Source: www.MNNonline.org
Date: April 21, 2026
India (MNN) — India’s Chhattisgarh State has passed a revised anti-conversion law, despite protests from the minority Christian community.
“[The new law is] framed with the title of a ‘freedom of religion’ law, but it’s actually the exact opposite,” says John Pudaite with Bibles For The World.
Believers have reason for concern. Instead of truly protecting people from being forced to change their faith by fraud or any form of coercion, anti-conversion laws are easily wielded against Christians across India. Christian Solidarity International reported in February that in 2025 alone, more than 400 believers were arrested, with 125 remaining in jail under false charges.
A church in Hyderabad, India. (Photo courtesy of Paul Silvan via Unsplash)
“It really is a case of ‘guilty until proven innocent,’ the way that these laws have been implemented and enforced throughout India,” says Pudaite.
A simple statement of belief in Christ can become grounds for an accusation. People can claim that the music a church congregation plays might entice others to attend its gathering and perhaps change their faith.
Chhattisgarh’s new anti-conversion law carries stricter fines and prison sentences than its previous 1968 law. People accused of illegally converting others will not be eligible for bail, and a conviction of a mass conversion could even carry a lifetime prison sentence.
“They define ‘mass conversion’ [as] two or more persons in a single event. Even two people, say a husband and wife from the same family, deciding to follow Christ at a single event, this now becomes a ‘mass conversion,’” says Pudaite.
Online content is also fair game under the law. “Somebody who just makes a post on their Facebook page that’s pro-Christianity could be charged under this law. It depends how far they want to take it,” says Pudaite.
Notably, conversion to Hinduism from other religions is exempt.
“That’s where we see the most movement, is people coming out of Hindu backgrounds, Muslim backgrounds, Buddhist backgrounds, and Sikh and [Jainism] into Christianity,” says Pudaite. “They [Hindu leaders] want to stop this flow out of their traditional religions into Christianity.”
The constitutionality of anti-conversion laws under scrutiny
Chhattisgarh’s updated law comes at the same time as a nationwide review by India’s Supreme Court of anti-conversion laws. India’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion, which anti-conversion laws seem to limit. That future Supreme Court ruling could bring relief for Christians harassed by false accusations of forcibly converting others, but so far, the legal process has been slow.
Woman in Bengalaru, India (Stock photo courtesy of Marie Couffon de Trevros via Unsplash)
“This case got on the docket back in September of last year. The can keeps being kicked down the road on this, but it is a standing order from the Supreme Court. They’re asking each state to give substantiation for their passing of an anti-conversion law,” says Pudaite.
Twelve of India’s states currently have anti-conversion laws in place. Pudaite says the challenges have not stopped Christians from their mission to share Christ.
“This [law in Chhattisgarh] is going to kind of drive things more underground, as it were,” he says. However, “There are pastors and missionaries that are continuing to share their faith boldly.”
Pray for endurance for Christians in Chhattisgarh State who will have to endure the new anti-conversion law. Pray for a fair future ruling by India’s Supreme Court about these kinds of laws. Continue to monitor India closely regarding concerns about freedom of religion.