Chhattisgarh Bill against conversions passed amid boycott

20 MARCH 2026

The Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly passed Chhattisgarh Dharm Swatantra Vidheyak (Freedom of Religion Bill), 2026 to replace a 1968 law from undivided Madhya Pradesh.
The Opposition boycotted the House proceedings, calling for a review.
It holds any conversion violating its provisions as “illegal”, and introduces stricter penalties, including life imprisonment and fines up to ₹25 lakh in specific cases.
It would “stop conversions carried out by taking advantage of people’s poverty, and lack of education and knowledge”, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai told journalists.
The Bill broadens the definition of allurements to include monetary benefits, gifts, employment, free education or medical facilities, promises of better lifestyle, or marriage.
“Coercion”, according to the Bill, includes psychological pressure, physical force, or threats, including social boycott.
It also proposes publishing “details of the proposed religious conversion on its official website maintained by the competent authority under this Act”, and the setting up of special courts to hear all such cases registered under the proposed law.
Mass conversions, which the law defines as the conversion of two or more persons, may attract imprisonment of not less than 10 years, extendable to life imprisonment, and fines of ₹25 lakh or more, while repeat offenders may face life imprisonment.