Maharashtra's New Anti-Conversion Law Sparks Fear Among Christians

The Cliff News | 29 September 2026

In Maharashtra, India's financial hub and a state with a significant Christian population, churches are now asking worshippers to sign declarations stating they attended prayer services of their own volition. This practice has emerged following the implementation of a stringent new anti-conversion law, sparking fears within the Christian community about religious freedom and increased scrutiny of their practices.

The declarations, which are not officially mandated but are kept by some churches, require attendees to write their names, sometimes add identification numbers, and sign a statement affirming they were not coerced or enticed to attend. This measure began in some churches in late August, just before the new legislation came into effect.

New Law's Provisions and Intent

The new law in Maharashtra prohibits religious conversions achieved through force, fraud, coercion, or inducement. It also mandates that individuals wishing to convert voluntarily must notify authorities in advance. Violators face severe penalties, including prison sentences of up to seven years, which can escalate to ten years for repeat offenses.

Maharashtra's government asserts that the law is designed to protect vulnerable individuals, particularly those who are socially and economically disadvantaged, from being deceived or forced into changing their religion. However, critics argue that the law's broad definitions, harsh penalties, and the oversight of even voluntary conversions risk undue state interference in deeply personal decisions.

Anxiety Within Minority Communities

While the law applies to all religions, the anxiety is most acutely felt by minority religious groups, especially Christians. The underlying tension stems from longstanding allegations, often amplified by right-wing organizations, that religious conversions are frequently facilitated by coercion or material incentives.

Devdan Tribhuvan, who provides legal aid to the Christian community in Mumbai, has witnessed this anxiety firsthand. He notes an increase in people approaching him not with court cases, but with accounts of disrupted prayer meetings and concerns about their fundamental freedoms. Some have reported strangers entering churches to question attendees about their presence and any inducements they might have received.

"Is gathering for prayer itself conversion?" Tribhuvan asks.

These pointed questions often become more intense if a worshipper's name does not sound distinctly Christian. Many who seek assistance from Tribhuvan are not looking to initiate legal action but are seeking clarity on whether their simple act of gathering for prayer could be misconstrued as an unlawful conversion attempt.

Disruptions and Police Cases

Recent reports, including an investigation by The Indian Express in July, documented at least five disruptions of Christian prayer meetings around Mumbai between April and July. These incidents led to nine police cases, with seven filed against worshippers or prayer organizers and two against members of the Hindu nationalist group Bajrang Dal. Police have not provided detailed responses to queries regarding these cases.

A History of Conversion Laws in India

Maharashtra is now among over a dozen Indian states that have enacted laws restricting religious conversion. The reach of these laws has expanded significantly in recent years, particularly in states governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. Several of these state-level laws are currently facing legal challenges before the Supreme Court.

The impetus behind this expansion often stems from claims made by Hindu nationalist groups. These groups allege that Christians use financial aid, educational opportunities, or medical care to lure poor and tribal communities away from Hinduism. Similar allegations are made concerning Muslim men allegedly courting Hindu women for conversion, a phenomenon Hindu nationalist groups refer to as "love jihad."

Interfaith Harmony in Mumbai

In the context of Mumbai, Tribhuvan's question about prayer gatherings carries significant weight. The city is renowned for its multicultural fabric, drawing people from across India and the world, each bringing their unique religious traditions. Churches, mosques, and temples often coexist within close proximity, with church bells ringing alongside the call to prayer from mosques.

Mumbai's spiritual landscape is rich with instances of interfaith engagement. People of diverse faiths visit the renowned Mount Mary Church, a Catholic basilica, where Hindus also light candles. Similarly, throngs visit the Muslim shrine Haji Ali, and the Siddhivinayak temple sees consistent crowds throughout the year, especially during festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi.

The current situation highlights a deepening concern among minority religious groups about their freedom to practice their faith and gather peacefully, amid a growing trend of states enacting stricter religious conversion laws. The declarations signed by churchgoers in Maharashtra represent a tangible, albeit unofficial, response to the perceived threat posed by these new legal frameworks.

The Maharashtra government has not responded to repeated requests from the BBC for comment on the new law and its impact.