A new religious conversion law in India’s Maharashtra state has raised concerns among Christian communities, with some churches introducing additional checks for people attending prayer services.
The new law has increased scrutiny around religious gatherings and voluntary conversions. Critics say the measures could make Christians feel less secure when practising their faith.
Churches Introduce Written Declarations
According to a recent BBC report, some churches in and around Mumbai have started asking worshippers to sign written declarations before prayer meetings.
The forms ask visitors to provide their names and, in some cases, identity card numbers. Worshippers also confirm that they attended voluntarily and were not forced or offered incentives to take part.
The BBC reported that these forms have no official legal status. Some churches are keeping them as a precaution in case their prayer meetings later face allegations of unlawful religious conversion.
More Read
Maharashtra Tightens Conversion Rules
The Maharashtra law prohibits religious conversions resulting from force, fraud, coercion or inducement.
It also requires people who voluntarily want to convert to notify the authorities in advance. Violations can result in imprisonment, with penalties reaching up to seven years and higher sentences for repeat offences.
The state government says the legislation is intended to protect vulnerable people from forced or deceptive conversions.
However, critics argue that broad definitions and strict penalties could increase government and police scrutiny of religious activities.
Christians Report Increased Anxiety
The BBC reported that some Christians in the Mumbai area have become concerned about prayer meetings and possible accusations of unlawful conversion.
An investigation by The Indian Express also documented several disruptions of Christian prayer meetings in and around Mumbai earlier this year.
The concerns extend beyond churches. Christian groups and interfaith couples have also raised questions about how the new law could affect religious freedom and personal choices.
USCIRF Raises Wider Religious Freedom Concerns
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has separately raised concerns about religious freedom conditions in India.
In its 2026 annual assessment, USCIRF recommended that the US government designate India as a Country of Particular Concern. The commission cited what it described as systematic and ongoing religious freedom violations and highlighted state-level anti-conversion laws among its concerns.
USCIRF has also reported concerns about violence and harassment affecting Christians and other religious minorities.
The Indian government and supporters of the conversion laws have disputed such criticism and have argued that the measures are intended to prevent forced or fraudulent conversions.
The debate over Maharashtra’s new law therefore continues to involve competing claims about religious freedom, individual choice and protection against unlawful conversion.
