The High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes (HLCDC), formally constituted on May 26, 2026, and headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar, has sought 15 years of religion-wise data from states on areas including birth and vehicle registrations, school enrollment, property transactions, and unusual increases in Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration card registrations.&nbsp;State governments are reportedly struggling to respond to the 35-point questionnaire because they do not ordinarily maintain such information on the basis of religion.The committee has sought district-wise details of religious structures established over the past 15 years, data on religious conversions among Scheduled Tribe communities, and voter registrations involving people without previous-generation birth certificates or family records.&nbsp;The panel has also sought information on operational detention centres and the deportation or repatriation of undocumented migrants. States have been asked to compile religion-wise data across the listed categories for Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Muslims, Parsis and Buddhists.&nbsp;The questionnaire also asks states to suggest whether new legislation is required to strengthen surveillance and take action to “reverse abnormal religious demographic change,” according to the report.The HLCDC was constituted by the Union Home Ministry to study demographic changes attributed to illegal immigration and other “abnormal reasons” and suggest measures to address them.The committee has visited the Jammu region and plans to visit Maharashtra.&nbsp;The committee was formed two decades after the Congress-led UPA government constituted the Sachar Committee in 2005 to examine the social, economic, and educational status of Muslims.&nbsp;The BJP and several right-wing groups had criticised the Sachar Committee report as a tool for “minority appeasement” and “vote-bank politics.”&nbsp;The Congress party slammed the questionnaire and accused the committee of calling it a “patently diabolical agenda.”&nbsp;Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused the panel studying demographic changes of having a “patently diabolical agenda” and said its “pre-conceived biases” were evident, citing a report on the committee’s questionnaire to states.&nbsp;Ramesh wrote on X, “This panel has a patently diabolical agenda and has clearly articulated preconceived biases. Its report has already been prepared, no doubt.”&nbsp;Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the “High-powered Demography Mission” on August 15, 2025. The Union Cabinet gave its approval to the proposal on September 11, 2025.

The questionnaire asks states whether new legislation is required to strengthen surveillance and take action to reverse abnormal religious demographic change. It has also sought information on operational detention centres and the deportation or repatriation of undocumented migrants.

The High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes (HLCDC), formally constituted on May 26, 2026, and headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar, has sought 15 years of religion-wise data from states on areas including birth and vehicle registrations, school enrollment, property transactions, and unusual increases in Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration card registrations. State governments are reportedly struggling to respond to the 35-point questionnaire because they do not ordinarily maintain such information on the basis of religion. The committee has sought district-wise details of religious structures established over the past 15 years, data on religious conversions among Scheduled Tribe communities, and voter registrations involving people without previous-generation birth certificates or family records. The panel has also sought information on operational detention centres and the deportation or repatriation of undocumented migrants. States have been asked to compile religion-wise data across the listed categories for Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Muslims, Parsis and Buddhists. The questionnaire also asks states to suggest whether new legislation is required to strengthen surveillance and take action to “reverse abnormal religious demographic change,” according to the report. The HLCDC was constituted by the Union Home Ministry to study demographic changes attributed to illegal immigration and other “abnormal reasons” and suggest measures to address them. The committee has visited the Jammu region and plans to visit Maharashtra. The committee was formed two decades after the Congress-led UPA government constituted the Sachar Committee in 2005 to examine the social, economic, and educational status of Muslims. The BJP and several right-wing groups had criticised the Sachar Committee report as a tool for “minority appeasement” and “vote-bank politics.” The Congress party slammed the questionnaire and accused the committee of calling it a “patently diabolical agenda.” Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused the panel studying demographic changes of having a “patently diabolical agenda” and said its “pre-conceived biases” were evident, citing a report on the committee’s questionnaire to states. Ramesh wrote on X, “This panel has a patently diabolical agenda and has clearly articulated preconceived biases. Its report has already been prepared, no doubt.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the “High-powered Demography Mission” on August 15, 2025. The Union Cabinet gave its approval to the proposal on September 11, 2025.

The questionnaire asks states whether new legislation is required to strengthen surveillance and take action to reverse abnormal religious demographic change. It has also sought information on operational detention centres and the deportation or repatriation of undocumented migrants.

Centre’s demography panel seeks religion-wise data from states; Cong calls it ‘patently diabolical agenda’

Earlier this month, a UK-based Indian-origin church leader was booked under Maharashtra's Stringent anti-forced conversion law for allegedly trying to induce Hindus to embrace Christianity. In a bizarre twist though, it has now emerged that this law is yet to come into force. His family has now claimed a threat to his life. This is the case of Pankaj Devnoor, a church leader in Manchester who is also an overseas citizen of India cardholder.&nbsp;According to reports, he travelled to Pune to attend the ten-day anniversary celebrations of a local church. However, trouble arose when a group of men reportedly interrupted this gathering on August 7 and accused Devnoor of being a missionary trying to encourage religious conversion. Two days later, an FIR was lodged against Devnoor on the complaint filed by an autorickshaw driver. He accused the UK-based church leader of using Hindu terms and devotional instruments including kirtan, veena and tablabefore 80-100 people with an alleged intent to attract Hindus towards Christianity.&nbsp;Rejecting his allegations in his bail petition Devnoor contended that the programme was open to all. While a Pune court granted him anticipatory bail, it barred him from leaving the country without its prior permission and directed him to visit the police station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. While the Pune police has withdrawn charges filed under the anti-conversion law, as it is coming into force only on August 28, the case will be probed under other provisions.&nbsp;Amid this, Devnoor's family told The Independent that the case had caused him considerable financial hardship and affected his livelihood. In wake of this, the family has commenced crowdfunding efforts to pay for his legal defence. According to reports, the family's immediate priority is to get him home as it is concerned over his identity being made public. Now, let's take a look at the law which has generated this controversy in the first place.&nbsp;Officially known as 'The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act', it prohibits unlawful religious conversion through allurement, coercion, deceit, force or threat. Additionally, any marriage solemnised with the sole purpose of unlawful religious conversion shall be declared null and void. According to this law, if any person intends to convert from one religion to another, he must give a sixty days' notice after which objections from locals will be probed.&nbsp;The offences under this law are non-bailable and carry a punishment of seven-year jail apart from a fine ranging from 1 lakh to 5 lakh Indian rupees. Now, this is not an aberration. In March, Maharashtra became the 13th state in India to pass a law against forced religious conversions. While the case against Devnoor is subjudice, this incident has again reignited the debate over anti-conversion laws in India.

UK church leader accused of trying to convert Hindus in India, fears for safety | Gravitas

Earlier this month, a UK-based Indian-origin church leader was booked under Maharashtra's Stringent anti-forced conversion law for allegedly trying to induce Hindus to embrace Christianity. In a bizarre twist though, it has now emerged that this law is yet to come into force. His family has now claimed a threat to his life. This is the case of Pankaj Devnoor, a church leader in Manchester who is also an overseas citizen of India cardholder. According to reports, he travelled to Pune to attend the ten-day anniversary celebrations of a local church. However, trouble arose when a group of men reportedly interrupted this gathering on August 7 and accused Devnoor of being a missionary trying to encourage religious conversion. Two days later, an FIR was lodged against Devnoor on the complaint filed by an autorickshaw driver. He accused the UK-based church leader of using Hindu terms and devotional instruments including kirtan, veena and tabla before 80-100 people with an alleged intent to attract Hindus towards Christianity. Rejecting his allegations in his bail petition Devnoor contended that the programme was open to all. While a Pune court granted him anticipatory bail, it barred him from leaving the country without its prior permission and directed him to visit the police station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. While the Pune police has withdrawn charges filed under the anti-conversion law, as it is coming into force only on August 28, the case will be probed under other provisions. Amid this, Devnoor's family told The Independent that the case had caused him considerable financial hardship and affected his livelihood. In wake of this, the family has commenced crowdfunding efforts to pay for his legal defence. According to reports, the family's immediate priority is to get him home as it is concerned over his identity being made public. Now, let's take a look at the law which has generated this controversy in the first place. Officially known as 'The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act', it prohibits unlawful religious conversion through allurement, coercion, deceit, force or threat. Additionally, any marriage solemnised with the sole purpose of unlawful religious conversion shall be declared null and void. According to this law, if any person intends to convert from one religion to another, he must give a sixty days' notice after which objections from locals will be probed. The offences under this law are non-bailable and carry a punishment of seven-year jail apart from a fine ranging from 1 lakh to 5 lakh Indian rupees. Now, this is not an aberration. In March, Maharashtra became the 13th state in India to pass a law against forced religious conversions. While the case against Devnoor is subjudice, this incident has again reignited the debate over anti-conversion laws in India.

UK-based church leader Pankaj Devnoor faces a Maharashtra conversion case, sparking controversy as the anti-conversion law takes effect only August 28

A 14-year-old Hindu girl was kidnapped, forcibly converted into Islam and married off to an older man by her tutor in Pakistan's Sindh province. Such cases have become endemic in Sindh. When will Pakistan's government take action? Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: Abduct-and-convert cases rising in Pakistan

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Centre’s demography panel seeks religion-wise data from states; Cong calls it ‘patently diabolical agenda’

Gravitas | UK church leader accused of trying to convert Hindus in India

Gravitas: Abduct-and-convert cases rising in Pakistan