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The Uttarakhand Cabinet last Wednesday approved the Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill 2025, introducing some of the harshest penalties in India for “forced religious conversion,” including sentences ranging from three years to life imprisonment.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami chaired the Aug. 13 cabinet meeting that cleared the legislation, which will be tabled in the three-day monsoon session of the state assembly that began Tuesday. The ruling BJP holds a comfortable majority in the assembly.

The amendment significantly increases penalties from the current maximum of 10 years imprisonment and a $575 fine. Under the new provisions, general cases of forced conversion will attract three to 10 years imprisonment with $575 fine.

Cases involving minors, women, scheduled c

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