Arunachal Pradesh Religious Conversion Act Revival

The Arunachal Pradesh government is reviving the 1978 Religious Conversion Act to regulate religious conversions in the state, focusing on coercion, inducement, and deceit. The Act mandates reporting all conversions to local authorities and aims to protect the region’s diverse indigenous faiths, such as Donyi Polo and various forms of Buddhism. Christianity’s growth in the state, rising from 0.79% in 1971 to 30.26% in 2011, has fueled debates about its impact on local cultures. While proponents see the Act as crucial for cultural preservation, opponents argue it could infringe on religious freedom, sparking continued legal and social discussions.