Parliament passes Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025
Parliament cleared the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 when the Rajya Sabha passed it in the early hours of 4 April 2025, after the Lok Sabha had passed it on 3 April.
Summary
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 cleared Parliament when the Rajya Sabha passed it in the early hours of 4 April 2025 after a debate that began on 3 April; the Lok Sabha had passed it on 3 April. Parliament also passed the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025, which removes the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923 so that waqf properties are managed under uniform rules of the Waqf Act, 1995. According to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the amendment Bill renames the 1995 law the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act, 2025; removes "waqf by user" and allows waqf formation only through declaration or endowment; requires donors to be practising Muslims for at least five years and to own the property; bars waqf-alal-aulad from denying inheritance rights to female heirs; and empowers Collectors to conduct surveys of waqf property.
Key facts
- Lok Sabha
- Passed 3 April 2025
- Rajya Sabha
- Passed early on 4 April 2025, completing Parliament's approval
- Companion Bill
- Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025 repeals the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923
- New name
- Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act, 2025
- Formation
- Waqf by user removed; only by declaration or endowment
- Donors
- Practising Muslims for at least five years who own the property
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Under the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which cleared Parliament on 4 April 2025, the Waqf Act, 1995 is renamed as the:
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Correct answer: A — Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act, 2025
PIB (Ministry of Minority Affairs): the Bill renames the Act the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act, 2025.
The Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025, passed by Parliament along with the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, repeals the Mussalman Wakf Act of which year?
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Correct answer: C — 1923
PIB (Ministry of Minority Affairs): the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025 seeks to remove the outdated Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923.
Consider the following about the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025: 1. It removes 'waqf by user' and allows waqf formation only through declaration or endowment. 2. It requires donors to be practising Muslims for at least ten years. 3. It empowers Collectors to conduct surveys of waqf property. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 3 only
PIB (Ministry of Minority Affairs): the Bill removes waqf by user, allows formation only through declaration or endowment, and empowers Collectors to conduct surveys. Donors must be practising Muslims for at least five years, not ten, so statement 2 is wrong.