Chhattisgarh’s cabinet has cleared a draft law aimed at restricting religious conversions carried out through coercion, deception or inducement — a move officials say responds to recent tensions in tribal districts. The proposal lays out a formal notification and approval process, and warns that conversions failing to follow the procedure would be invalid and subject to punishment.
The decision came at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai at the state assembly complex, where ministers approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026. According to government sources, the draft borrows elements from laws already in force in nine other Indian states and sets a uniform procedural route for anyone intending to change faith.
Under the draft, anyone planning to adopt a different religion would be required to give prior intimation to the district administration — normally at least 60 days before the conversion. Officials told reporters that the conversion would only be recognised after the prescribed steps are completed, including a public notice in a local newspaper and formal administrative processing.
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Government statements emphasise that conversions obtained by force, fraud or through offers of material benefit would attract “strict action” and be declared null and void. The draft is presented as a tool to maintain public order: authorities say it targets areas where conversion-related disputes have recently flared.
| Key provision | What it requires |
|---|---|
| Notification | Prior intimation to district authorities — normally 60 days before the intended conversion |
| Administrative check | District administration to process and verify the intimation; conversion recognised only after completion |
| Public notice | Publish details in a local newspaper before the conversion is accepted |
| Invalidation | Conversions not following the procedure deemed void |
| Penalties | Stringent punishment for conversions through coercion, fraud or allurement (details to be set out in the bill) |
Officials singled out several sensitive districts where conversion activity has been a flashpoint, including Bastar, Raigarh and Jashpur, and said parts of Surguja have already seen a notable rise in conversions. They framed the bill as a preventive measure to avoid communal friction in these localities.
Legal and civil-society responses are likely to follow once the bill is placed before the state legislature. The cabinet plans to introduce the draft in the assembly, probably later this week, where it will face debate and possible amendment.
- Immediate impact: Individuals planning to change religion would need to follow the notification and publication steps or risk their conversion being invalidated.
- Administrative load: District offices would gain a formal role in recording and vetting conversions, increasing bureaucratic oversight.
- Potential disputes: Questions about enforcement, definitions of coercion and legal challenges can be expected if the bill becomes law.
The move places Chhattisgarh among a growing number of states seeking statutory controls over religious conversions. For residents of the targeted districts, the proposed law could change how faith transitions are carried out and reviewed — and it will be closely watched during the assembly debate that follows.
