India's Christian minority grows wary as more states tighten conversion laws

Maharashtra's newly enacted anti-conversion law adds to a growing patchwork of state-level restrictions that Christian groups say are being used to obstruct their religious activities and missionary work. With nearly half of India's 28 states now having similar legislation in place, the Christian minority—which comprises less than 2 percent of India's 1.4 billion population—faces mounting legal obstacles to their faith practices.

These anti-conversion laws typically impose strict penalties on those who allegedly coerce or induce religious conversions through incentives or fraudulent means. Proponents argue the measures protect citizens from unwanted religious pressure, yet Christian organizations contend the broadly worded statutes are weaponized against their community through false accusations and police harassment.

The Christian community's concerns reflect broader tensions over religious freedom in India. Rights groups have documented instances where police have arrested Christian missionaries under anti-conversion laws based on unsubstantiated allegations, forcing extended legal battles even when charges are later dropped.

Maharashtra's law comes amid a national trend of increased religious polarization. Christian leaders have appealed to state and national governments for clearer legal frameworks that distinguish between voluntary religious choice and actual coercion, though such appeals have gained limited traction with policymakers.