The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, tabled in the Parliament, has seen a ferocious debate in the Indian Parliament, with as much acceptance as criticism crossing party lines. The bill aims to amend the current Waqf Act of 1995as a step towards making it more transparent and inclusive in managing Waqf properties. The bill proposes introducing some revolutionary reforms, including the inclusion of Muslim women and non-Muslims in Waqf boards for diversity, simplifying and making the registration process more transparent through an online central portal, and forming board divisions for communities such as the Bohras and Aghakhanis to address their specific requirements.

Support for the Bill

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been supported by major National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies such as the Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] and Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

JD(U) leaders explained that the bill is designed to introduce transparency in the Waqf Board administration without infringing on religious matters. Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan' explained the amendment is attempting to make the institution accountable but not modify religious rituals. Likewise, TDP MP GM Harish Balayogi also justified his party votes on the basis that the new registration policies would also be economically beneficial to weaker Muslims and women as well by making those such properties being given away as gift thoroughly documented and put to respective intended uses.

Bill Opposition

Even as the BJP made every effort to propel the bill in a priority direction, it faced bitter resistance from political parties like the Indian National Congress (INC), the Samajwadi Party (SP), the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), and the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Congress lawmaker KC Venugopal condemned the bill as a constitutional assault by nature and called it against religious freedom and a federalism attack.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav saw the amendment to be political to appease electorate groups before the upcoming elections. AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi called the bill discriminatory and continued to insist that the bill is against equality provisions of Articles 14, 15, and 25. TMC MP Sudip Bandhopadhyay strongly criticized the bill calling the bill disruptive and unconstitutional.

Public Opinion for the Bill

According to a survey conducted by a prestigious research firm, nearly 90% of the people favor amending the Waqf Act to make things more transparent while dealing with properties.

Besides this, 93% of informants preferred disputes regarding properties to be resolved by district courts, high courts, and the Supreme Court rather than Waqf tribunals since this implies gigantic trust in common judicial intervention.

It appears that the masses in general have good idea regarding the change envisioned under amendments. But political parties themselves still disagree on the bill. In a post-midnight push, Parliament cleared the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, after an intense debate in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. The bill secured passage with 128 votes in favour and 95 against, following its earlier approval in the Lok Sabha, where it saw a tighter contest — 288 MPs supported it, while 232 opposed.

Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is a convergence of the government, religious role, and political pragmatism. Parliament's deliberation of their suggestions will be based on the balancing exercise to be undertaken between the requirement of maintaining institutional transparency on the one hand and maintaining religious autonomy on the other. Enactment of the bill would not only affect the management of Waqf immovable assets but set a precedent for any such future legislative interference in religious and cultural institutions of India.