The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 is proposed to change the existing system of managing Waqf properties in India by adding more transparency, efficiency, and responsibility in their management. The bill received clearance from Lok Sabha on April 3/2, where it passed with 288 votes in favor and 232 against. The Act received the assent of the President on April 5, 2025.

Waqf, as described in religious Islamic texts, is a property or an asset set aside for pious purposes like charity and education. A waqf can range from physical property like land or buildings and also includes any other valuable assets. The muslim religious text demands that income derived from Waqf be utilised for social services such as including maintenance of any educational, medical or civic amenities.

The legislation attempts to resolve some of the significant challenges of mismanagement and legal disputes regarding Waqf assets that have persistently plagued India. One of the central provisions of the Bill is to ease the management of Waqf property, protect heritage sites and mitigate exacerbating disputes that claim ownership of property along the borders of some non-Muslim communities.

The new bill aims to modify the Waqf Act, 1995, to address challenges in regulation of Waqf properties by directly tackling concerns surrounding the declaration of non-Muslim properties as Waqf properties, which have emerged as contentious in different states. For instance, in Tamil Nadu, a Thiruchenthurai village farmer was prevented from selling his land by a Waqf Board claim to the whole village, which jeopardized his payment of a wedding loan for his daughter. Likewise, in Bihar, the Bihar Sunni Waqf Board laid claim to a whole village, impacting several families and resulting in a case in the Patna High Court.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 introduces several transformative changes to the management, governance, and accountability of Waqf properties in India. The bill ensures that Muslim-created trusts under any law will no longer be considered Waqf properties. This means that the creators of these trusts will have full control over them, without interference from Waqf authorities. This provision aims to prevent confusion between trusts and Waqf properties and streamline governance. To resolve conflicts over government properties claimed as Waqf, the bill mandates that an officer above the rank of Collector investigate such claims.

To improve the management and transparency of Waqf property the bill introduces the structured selection process and fixed tenures for members of Waqf tribunals, which will help speed up and improve the dispute resolution process. The bill also reduces the mandatory contribution of Waqf institutions to Waqf Boards from 7% to 5%, lightening the financial burden on these institutions so they can allocate more resources to community welfare.

For institutions earning over Rs 1 lakh, the bill mandates annual audits by State-appointed auditors. This measure aims to increase financial transparency and prevent mismanagement of Waqf funds. Another significant change is that only Muslims who have been practicing for at least five years will be allowed to dedicate property to Waqf, restoring the rules from before 2013. This ensures that only committed adherents of the faith can allocate their property to Waqf.

In the case of family Waqf, women must receive their inheritance before any property can be dedicated, which ensures the protection of women’s rights, particularly for widows, divorced women, and orphans. The bill also establishes a centralized portal for managing Waqf properties, improving efficiency and tracking. Property managers (Mutawallis) will be required to register details within six months.

For better inclusivity, the bill introduces two non-Muslim members on both the Central and State Waqf Boards, promoting diversity and encouraging interfaith dialogue. Additionally, the Limitation Act of 1963 will now apply to Waqf property claims, reducing lengthy legal battles. The bill also removes Section 40, which previously allowed Waqf Boards to arbitrarily declare properties as Waqf, a practice that led to numerous disputes. This change will help ensure that only legitimate claims are recognized.

Following the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill of 2025 in Parliament, Congress MP Mohammed Jawed and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi have individually challenged the Bill in the Supreme Court. Also, thousands of individuals marched on the streets in Kolkata, Chennai, and Ahmedabad following Friday prayers to demonstrate against the Bill, indicating mass opposition within sections of the Muslim community. These protests and challenges reflect the increasing concerns regarding the provisions of the Bill and their effects on Waqf institutions.

BOOM had debunked misinformation around Waqf Amendment Bill 2025, like in April 2025, BOOM fact-checked two videos of Asaduddin Owaisi that were being shared claiming to show him laughing / crying after the Waqf Amendment bill was passed in the Indian parliament. BOOM found that both the videos are old and unrelated. BOOM found that the viral videos date back to January 2025 and August 2024.

In April 2025, BOOM fact-checked a video of lawyers protesting and a man assaulting Nitish Kumar over the passing of the WAQF (Amendment) Act, 2025. BOOM found that the viral videos falsely link unrelated events to the Waqf (Amendment) Act.