.
The bill has a provision for a jail term of 2 to 10 years if somebody is found guilty. Also, Rs 25,000 fine will be imposed, if somebody is found trying to convert, women, minors, and those from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes. In case of a large-scale conversion, a fine of Rs 50,000 and imprisonment of 3 to 10 years will be imposed in case somebody is found guilty, as reported by News9Live.
On anti-conversion bill, Rajasthan Minister K.K. Vishnoi said, as quoted by news agency ANI "... This bill is being introduced against Love Jihad so that cajoling of innocent girls can be stopped..."
Last year, Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Bhajan Lal Sharma, took to X (formerly Twitter) and said, "Rajasthan government committed to stop illegal conversion. In the cabinet meeting held in the Chief Minister's Office today, it was decided to introduce 'The Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill-2024' in the Assembly to stop attempts of conversion by inducement or fraud. The proposed bill will prohibit any person or institution from converting a person's religion through misleading information, fraud, use of force or undue influence. If a person marries for the purpose of illegal conversion, the family court will have the right to declare such marriage invalid."