President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which was passed by both Houses of Parliament after intense debates.
The Bill was strongly opposed by the INDIA bloc and has been challenged in the Supreme Court by a Congress leader, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and the AAP after its passage in both Houses of Parliament.
According to a notification issued by the Law Ministry on Saturday, President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill on April 5. After the Bill was passed in Parliament, the Muslim community staged protests across the country, demanding a reversal of the changes introduced by the government.
The government made amendments to the existing Waqf Act with the aim of preventing favouritism, misuse of Waqf properties, and encroachments on Waqf assets. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government has defended the Act, stating that it is not anti-Muslim.
The Bill was first introduced last year and was sent to a joint parliamentary committee for further discussion.
According to reports, the Rajya Sabha passed the Bill with 128 members supporting it, while 95 members voted against it. In the Lok Sabha, the Bill received the support of 288 MPs, while 232 members voted against it.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was a "watershed moment" that would help the marginalized, who have been "denied both voice and opportunity." In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, "The passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill by both Houses of Parliament marks a watershed moment in our collective quest for socio-economic justice, transparency, and inclusive growth. This will particularly help those who have long remained on the margins, thus being denied both voice and opportunity."
