**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Minister of Minority Affairs' answer to a Lok Sabha unstarred question regarding safeguards, registration, and transparency in Waqf property management. It outlines the provisions within the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995, as amended by the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, intended to prevent arbitrary declaration of Waqf properties and enhance transparency. The answer references the UMEED Central Portal-2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Safeguards against Arbitrary Waqf Declaration:**
* Section 3A mandates that Waqf creation requires the individual to be the lawful owner of the property and competent to transfer or dedicate it.
* A Waqf deed is mandatory for registering new Waqf properties to ensure proper documentation.
* **Registration and Verification Process:**
* All Waqf registration applications must be submitted on the UMEED Central Portal-2025, as per Section 36 of the Act, 1995.
* Waqf Boards forward applications to the District Collector, who conducts an inquiry to verify the claim's genuineness, validity, and correctness.
* Section 40 of the Waqf Act, 1995, which previously allowed the Waqf Board to declare properties as Waqf based on collected information has now been omitted under the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
* **Role of District Collector:**
* The Collector is responsible for verifying the genuineness and accuracy of new Waqf registration details submitted via the UMEED Central Portal-2025.
* The Collector is entrusted with conducting surveys of Waqf properties to prevent encroachment and alienation of Waqf assets.
* **UMEED Central Portal-2025:**
* Launched on 06.06.2025, the portal automates the entire lifecycle of Waqf properties, including registration, verification, surveys, mutation, annual account updates, audit, leasing, and monitoring.
* The portal operates on a three-tier user architecture to ensure real-time, verified data entry and maintain data integrity.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Individuals seeking to dedicate property as Waqf
* **Impact:** Must be the lawful owner of the property and competent to transfer or dedicate it; Must register the property on the UMEED Central Portal-2025, supported by a Waqf deed.
* **Action Required:** Ensure lawful ownership and competence to transfer/dedicate property; prepare a Waqf deed and register on the UMEED Central Portal-2025.
**Stakeholder:** Waqf Boards
* **Impact:** Responsible for forwarding Waqf registration applications to the District Collector for verification.
* **Action Required:** Forward applications to the District Collector.
**Stakeholder:** District Collectors/Revenue Officials
* **Impact:** Responsible for verifying genuineness and accuracy of Waqf registration applications and conducting surveys of Waqf properties.
* **Action Required:** Conduct inquiries to verify applications and conduct surveys to prevent encroachment and alienation.
**Stakeholder:** General Public/Users of Waqf-related information
* **Impact:** Improved access to Waqf-related information, public services, and grievance redressal through the UMEED Central Portal-2025.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the UMEED Central Portal-2025 for information, services, and grievance redressal.
Key Entities Referenced
The Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995: Principal Act governing waqf management, empowerment, efficiency, and development.
Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025: Amends the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995 to provide safeguards, transparency, accountability and lawful management of waqf properties.
UMEED Central Portal-2025: A central portal launched to improve access to waqf-related information, public services, and grievance redressal mechanisms, for registration and verification.
Ministry of Minority Affairs: The central ministry responsible for matters related to waqf management.
District Collector: Authority responsible for verifying waqf land records, preventing encroachments, and conducting surveys as per the Act.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2923
TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2025
SAFEGUARDS, REGISTRATION & TRANSPARENCY IN WAQF PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
2923. SHRI KAMAKHYA PRASAD TASA:
Will the Minister of Minority Affairs be please to State:-
(a) the details of safeguards that have been introduced under the Unified Waqf Management,
Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995 to prevent arbitrary or unilateral declaration of
private or public land as waqf;
(b) whether the Act mandates a formal enquiry before registering any property as waqf and if so, the details
thereof along with the competent authority for such enquiry;
(c) the manner in which the registration and validation process under the Act ensures transparency, public
disclosure and protection against unverifiable claims;
(d) the details of role assigned to District Collectors and revenue officials in verifying waqf land records
and preventing encroachments or false claims; and
(e) the manner in which the UMEED Central Portal has improved access to waqf-related information,
public services and grievance redressal mechanisms?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)
(a) to (c) The Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995, as
amended by the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, provides following safeguards to prevent arbitrary or
unilateral declaration of private or public land as waqf and improve measures to enhance transparency,
accountability, and lawful management of waqf properties:
(i) As per Section 3A of the Act, waqf creation requires the individual to be the lawful owner of the
property and competent to transfer or dedicate it.(ii) A waqf deed is mandatory for registering new waqf properties as waqf, ensuring proper
documentation.
(iii) As per Section 36 of the Act, 1995, all waqf registration applications must be submitted on the
UMEED Central Portal–2025. The Waqf Boards forward the application to the District Collector, who
conducts an inquiry to verify the claim’s genuineness and validity of the application and correctness of
particulars.
(iv) Section 40 of the Waqf Act, 1995, which previously allowed the Waqf Board to declare
properties as waqf based on collected information has now been omitted under the Waqf (Amendment)
Act, 2025.
(d) The Collector is responsible for verifying genuineness and accuracy of details of new waqf
registration applications submitted on the UMEED Central Portal-2025 and also entrusted with conducting
surveys of waqf properties to prevent encroachment and alienation of waqf assets.
(e) As per the Section 3(ka) of the Act, the Ministry has launched the statutory UMEED Central Portal–
2025 on 06.06.2025 for uploading details of existing waqf and the property dedicated to the waqf, which
also automate entire lifecycle of waqf properties, including registration, verification, survey by the
Collector, mutation, annual account updates, audit, leasing and monitoring, ensuring transparency,
efficiency and effective management and faster grievance redressal. The Portal operates on a three-tier user
architecture Maker, Checker, and Approver to ensure real-time, verified data entry and maintain data
integrity by preventing uploading of irrelevant or incorrect details of existing auqaf.
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