Heftier penalties, longer jail terms: How Rajasthans new anti-conversion Bill is far harsher than the old one
The revised legislation broadens the definition of "allurement" to encompass digital propaganda and introduces a key exception for "ghar wapsi," or returning to one's ancestral religion. The bill also allows for the demolition of properties used for conversions and the permanent blacklisting of organizations involved.
New Delhi: The BJP-led Rajasthan government tabled the new anti-conversion Bill on Wednesday. It is called the Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2025. The state government rolled back a previous similar Bill that it had introduced in the Assembly in February this year. The new bill is likely to be discussed for its potential passage on September 9.
The Bill significantly increases penalties and broadens the earlier draft to include digital propaganda, and also adds an exception for "ghar wapsi", or returning to one’s "ancestral religion”. The provisions in it permit the demolition of properties linked to conversions and the permanent blacklisting of organisations.
What does the new Bill say
According to the Bill, in the past, many "gullible persons have been converted from one religion to another by misrepresentation, misinformation, force, undue influence, propaganda, coercion, allurement or by fradulent means", including by marriage. It further adds that such conversions or "love jihad" must be stopped. The Bill envisages to check forced conversions, mostly of the vulnerable communities.
The new Bill puts the onus of evidence on the person who has allegedly executed the religious conversion. Every offence committed will be cognizable and non-bailable.
How the new bill is more stringent
The new Bill imposes stricter punishment and penalities. The revised Bill sets a general penalty for unlawful conversion at 7 to 14 years in jail along with a minimum fine of Rs 5 lakh. This is a steep rise from the earlier 1–5 years and Rs 15,000 fine. For repeat offenders, the new Bill proposes 20 years of imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs 50 lakh.
Converting minors, women, persons with disabilities, or members of Scheduled Castes and Tribes now carries 10–20 years of jail and a minimum penalty of Rs 10 lakh. Earlier, the imprisonment was for 2-10 years while the minimum fine was Rs 25,000. The earlier Bill didn't mention any provision for persons with disabilities.
For unlawful mass conversions, a person can now be jailed for 20 years or attract a life term. The minimum fine for such an offence will be Rs 25 lakh. Earlier, the jail was for 3-10 years and the minimum fine was Rs 50,000.
Besides, after a probe, the property used for the unlawful conversion can be seized or pulled down. This will be regardless of whether the owner was aware or gave his nod. In case an institution or organisation is involved in unlawful conversion, its licence or registration will be cancelled forever, their bank account frozen and face a fine of Rs 1 crore.
How does it differ
The legislation introduces a major exception, declaring that "the return of any person already converted to his original religion i.e. ancestral religion shall not be deemed conversion”. Commonly referred to as "ghar wapsi”, this provision means such reconversions are excluded from the Bill’s strict procedures and penalties.
The new Bill identifies not just marriage but also the "pretext of marriage" as an "allurement for conversion". It also expands the definition of "allurement” to include criticising one religion or glorifying another.
The Bill now includes modern platforms, as it defines "propaganda” as the dissemination of information via social media and digital channels with an intention to promote conversion.