The Waqf (Amendment) Act, recently passed by Parliament, officially came into force on Tuesday (April 8), according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
The notification stated, “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 (14 of 2025), the Central Government hereby appoints the 8th day of April, 2025 as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force.”
The Central Government appoints the 8th day of April 2025 as the date on which the provisions of the Waqf Act shall come into force pic.twitter.com/eNKcQt3zLq
— ANI (@ANI) April 8, 2025
The bill was passed post-midnight in the Lok Sabha on April 3 and in the Rajya Sabha on April 4, with President Droupadi Murmu granting her assent on April 5.
The BJP-led NDA supported the legislation, hailing it as a step towards greater transparency and the empowerment of marginalised Muslims, particularly women. In contrast, the opposition INDIA bloc unanimously opposed the bill, calling it unconstitutional and an infringement on Muslim community rights.
Several Muslim organisations and opposition lawmakers have since challenged the Act in the Supreme Court.