Arunachal’s Anti-Conversion Law: A 40-Year-Old Debate and Increasing Tensions

Arunachal Pradesh, the north-eastern state famous for its rich indigenous cultures, is again in the midst of a fiery debate that involves religion, politics, and identity. The Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (APFRA), a legislation aimed at stopping religious conversions by coercion or inducement, has emerged as a hot button issue in the state’s long struggle to preserve its indigenous religious and cultural practices. Enacted in 1978, the law has lain dormant for decades, but a recent campaign to enforce it has rekindled tensions in the state. This intricate problem raises deeper questions regarding religious freedom, cultural integrity, and the role of external forces in a state that has experienced a sudden change in its religious profile.

The Genesis of the Anti-Conversion Law
The Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act was enacted to address rising fears about religious conversions, especially those brought about by Christian missionaries. The law requires that any such conversion from a native religion, like Donnie Polo or Buddhism, to any other religion is to be notified to local officials. Contravention of the law, including forced conversions, can result in imprisonment or a fine. The law was brought in to end what most indigenous communities perceived as a danger to their native customs and lifestyle.

In spite of the law’s enactment, its implementation has been slow, on account mainly of political and religious concerns. The state, which has observed a considerable increase in Christianity—increasing from below 1% of the population in 1971 to more than 30% in 2011—has had political administrators reluctant to implement the law because of the increasing clout of Christian communities, which now represent a considerable vote bank.

Christianity’s Growth and Indigenous Concerns
Christian missionary activity in Arunachal Pradesh increased strongly beginning in the 1960s and 1970s, a belated entry compared to other parts of India. Yet the missionaries’ impact has widened, with whole communities converting to Christianity over the decades. Christianity is the leading religion in some districts, prompting fears among native groups, particularly those who practice Donnie Polo, an animistic traditional religion, that their religious beliefs are being eroded.

Over the past few years, the indigenous people have been increasingly concerned about the influence of mass conversions on their cultural identity. The population shift has raised questions regarding the nature of conversions—whether they are coerced or voluntary. Most indigenous leaders believe that the fast expansion of Christianity is due to economic incentives, education, and healthcare services provided by missionaries, which results in the perceived loss of traditional cultural values.

While a few people in converted communities still adhere to indigenous religions, their religious practices tend to show more Christian influences. This syncretism of indigenous rituals and Christian religious practice has resulted in tensions, with indigenous peoples worried that their religion and culture will ultimately be erased.

The Role of Politics in the Anti-Conversion Debate
The political equations involved in enforcing the anti-conversion law are complex. Chief Minister Pema Khandu, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been under pressure from indigenous groups as well as the Christian community. Although Khandu and certain BJP leaders have voiced support for enforcing the law, they are wary of antagonizing the Christian community, an important vote bank in the state.

In 2018, Khandu and his administration stated that they would enforce the law, but the action drew stiff resistance from Christian factions and politicians at the local level, many of whom were afraid that enforcing the law would cause them to lose their election votes. This political reluctance resulted in a postponement of implementation, even as indigenous organizations called for action in order to safeguard their religious and cultural heritage.

The Ongoing Debate: Religious Conversion and Secularism
The resurfacing debate over the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act of 2025 is occurring when the state is facing a spate of religious conversion, dominated by Christian conversion. Native communities, especially the Donnie Polo community, are strong in their demand for the law to be enforced on the premise that large-scale conversions are undermining their religious identity and cultural traditions.

At the centre of the storm is the issue of what is a “forced” conversion. Indigenous leaders accuse Christian missionaries of employing monetary rewards and other inducements to convert individuals, especially vulnerable groups. However, Christian groups protest that conversions are voluntary and ought not be interpreted as coercive. They argue that the law, if implemented, would violate their freedom to practice their religion and could be employed to persecute Christians, who are a large percentage of the population in the state.

The Christian community has expressed fears that the law would be abused, resulting in religious discrimination and polarization. Leaders of the Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF) have countered that the law discriminated against Christians, especially in a state where growing Christianity has been viewed as an exercise of individual religious freedom and not of coercion. The ACF has demanded the repeal of the law, stating that its implementation would result in greater divisions within society and even violence.

The enforcement of the law would also have larger implications for India’s adherence to secularism, as guaranteed in the Indian Constitution. The controversy highlights a central conflict between the protection of native cultures and religions and the preservation of individual freedoms to practice any religion. The conflict is most intense in Arunachal Pradesh, where religious diversity among the population renders it a microcosm of the problems of India’s secular democracy.

Recent Developments and Legal Interventions
In light of the persisting tension, the Guwahati High Court stepped in in 2024, instructing the government of Arunachal Pradesh to complete the rules for enforcing the anti-conversion law within six months. The judgment has put the state government under immense pressure to take a clear position on the matter. Native communities, spearheaded by the Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh (IFCSAP), have been mobilized in favor of the law, invoking the need to preserve native traditions against the increasing influence of Christianity.

But Christian groups remain opposed to the implementation of the law, holding protests and hunger strikes calling for the status quo to remain. The protests are a measure of the entrenched division in the state, as the Christian community is concerned that the law can be used to suppress their religious rights.

The RSS and the Role of National Politics
The entry of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) into the debate has politicized the issue further. The RSS has been accused of supporting indigenous people in their demand for the enactment of the law, giving the local controversy a national twist. The critics state that the RSS entry has politicized the issue as a political tool, using religious and cultural identities to serve political ends.

The increasing involvement of national political parties such as the RSS has also generated fears that the debate could deepen religious and cultural polarizations within the state. As Christian communities and indigenous groups continue to conflict over the law, the role of national political actors may determine the outcome.

Looking Ahead: Finding a Balance
The fate of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act is not certain. The state government is under a lot of pressure to implement the law, but political imperatives and fear of compromising religious freedom render it a highly controversial matter. The dilemma is to balance protecting the indigenous cultures with ensuring the rights of citizens to practice their religion freely.

As the issue continues to heat up, there is a pressing need for everyone involved—political leaders, indigenous groups, religious minorities—to find common ground in constructive dialogue. The solution will not only set the future direction of Arunachal Pradesh but also further influence India’s struggle to make room for religious pluralism, secularism, and indigenous peoples’ rights.

For the time being, the controversy regarding religious conversion in Arunachal Pradesh continues to be open, but its resolution will presumably set a precedent for how India addresses similar challenges in the future. As things unfold, the state’s ability to navigate this complicated issue will have profound implications for its political and cultural destiny.