Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026

The Say government has drafted the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026, with the objective of preventing illegal conversions and protecting freedom of religion. The draft was approved in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Say. According to the proposed law, conversion by force, inducement, coercion, misinformation, or fraudulent means will be prohibited. The government states that the conversion process will be made transparent and legal. If any person wishes to convert voluntarily, they will have to provide prior notice to the District Magistrate or competent authority as per the prescribed procedure. Information about the proposed conversion will be publicly displayed, with a provision for objections within 30 days. The bill clearly defines terms such as inducement, coercion, misrepresentation, mass conversion, and conversion through digital media. It is also clarified that returning to one’s ancestral religion will not be considered conversion. The law provides for strict penalties for cases of illegal conversion. Conversion through illegal means may result in imprisonment from 7 to 10 years and a fine of at least 5 lakh rupees. If the victim is a minor, woman, Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, or Other Backward Class, the punishment could be imprisonment from 10 to 20 years and a fine of at least 10 lakh rupees. In cases of mass conversion, the penalties will be more severe, with provisions for imprisonment from 10 years to life and a fine of at least 25 lakh rupees. Offences under the bill will be cognizable and non-bailable, and cases will be heard in special courts. The government states that the aim of this law is not to restrict religious freedom but to prevent conversions through illegal means.