Chhattisgarh Anti-Conversion Law: In Chhattisgarh, any individual wishing to change their religion must now notify the district administration at least 60 days in advance. The state government has formally implemented the ‘Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 2026’ following the notification of its rules in the official gazette. With this notification, the state’s anti-conversion law has come into effect. The government states that the objective is to curb illegal religious conversions through a clear legal process. The rules outline the procedure for notifying the authorities about a conversion, how officials will investigate complaints, and the steps involved in the inquiry and legal action.
The government claims that the new law will effectively curb illegal conversions and ensure strict action against offenders. The notification for the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 2026, was published in the state gazette on August 4, 2026. According to the government, the Act comprises four parts and 24 sections aimed at prohibiting conversions brought about through force, allurement, fraud, or coercion.
Under the new law, an individual intending to convert must make a personal declaration. Notice of the proposed conversion will be made public, allowing anyone with objections to register them through the prescribed procedure. Additionally, the religious leader or the person facilitating the conversion is required to provide prior intimation to the competent authority. Provisions have also been made to rectify any errors found during the process.
The state government asserts that the new freedom of religion law has been implemented to curb forced and illegal conversions while upholding religious freedom. All eyes will now be on the law’s effective implementation and its outcomes. This law also applies to cases of religious conversion related to marriage; according to the government, marriages entered into solely for the purpose of religious conversion may be declared void. It also includes provisions to investigate the role of organizations and foreign funding in cases of alleged illegal religious conversion.
