Jaipur: With the Budget session beginning today, the state government is likely to introduce ‘The ‘Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill 2025’ is likely to be introduced in the state assembly. Earlier, the Vasundhara Raje government had introduced a similar bill in the Assembly, but it got stuck with the Centre.
Notably, the BJP-ruled states like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand have already introduced strict anti-conversion laws. Apart from these states, Himachal Pradesh also made its law on conversion more stringent, after the BJP came to power in 2022.
Know about the anti-conversion bill
The draft of The ‘Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill 2025’ was cleared by the cabinet in a meeting last November. As per the bill, if anybody wants to convert to another religion, they will have to apply to the district magistrate at least 60 days in advance.
After this, the district magistrate will probe whether it was a case of force or willful conversion. The application will be cleared after it is found that the applicant is looking to convert on his wish and without any kind of pressure. The bill will also have provisions of punishment, in case it is found that the applicant is being converted forcefully.
A jail term of 2 to 10 years if somebody is found guilty
The bill has a provision for a jail term of 2 to 10 years if somebody is found guilty. Apart from them, a Rs 25,000 fine will be imposed, if somebody is found trying to concert, women, minors, and those from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes. In case of a large-scale conversion, a fine of Rs 50,000 and imprisonment of 3 to 10 years will be imposed in case somebody is found guilty.
