Key Highlights * The Act received presidential assent, clearing the final constitutional hurdle. * It becomes operative only after a state notification announcing its commencement. * Conversions carried out by coercion, fraud, or inducement are prohibited. * Voluntary conversions remain permissible under the law. * Penalties include up to seven years’ imprisonment for first offences and ten years for repeat offenders. Detailed Insights The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly passed the Freedom of Religion Bill during the March Budget Session, and the Legislative Council subsequently approved it. After the governor forwarded the bill to the President, President Droupadi Murmu granted assent, thereby removing the last constitutional barrier. The Act, however, will not take effect until the state government issues an official notification specifying the start date. Central to the legislation is the prohibition of conversions executed through violence, deception, misrepresentation, inducement, or the promise of marriage. The law explicitly preserves the right to voluntary conversion, ensuring that individuals may change their faith without interference. To monitor compliance, the Act mandates that any person intending to convert must inform the district magistrate at least 60 days before the intended date. This advance notice allows authorities to verify the voluntariness of the act. Complaints can be lodged by parents, siblings, or other close relatives of the individual who is being converted, thereby broadening the pool of parties who can seek judicial intervention. In a notable departure from conventional criminal procedure, the Act places the burden of proving voluntariness on the person performing the conversion, rather than on the prosecution. Penalties are stringent: a first offence can lead to up to seven years of imprisonment, while repeat offences attract a maximum of ten years, serving as a deterrent against recurrent violations. Key Concepts * Freedom of Religion Act – Legislation aimed at safeguarding individuals from forced religious conversions. * Coercion – The use of force or intimidation to compel a religious change. * Advance Notification – Requirement to inform authorities 60 days prior to a planned conversion. * Burden of Proof – The obligation to demonstrate voluntariness placed on the converter. * Penalties – Imprisonment terms ranging from seven to ten years for violations.

The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) have announced the exam date for the Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) 2025 recruitment.