Cabinet okays proposed changes, clears deck for Waqf bill to be tabled in second half of budget session

The union cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval to the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, in its latest meeting. The revised bill has been approved after incorporating various amendments proposed in the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) report submitted to Parliament. The union government is likely to introduce the bill in its revised form for passage in the upcoming second part of Parliament’s budget session.

While all amendments suggested by opposition MPs were defeated, those proposed by lawmakers from the BJP and other NDA members have been accepted.

In Islamic tradition, a waqf is a charitable or religious donation made by Muslims for the benefit of the community. Such properties cannot be sold or used for any other purpose, implying that they belong to God. A vast number of these properties are used for mosques, madrassas, graveyards, and orphanages.