Maharashtra legislature passes Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026 as Legislative Council clears it
The Maharashtra Legislative Council on 17 March 2026 passed the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026, a day after the Assembly, sending the anti-conversion bill to the Governor for assent.
Summary
The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026 was passed by the state Legislative Council by voice vote on 17 March 2026, a day after the Legislative Assembly cleared it, and now goes to the Governor for assent. The bill seeks to prohibit religious conversions carried out through force, coercion, allurement, misrepresentation, fraud or marriage, and prescribes a procedure that includes prior notice to the competent authority by a person intending to convert. Minister of State for Home Pankaj Bhoyar tabled the bill in the Council; the Shiv Sena (UBT) supported it while the Congress and NCP (SP) opposed it. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the Assembly the bill does not restrict the right to religion under Article 25.
Key facts
- Council passed
- 17 March 2026, voice vote
- Assembly passed
- 16 March 2026
- Aim
- Prohibit conversion by force, coercion, allurement, fraud or marriage
- Procedure
- Prior notice to competent authority before conversion
- Tabled in Council by
- MoS Home Pankaj Bhoyar
- Next step
- Governor's assent
Practice MCQs 2 questions
The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026, passed by the state Legislative Council on 17 March 2026, deals with:
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Correct answer: D — Prohibiting religious conversions through force, fraud, allurement or marriage
The bill seeks to prohibit conversions carried out through force, coercion, allurement, misrepresentation, fraud or marriage.
Consider the following about the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026: 1. The Legislative Assembly passed it a day before the Legislative Council. 2. It became law immediately on passage by the Council, without the Governor's assent. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct: the Assembly passed it on 16 March and the Council on 17 March 2026. Statement 2 is wrong: it needs the Governor's assent to become law.