Anti-conversion laws in various states still present major challenges for Christians in this South Asian country. While many accusations have little to do with actual religious conversions, these laws are often used to shut down churches or punish individual believers. Additionally, such allegations frequently incite mob violence.
In at least two instances that occurred this year, governing officials publicly called for violence against Christians. One of these cases even recommended the death penalty for anyone involved in conversion activities. Within the states of Maharashtra and Uttarakhand, the implementation of new laws has created further obstacles for followers of Jesus.
Despite these hardships, the year of 2025 has brought about moments of Christian solidarity, where believers had united together to peaceably stand against the oppression they were encountering. There have also been some hopeful signs of progress, especially when India's Supreme Court ordered a review of the various state-level anti-conversion laws. Along with the review, an October 17th Supreme Court ruling addressed multiple cases that took place in Uttar Pradesh, pointing out the deficiencies and declaring the state's law to be "onerous" and "intrusive."
Unfortunately, physical attacks targeting Christian individuals and groups have continued in various parts of the country during 2025. Not only have these assaults frequently involved mob violence, many believers experienced false accusations and legal challenges as a result of them. In tribal areas, Christian families were also expelled from their villages due to the attempts of local leaders to make their communities "Christian free." Believers affected by the expulsions have been forced to find new homes in unfamiliar and distant locations. Reports addressing the various incidents of persecution in India are available at our country profile.
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