The central government is launching the 'Umeed' portal today, June 6, 2025, marking a significant step towards the unified management of Waqf properties across the nation. 'Umeed', an acronym for Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development, will serve as a centralized digital platform for the registration of all Waqf properties in the country.
The launch of the Umeed portal aims to bring better management, enhanced transparency, and development to Waqf properties. The Ministry of Minority Affairs will manage the portal in coordination with State Waqf Boards and judicial authorities. Union Minister of Minority Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju, emphasized that the portal would facilitate the digitization and registration of Waqf properties, enhancing transparency, governance, and utilization. He urged State Governments and Waqf Boards to actively upload and manage data to ensure that over 9 lakh Waqf properties are utilized meaningfully, especially for the welfare of women and children.
As per the government's mandate, all Waqf properties must be registered on the Umeed portal within six months of its launch. Each entry must include a detailed property description, including length, width, and geotagged location. According to sources, Election Commission data will be used for identifying these properties.
A significant point to note is that properties registered under the names of women, or where women are the heirs, will not be eligible to be declared as Waqf. The central objective is to ensure that Waqf assets primarily benefit women, children, and economically weaker sections of society. Registration will be managed through respective State Waqf Boards, which will also provide technical support to help in the process. The responsibility to get the property registered will be on the Mutawalli, which means the caretaker or manager of the Waqf property.
For properties that remain unregistered beyond the stipulated deadline due to valid technical or procedural issues, the government may consider granting a one-to-two-month extension. However, any unregistered properties thereafter will be deemed disputed and referred to the Waqf Tribunal for adjudication.
The launch of Umeed comes in the wake of the recently enacted Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which received presidential assent from President Droupadi Murmu on April 5, following its passage in both Houses of Parliament. This amendment amends the 1995 basic Waqf Act to strengthen the administration and accountability of religious settlements and assets dedicated to charitable or religious reasons under Islamic law.
The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, has, however, attracted legal scrutiny. Several petitions challenging the Waqf Act are currently pending before the Supreme Court, with petitioners alleging that the new provisions allow the state to “occupy” Waqf properties through executive machinery without judicial monitoring and violate the religious rights of Muslims, interfering in Islamic practices and property management. During the latest hearing on May 27, the apex court sought responses from the Centre and other stakeholders. Earlier, on April 17, the Court declined to order a stay on the Act after the government assured it would not implement certain provisions for the time being. The Centre has urged the court to dismiss these petitions, maintaining that the law does not violate constitutional guarantees.
The Umeed portal represents a crucial step towards modernizing and streamlining the management of Waqf properties in India, aiming to enhance transparency, prevent misuse, and ensure that these assets are utilized for the benefit of the community, particularly women, children, and the economically disadvantaged.
