Mumbai churches ask worshippers to sign voluntary prayer declarations before new law
GS1History · Society · Geography· Communalism, regionalism & secularism· Mains·
Religious freedom vs. state intervention: a GS1 and GS2 case study on secularism and constitutional rights.
Why in news
Mumbai churches began requiring worshippers to sign voluntary prayer declarations in response to Maharashtra's new law prohibiting forced conversions.
Background
The Maharashtra government enacted a law prohibiting forced conversions and requiring voluntary converters to notify authorities. Violators of the law face a maximum of seven years of imprisonment.
Facts for Prelims
- FactMaharashtra conversion law provides for up to seven years of imprisonment for violators.
- PlaceMumbai churches began implementing voluntary prayer declarations in late August.
Prelims practice question
What is the maximum imprisonment period for violators of the Maharashtra conversion law?
- (a)Five years
- (b)Ten years
- (c)Seven years
- (d)Three years
Show answer
Answer: (c) Seven years — The Maharashtra government enacted a law prohibiting forced conversions where violators face a maximum of seven years of imprisonment.
For Mains
Q. Critically examine the tension between state intervention to prevent forced conversions and the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom in India.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Constitutional conflict: Balancing Article 25's right to profess religion against state's power to regulate public order.
- Administrative burden: Challenges in verifying 'voluntary' intent and the potential for bureaucratic overreach in religious spaces.
- Social friction: Risk of communal polarization and surveillance of minority religious practices.
Keywords: Religious Freedom · State Intervention · Coercion · Constitutionalism · Secularism
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.