ANTI-CONVERSION LAWS IN INDIA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN STATES

AUTHOR – URVASHI MALIK* & MR.NIKUNJ YADAV**

* STUDENT AT LAW COLLEGE DEHRADUN, UTTARANCHAL UNIVERSITY

** ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT LAW COLLEGE DEHRADUN, UTTARANCHAL UNIVERSITY

BEST CITATION – URVASHI MALIK & MR.NIKUNJ YADAV, ANTI-CONVERSION LAWS IN INDIA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN STATES, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (8) OF 2025, PG. 723-727, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

Abstract

Anti-conversion laws in India, officially termed as “Freedom of Religion” laws, seek to regulate religious conversions and prevent conversions through force, fraud, or inducement. While the Indian Constitution guarantees religious freedom under Article 25, states have implemented varying laws that create tensions between religious liberty and state control. This research critically examines and compares the anti-conversion laws of key Indian states—Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, and Odisha. The study highlights legislative trends, judicial scrutiny, controversies, and implications for fundamental rights.

Keywords: Anti-conversion, religious freedom, Article 25, fraud, inducement, religious liberty, state legislation