The central government will launch the UMEED portal (Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development) on June 6. The initiative is part of the recently amended Waqf Act and aims to streamline the registration of Waqf properties across India. Registration on the portal must be completed within six months.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, received presidential assent from President Droupadi Murmu on April 5 after it was passed in both Houses of Parliament following intense debate. The law modifies the Waqf Act, 1995, which governs religious endowments or properties reserved for Islamic charitable and religious purposes.
As per the amendment, properties registered as Waqf must include detailed information such as dimensions and geo-tagged locations. Properties in the name of women cannot be declared as Waqf, while the primary beneficiaries of Waqf properties should be women, children, and the poor.
The State Waqf Boards will manage the registration process. Properties not registered within the given timeframe will be deemed disputed and referred to Waqf tribunals.Several petitions challenging the amended law have been filed in the Supreme Court. The petitioners argue that the changes discriminate against Muslims and interfere in religious practices by enabling property acquisition through executive action. They also claim the law undermines constitutional guarantees.
The government, however, has urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the petitions, asserting that the law remains within constitutional bounds.
On April 17, the Supreme Court declined to stay the law after the government assured it would hold off on implementing some provisions.
On May 27, the Court sought responses from the Centre and others regarding the pending challenges.
