The Indian Parliament recently passed significant legislative measures aimed at reforming the management of Waqf properties and strengthening their oversight. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, were debated and approved in both houses of Parliament. It was passed by the Rajya Sabha in the early hours of Friday after a marathon 12-hour debate. With 128 votes in favor and 95 against, the bill received approval from the upper house, following the Lok Sabha’s clearance on Thursday with a 288-232 vote. In addition, the Rajya Sabha also passed the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, after a 17-hour sitting that was adjourned at 4 a.m.

Key Points

Purpose of the Bill

• The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aims to streamline the functioning of Waqf properties and improve transparency and accountability.
• It seeks to strengthen the administrative mechanisms overseeing Waqf properties and enhance their legal framework.

Passed in Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha

• Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 renamed as Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Bill.
• Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill 2024 approved, repealing the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923.

Parliamentary Process

• The Bill passed with a 128-95 vote in the Rajya Sabha after a 12-hour debate, following the Lok Sabha’s approval with a 288-232 vote.
• The debate saw active participation from lawmakers, with discussions centered around the management and use of Waqf assets and the role of tribunals in resolving conflicts.

Ministerial Statements

• Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, and Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister for Minority Affairs, played a significant role in defending the Bill and its provisions during the parliamentary debates.

Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 & Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill 2024

Background

Two Bills Introduced,

1. Waqf (Amendment) Bill
2. Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill

Objectives

Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025

• Amend the Waqf Act, 1995 to address challenges in managing Waqf properties.
• Improve administration and efficiency of Waqf boards.

Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024

• Repeal the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923, an outdated colonial-era law.
• Ensure uniformity, transparency, and accountability in Waqf property management under the Waqf Act, 1995.
• Eliminate inconsistencies and ambiguities created by the old law.

Meaning of ‘Waqf’

• Properties dedicated for religious or charitable purposes under Islamic law.
• Sale or other use of the property is prohibited.
• Ownership is transferred to Allah, making it irrevocable.
• Managed by a mutawalli on behalf of the wakif (creator).

Origin of the Concept of ‘Waqf’

• Traces back to the Delhi Sultanate when Sultan Muizuddin Sam Ghaor dedicated villages to the Jama Masjid of Multan.
• Waqf properties grew with the rise of Islamic dynasties in India.
• Mussalman Waqf Validating Act of 1913 protected Waqf in India.

Constitutional Framework and Governance

• Charitable and religious institutions fall under the Concurrent List of the Constitution.
• Both Parliament and State Legislatures can frame laws on it.
• Waqf Governance: Governed by the Waqf Act, 1995, replacing earlier laws from 1913, 1923, and 1954.

Creation of Waqf

Created via,

• Declaration (oral or written deed).
• Long-term use of land for religious or charitable purposes.
• Endowment after the end of a line of succession.

States with highest Waqf properties

• Uttar Pradesh (27%)
• West Bengal (9%)
• Punjab (9%)

Evolution of Waqf Laws

• 1913 Act: Validated Waqf deeds.
• 1923 Act: Made registration of Waqf properties mandatory.
• 1954 Act: Established Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards.
• 1995 Act: Introduced Tribunals for dispute resolution, with elected members and Islamic scholars.

Key Amendments in the New Bill

Central Waqf Council Composition

• Union Minister in charge of waqf is the ex-officio chairperson.

Members include

• Members of Parliament (MPs).
• Persons of national eminence.
• Retired Supreme Court/High Court judges.
• Eminent scholars in Muslim law.
• New Provision: Non-Muslim members required (two).

Composition of Waqf Boards

• Empower state governments to nominate one person from each group.
• Non-Muslim members required (two).
• Includes one member each from Shias, Sunnis, and Backward Muslim classes.
• Two Muslim women members required.

Composition of Tribunals

• Removes expert in Muslim law.
• District Court judge as chairman.
• Joint Secretary rank officer.

Appeals Against Tribunal Orders

• Previous Act: No appeals allowed.
• New Bill: Allows appeals against Tribunal decisions to the High Court within 90 days.

Survey of Properties

• Replaces Survey Commissioner with District Collector or senior officers to oversee the survey of Waqf properties.

Government Property as Waqf

• Government property identified as Waqf will cease to be Waqf.
• Revenue records updated by the Collector.

Audits

• Waqf institutions earning over ₹1 lakh will undergo audits by state-sponsored auditors.

Centralized Portal

• Automated Waqf property management via a centralized portal for enhanced efficiency and transparency.

Property Dedication

• Practicing Muslims (at least five years) can dedicate property to Waqf, restoring pre-2013 rules.

Women’s Inheritance

• Women must receive inheritance before Waqf declaration.
• Special provisions for widows, divorced women, and orphans.

Need for the Bill

• Unified Digital Listing of Waqf properties to reduce litigation and ensure transparency.
• Ensures gender justice by mandating women’s inclusion in Waqf Boards.

Concerns

Non-Muslim Members in Waqf Boards

• Mandates inclusion of non-Muslim members in State Waqf Boards and Central Waqf Council.
• Concern that these bodies could be majorly composed of non-Muslims, unlike similar boards for Hindu and Sikh endowments.

Impact on Waqf Tribunals

• Removal of experts in Muslim law from Waqf Tribunals may affect dispute resolution.

Creation of Waqf

• Limiting Waqf creation to Muslims practicing Islam for at least five years.
• Ambiguity about the rationale behind this five-year criterion.

Conclusion

• The Bill represents a significant step towards reforming Waqf property management in India.
• Proposed reforms ensure better governance, accountability, and a more inclusive approach, benefiting all involved communities.

The Union Government has made a significant commitment to providing quality education to tribal children through the expansion of the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS). The goal is to establish 440 new schools, ensuring that each block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal individuals, based on the 2011 census, benefits from these institutions. The EMRS initiative aligns with the government’s objective of providing high-quality education to tribal students, akin to the facilities provided by Navodaya Vidyalayas, in their own environment. The scheme, which began in 2018-19, will ultimately create a total of 728 EMRSs, benefiting around 3.5 lakh students across India.

Key Highlights of the EMRS Initiative

Educational Infrastructure

• Well-equipped classrooms with modern teaching aids.
• Science and computer laboratories for hands-on learning.
• Libraries offering a diverse range of learning resources.

Accommodation and Amenities

• Residential facilities for both students and staff.
• Separate hostels for boys and girls with essential amenities such as bedding, furniture, and hygiene facilities.

Sports and Extracurricular Facilities

• Playgrounds and sports equipment for physical activities.
• Facilities for extracurricular activities like music, art, and sports to ensure holistic development.

Health and Nutrition

• Regular health check-ups and medical facilities to maintain student well-being.

IT and Digital Learning

• Smart classrooms with digital boards for enhanced learning experiences.
• Computer labs with internet access to integrate digital education into the curriculum.

Vocational Training

• Skill development programs to provide hands-on training in industry-relevant areas, improving employability.

Collaborative Initiatives to Enhance Learning

Digital Education

• Establishment of smart classrooms with digital boards in partnership with ERNET and MeitY.
• Provision of online coaching for IIT-JEE and NEET exams in collaboration with PACE-IIT & Medical.

Skill Labs

• Setting up 400 Skill Labs in 200 EMRSs in partnership with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MoSDE).

National Scholarships for ST Students

• Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarships for students from Class IX to higher education.
• National Scholarship Scheme and National Fellowship for Higher Education, enabling ST students to pursue graduate, post-graduate, M.Phil, and Ph.D. programs.

Financial Support

• Coverage of application fees for national-level exams like JEE, NEET, and CLAT for EMRS students studying in Class XII, reducing the financial burden on families.

As of March 27, 2025, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal have not received any funds from the central share under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), despite having approved allocations for the financial year 2024–25. This was revealed by Minister of State for Education Jayant Choudhary in a reply to a question raised by CPI(M) MP John Brittas in the Rajya Sabha.

What is the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)?

The Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is the flagship school education scheme of the Ministry of Education, aiming to improve school infrastructure, provide textbooks, ensure teacher training, and fund salaries, among other critical components. It integrates three erstwhile schemes:

• Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
• Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan
• Teacher Education

The SSA plays a vital role in strengthening foundational education, particularly in rural and underserved regions of India.

Zero Fund Disbursement Despite Approved Allocations

Despite having approved allocations for FY 2024–25:

• Kerala was approved ₹ 328.90 crore
• Tamil Nadu ₹ 2,151.60 crore
• West Bengal ₹ 1,745.80 crore

As per data presented in Parliament, no central funds had been released to these three states under SSA as of March 27, 2025.

This is in stark contrast to the overall disbursement figures: out of the total central allocation of ₹ 45,830.21 crore to 36 States and Union Territories, ₹ 27,833.50 crore had been released to all other entities except Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.

Criteria for Releasing SSA Funds

The Ministry of Education stated that the release of SSA funds to states and UTs depends on multiple compliance-based criteria such as:

• Pace of expenditure of previously released funds
• Receipt of the State’s matching share
• Submission of audited accounts
• Statements of outstanding advances
• Up-to-date expenditure statements
• Audited utilisation certificates

These procedural requirements are designed to ensure accountability and efficient utilization of resources.

Centre-State Tensions Over NEP and PM-SHRI Schools

The funding freeze, particularly for Tamil Nadu, occurs in the backdrop of policy disagreements between the State Government and the Centre. Tamil Nadu has refused to implement the three-language formula outlined under the National Education Policy (NEP) and has also declined to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the implementation of the PM-SHRI schools scheme (PM Schools for Rising India).

This refusal has reportedly led to the withholding of SSA funds, even though SSA and PM-SHRI are separate schemes.

Parliamentary Panel’s Strong Observations

A Parliamentary Standing Committee had earlier criticized the Ministry’s decision to link SSA fund disbursement with states’ willingness to adopt unrelated schemes such as PM-SHRI. The panel stated that this move was:

• “Not justifiable”
• “Severely impacting” school operations in these states
• Causing delays in teacher salaries, Right to Education (RTE) reimbursements, and transportation services in remote areas

The committee thus recommended that the Ministry of Education should immediately release the pending SSA funds to Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal to avoid disruption in:

• School maintenance
• Teacher training programs
• Educational resources for underprivileged students

Wider Impact of Fund Withholding

The consequences of withholding SSA funds are significant:

• Disruption of educational services in government schools
• Delays in salaries of lakhs of teachers
• Impact on transport and mid-day meal schemes
• Hindrance in training and hiring of teaching staff
• Negative effects on Right to Education (RTE) implementation

Such delays are feared to widen the education gap, particularly in marginalized communities that rely on government-supported schooling.

Summary of the Issue in Tabular Form