The Indian government is actively engaging with states to ensure the effective implementation of the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) portal, a centralized platform designed to digitize and manage Waqf properties across the nation. Launched on June 6, 2025, the UMEED portal represents a significant step towards bringing transparency, accountability, and efficiency to the management of these assets, primarily benefiting women, children, and economically weaker sections of the Muslim community.
The UMEED portal mandates the submission of official documents for registering Waqf properties, aiming to prevent the inclusion of illegally occupied or encroached land. For properties lacking sufficient documentation, the "mutawalli" (caretaker) is required to seek verification from the Waqf Tribunal. A key feature of the portal is a field that asks whether the Waqf property is located on government land. Since land is a state subject, the state government ultimately confirms or denies whether the land in question is indeed Waqf land. This collaborative approach between the central and state governments is crucial for the successful implementation of the UMEED portal.
Under the new guidelines, properties must be registered with detailed descriptions, including dimensions, ownership documents, and geotagged locations. All Waqf properties must be registered on the portal within six months of its launch. Properties not registered within the stipulated timeframe, due to technical or other significant reasons, may be granted an extension of one to two months. However, properties that remain unregistered beyond the permitted period will be considered disputed and referred to the Waqf Tribunal for resolution. Registrations will be facilitated by respective State Waqf Boards.
The launch of the UMEED portal occurs against the backdrop of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, enacted on April 5, 2025. While the government sees the portal and the amended act as vital for modernizing Waqf management, the initiative faces opposition. Several petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf Act are pending before the Supreme Court. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has also voiced strong opposition, claiming that the portal's launch while the Act is under judicial review is tantamount to contempt of court. They fear the government may use the "Waqf-by-User" clause in the new Act to claim Muslim properties. The Board has appealed to State Waqf Boards and Muslim citizens to refrain from registering properties on the portal until the Supreme Court delivers its verdict.
Despite the opposition, the government remains firm in its commitment to the UMEED portal. The Ministry of Minority Affairs has emphasized that the portal is more than just a technological upgrade, and will add a new chapter in the history of Waqf property management and administration in India. The government has urged the court to recognize the law as a landmark achievement and has called for cooperation from all stakeholders to ensure its smooth implementation.
Telangana Waqf Board is waiting for the Supreme Court's verdict and has not yet begun geo-tagging Waqf properties on the UMEED portal. The board has sent objections to the central government, stating that there is no clarity on which lands need to be uploaded, as many properties have been Waqf-by-user in nature for centuries and lack documentary evidence, while some are under litigation.
