Chhattisgarh has enacted one of India's most stringent anti-conversion laws — replacing a 58-year-old act with sweeping new provisions that will reshape religious freedom in the state.

The Chhattisgarh Assembly has passed the Dharma Swatantrya (Freedom of Religion) Bill 2026, making it one of the most comprehensive and far-reaching anti-conversion legislations in India. Introduced by Home Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma — who held over 50 marathon consultations to finalise the bill — the new law replaces the outdated Chhattisgarh Dharma Swatantrya Act of 1968. It passed by voice vote, with BJP MLAs breaking into chants of "Jai Shri Ram" on the floor of the House. The opposition staged a walkout, calling for broader consultation before passage.

What the Law Says — Punishments in Detail

The bill establishes a tiered punishment framework based on the severity and nature of the illegal conversion.

For standard cases of illegal conversion through force, allurement, fraud or misrepresentation, the punishment is 7 to 10 years imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs 5 lakh.

Where the victim is a minor, a woman, or belongs to SC, ST or OBC communities, the punishment is enhanced to 10 to 20 years imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs 10 lakh.

For mass conversions, the penalty is the most severe — 10 years to life imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs 25 lakh.

Any person who assists or facilitates an illegal conversion — even in a supporting role — faces a minimum of 6 months and up to 3 years in prison, along with a Rs 2 lakh fine.

Repeat offenders — those convicted of facilitating illegal conversion, who subsequently commit the offence again after serving their sentence — will face life imprisonment. Courts may reduce this in exceptional circumstances for special reasons on record.

60 Days' Prior Notice — Mandatory for All Conversions

One of the most operationally significant provisions of the bill is the mandatory prior notice requirement. Any individual wishing to voluntarily convert their religion must submit an application to the District Collector at least 60 days in advance. This requirement applies not just to the person converting but also to the priest, pastor, maulvi or religious officiant conducting the conversion ceremony — they too must notify the district administration 60 days prior. Any conversion conducted without this prior notice will be treated as illegal and will invite immediate arrest.

Marriage-Based Conversion Declared Void

The bill contains specific provisions targeting conversions conducted solely for the purpose of marriage — widely referred to in political discourse as "love jihad." Under the new law, if a court determines that a marriage was solemnised with the primary intention of causing a religious conversion, that marriage will be declared legally void. Couples intending to convert prior to marriage must declare their intention two months in advance, and the District Magistrate will personally conduct an inquiry into the matter.

Crackdown on Foreign Funding

The bill also takes direct aim at foreign-funded conversion activities. Any organisation found to be involved in allurement-based or mass conversion using foreign funding will face cancellation of registration and heavy financial penalties. The government has made explicit its intent to block overseas money from influencing religious demographics in the state.

Special Courts — Six-Month Fast Track

To ensure swift justice, the bill mandates the establishment of a special court in every district of Chhattisgarh dedicated to hearing cases under this law. The government's stated objective is to resolve all cases within six months of filing.

Why Chhattisgarh Felt This Law Was Needed

The government has pointed to rising tensions in tribal-dominated regions — particularly Bastar, Jashpur and Raigarh — as the primary justification for the law. Large-scale conversion of tribal communities to Christianity has been a source of conflict in these areas, with disputes between converted and non-converted tribal groups sometimes turning violent. In Narayanpur, Bastar, the friction has reportedly escalated into factional clashes. The government argues that the 1968 law lacked the teeth to address modern methods of inducement and organised conversion networks.

Chhattisgarh has an estimated population of 3.3 crore, of whom approximately 2.38 crore are Hindu, 4.90 lakh are Christian and 5.14 lakh are Muslim. The state has around 900 churches, including the second largest Roman Catholic Cathedral in Asia located in Kunkuri, Jashpur — a major centre of Christian worship drawing devotees from multiple states.

Opposition's Stand — Unconstitutional, Rushed

The Congress-led opposition walked out before the vote, arguing that a law of this magnitude — with implications for fundamental rights and religious freedom guaranteed under the Constitution — should not have been passed without consulting retired Supreme Court and High Court judges, legal experts and representatives of all political parties. They have signalled a possible legal challenge to the bill.

A Law That Will Be Tested in Court

The Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill 2026 is already one of the most debated pieces of state legislation in India this year. Its constitutionality — particularly the provisions on prior notice, marriage-based conversion being void, and the extent of punishment — is almost certain to face scrutiny in the High Court and potentially the Supreme Court. Whether it withstands that scrutiny will determine whether it becomes a model for other BJP-governed states or a cautionary tale about legislative overreach.

The last day of a session is always the most charged — and Chhattisgarh's Assembly is set for a fiery finish.

Today marks the final day of the Chhattisgarh Assembly Budget Session 2026 in Raipur. With the session drawing to a close, the opposition is gearing up for one last all-out attempt to put the ruling BJP government on the back foot across multiple fronts — from pension policy to urban transport to alleged irregularities in a major religious development project. Meanwhile, the government is laser-focused on pushing through three significant pieces of legislation before the gavel falls.

Opposition's Agenda — Questions the Government Must Answer

Leader of Opposition Charandas Mahant will open the attack during Question Hour, raising the issue of industries generating hazardous waste in the state — a matter with serious environmental and public health implications that has allegedly been inadequately addressed by the government.

MLA Punnulal Mohle will put the spotlight on the long-pending demand of government officers and employees seeking a switch from the New Pension Scheme (NPS) back to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) — a politically sensitive issue that has mobilised government employees across Chhattisgarh and the country. The government's response on this will be closely watched by lakhs of state employees.

MLA Harshita Swami Baghel will raise the matter of alleged irregularities in the construction of Shri Yantra Bhavan in Dongargarh under the central government's PRASAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme — a project meant to develop one of Chhattisgarh's most prominent religious sites but now mired in questions of financial impropriety.

MLA Sunil Soni will draw Deputy Chief Minister Arun Saw's attention to the failure to launch city bus services on new routes in Raipur — a basic urban infrastructure demand that has left commuters in the state capital without adequate public transport.

MLA Ramkumar Toppo will raise the issue of maintenance of Karma Ethnic Resort in Mainpat — a tourism asset that has drawn criticism for alleged neglect.

71 Attention Motions — A Government Under Fire on All Sides

Beyond the formal question hour, a total of 71 attention motions have been submitted for today's session — an unusually high number that reflects the breadth of grievances opposition MLAs wish to place on record on the session's last day. Among these, MLA Tuleshwar Markam will seek to draw the minister's attention to alleged irregularities by excise officials in the Raipur division.

Three Major Bills the Government Wants Passed Today

While the opposition is on the offensive, the ruling government has a clear legislative agenda for the day — getting three important bills through the House.

The first is the Chhattisgarh Cess (Amendment) Bill 2026, to be introduced by Commerce and Tax Minister O.P. Chaudhary. This amendment is expected to revise the state's cess framework with implications for trade and taxation.

The second — and perhaps the most significant — is the Chhattisgarh (Prevention of Unfair Means in Public Recruitment and Professional Examinations) Bill 2026, to be moved by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai himself. This anti-paper leak and anti-cheating legislation is widely seen as a direct response to the wave of recruitment exam scandals that have rocked the state in recent years. If passed, it will create a strict legal framework to deter malpractice in competitive examinations, a demand that has been long-voiced by students and aspirants across Chhattisgarh.

The third is the Chhattisgarh Employee Selection Board Bill 2026 — a structural reform aimed at streamlining and systematising the state's recruitment process through a revamped selection board framework.

Conversion Law Already Passed — A Session of Consequences

The Budget Session has already made national headlines for one landmark piece of legislation. The Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill 2026 was passed in the Assembly, making illegal religious conversion punishable by 7 to 10 years in prison and a minimum fine of Rs 5 lakh. Those who assist or facilitate illegal conversions will also face imprisonment. The law has been both praised by the ruling BJP and sharply criticised by opposition and civil society groups as constitutionally overreaching.

A Session That Will Be Remembered

Today's final day brings together everything that defines modern Indian state politics — a government trying to legislate at pace, an opposition trying to hold it accountable, and a long list of unresolved public grievances from pensions to potholes. Whether the three bills pass smoothly or face floor disruptions, and whether the government provides satisfactory answers on OPS, Dongargarh and city buses, will determine how this Budget Session is ultimately judged by the people of Chhattisgarh.