The Maharashtra Assembly passed a bill this week to legally regulate religious conversion. Ironically titled the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill 2026, the legislation imposes stringent restrictions on individuals’ rights to convert to another faith tradition. Those found guilty of an “unlawful conversion” now face fines and up to seven years’ imprisonment in India’s second-most populous state. Repeat offenders face up to 10 years in prison. As is typical of anti-conversion laws across India, the bill was passed in the context of unfounded Hindu nationalist conspiracy theories alleging mass forced conversions of Hindus by Christians and Muslims.