Chhattisgarh Cabinet approves new anti-conversion law draft

Chhattisgarh’s BJP government on Tuesday (March 10, 2026)approved the draft of a new anti-religious conversion law.

Titled Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026, the proposed legislation “seeks to effectively curb religious conversions carried out through force, inducement, fraudulent means, undue influence, or misrepresentation”, stated a government press note.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting held late in the evening. The decks are now clear for the introduction of the Bill in the State Assembly which is currently in session.

Both Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma have in the past spoken about the new proposed law. Mr. Sharma had earlier said that the new proposed anti-conversion law of the State government would have a provision to curb ‘changai sabha’ or faith healing meetings.

Currently, such cases are covered under the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 1968.

Allegations of religious conversions through force or inducements have surfaced repeatedly in the State. While right wing groups clashing with Christian preachers are common across the State,  the arrest of two Keraliite nuns last year on charges of human trafficking and kidnapping three tribal women for forced religious conversion drew national attention. 

The case was registered on a complaint by a Bajrang Dal member but the purported victims denied the allegations made against the nuns. There were massive protests in Kerala and Delhi against the arrests.