Lok Sabha Question No. 1795 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: Non‑Implementation of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 in West Bengal
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Jagannath Sarkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  1795

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025

## NON-IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WAQF (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2025 IN WEST BENGAL

## 1795. SHRI JAGANNATH SARKAR:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be please to State:-

- (a)  whether  the  Union  Government  has  received  any  official  or  public  statement  from  the Government  of  West  Bengal  indicating  that  the  Waqf  (Amendment)  Act,  2025  will  not  be implemented in the State and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  any  formal  communication  or  resolution  has  been  submitted  by  the  West  Bengal Government to the Union Government in this regard and if so, the details thereof along with the nature, date and content of such communication;
- (c)  whether  any  consultations  or  correspondence  have  taken  place  between  the  Union  and  the State Governments to address this matter and if so, the details thereof along with the outcome of such discussions; and

(d)  whether  the  Union  Government  intends  to  ensure  implementation  of  the  amended  Act  in West Bengal and if so, the measures taken/being taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) to (c) No Sir.

(d)  The Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995 as amended in 2025, came into force on 8 th April  2025,  and  as  per  section  3(ka)  of  the  Act,  the Ministry launched the UMEED Central Portal -2025 on 6 th  June 2025 for management of waqf. The statutory mandate under Section 3B of the Act, required to file the details of the waqf and the property dedicated to the waqf on UMEED Central Portal-2025 within six months i.e. upto 06.12.2025.

To ensure smooth implementation, the Ministry has been extending continuous technical and administrative support to facilitate this process. Two rounds of consultative meetings were held  on  28 th Feb,  2025  and  8 th May,  2025  with  State/UT  Waqf  Boards  to  demonstrate  the prototype and incorporate feedback.

A national workshop-cum-training programme was organised on 26 th -27 th  May 2025 in which around 140 Master Trainers from various State/UT Waqf Boards were trained, who in turn are tasked with training of Mutawallis and district-level officers. In addition, senior technical and administrative teams were deputed, and state level zonal review meetings were held across the country,  wherein  a  meeting  was  held  on  09.09.2025  at  Guwahati  (Assam)  with  the  Assam, Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya Waqf Boards, including West Bengal Waqf Board representatives.

To  further  facilitate  the  uploading  process  and  to  address  any  technical  or  procedural challenges faced by users, a Helpdesk has also been set up with toll-free number (1800-11-0150) and an email address (support-umeed@gov.in).  The Helpdesk is being jointly monitored by the Portal's Helpdesk Team and the Technical Team of the Ministry to ensure quick turnaround time in  resolving  grievances.  In  addition,  User  Manual  along  with  demonstration  videos  were  also uploaded  on  the  UMEED  Portal  (https://umeed.minorityaffairs.gov.in/)  to  provide  on-hand assistance,  clarifications,  and  a  step-by-step  roadmap  for  the  uploading  process,  making  the system more user-friendly and accessible.

Following the launch of the UMEED Central Portal on 06.06.2025, the initial pace of onboarding existing Waqf properties was slow, with only 61 entries in June 2025. However, after zonal  review  meetings,  field  visits  by  the  Secretary  (MA),  and  sustained  follow-up  through communications  and  video  conferences  with  all  32  State  Waqf  Board  and  resolution  of grievances  through  helpdesk,  data  entry  improved  substantially.  By  06.12.2025,  a  total  of 5,17,082 existing Waqf properties had been initiated by Makers on the Portal, of which 2,16,937 are validated and approved by Approvers.'

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