The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, has been successfully passed in the Rajya Sabha following an extensive debate lasting over 12 hours. The legislation garnered 128 votes in favor and 95 against.
The bill is now set to be presented to President Droupadi Murmu for approval, after which it will officially become an Act.
This follows a previous approval by the Lok Sabha, where it was supported by 288 MPs, while 232 opposed the bill after another lengthy debate.
The Rajya Sabha discussions featured intense exchanges between NDA and INDIA bloc representatives.
During the debate, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that the bill incorporates several amendments based on input from various stakeholders.
“The Waqf Board is a statutory entity, and all government institutions should uphold secularism,” the minister noted, referencing the inclusion of non-Muslims on the board, while maintaining that their representation is limited to four out of 22 members.
Rijiju accused the opposition, particularly the Congress party, of attempting to instill fear in the Muslim community regarding the Waqf Bill. He emphasized that the opposition was marginalizing Muslims from mainstream society.
For decades, he claimed, the Congress-led government did little to uplift Muslims, leaving them in poverty. “Now, Modi is leading efforts toward their advancement,” he asserted.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill aims to strengthen Waqf tribunals, implement a structured selection process, and establish fixed tenures to enhance dispute resolution efficiency.
It also proposes reducing mandatory contributions from Waqf institutions to Waqf boards from 7 percent to 5 percent, with institutions earning over Rs 1 lakh subject to audits by state-sponsored auditors.
A centralized portal is included for automating Waqf property management, enhancing both efficiency and transparency.
Additionally, the bill allows practicing Muslims with a minimum of five years of experience to dedicate property to the Waqf, reinstating regulations prior to 2013.
It mandates that women receive their inheritance prior to Waqf declarations, with particular provisions for widows, divorced women, and orphans.
Furthermore, the legislation stipulates that an officer of at least collector rank will investigate government properties claimed as Waqf, alongside the inclusion of non-Muslim members in central and state Waqf boards to promote inclusivity.
