Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025: An Analysis

The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, renaming the Waqf Act, 1995, as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UWMEED) Act, aims to reform Waqf property administration in India. This article analyzes the revised compositions of the Central Waqf Council, State Waqf Boards, and Waqf Tribunals, and their role in Muslim community development. The Central Waqf Council now includes two Muslim women and two non-Muslim members, ensuring diverse representation. State Waqf Boards incorporate two non-Muslim members, two Muslim women, and representatives from various Muslim sects, with state-nominated members replacing elected ones. Waqf Tribunals, now three-member bodies, comprise a District Court judge, a Joint Secretary-level officer, and a Muslim law expert, with appeals to High Courts within 90 days. The Act promotes transparency through centralized digital registration, curbs encroachments, and protects women’s inheritance rights, fostering socio-economic empowerment. However, non-Muslim inclusion and increased government oversight raise concerns about religious autonomy, making the Act a significant yet debated reform for Waqf management and Muslim development.