8.72 lakh properties, 38 lakh acres: State-wise list of Waqf land in India

People from the Muslim community stage a protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, at Mominpura area, in Nagpur, Maharashtra (PTI)

After two days of intense debate totalling over 25 hours in both House, Parliament early Friday cleared the Waqf Amendment Bill. It will now go to President Droupadi Murmu for her nod before it becomes an Act.

The Bill marks a "watershed moment", as described by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for the management and supervision of Waqf properties in India.

The discussion on the Waqf Bill in the Rajya Sabha, which lasted 13 hours, witnessed staunch objections from opposition parties, which termed the Bill "anti-Muslim" and "unconstitutional" with the government responding that the "historic reform" would benefit the minority community.

The passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill by both Houses of Parliament marks a watershed moment in our collective quest for socio-economic justice, transparency and inclusive growth. This will particularly help those who have long remained on
Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 4, 2025

We will now enter an era where the framework will be more modern and sensitive to social justice. On a larger note, we remain committed to prioritising the dignity of every citizen. This is also how we build a stronger, more inclusive and more compassionate India. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 4, 2025

The Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha with 128 members voting in favour and 95 opposing it. It was passed in the Lok Sabha early Thursday, with 288 members supporting it and 232 against it.

During the debate on the bill on Thursday, the Ministry of Minority Affairs released a detailed note on the history of Waqf in India, the total number of assets it owns and the state-wise numbers and area of Waqf properties. Here's a look:

History of Waqf

Waqf properties in India have been governed by various laws to improve management and prevent misuse, starting with the Mussalman Wakf Validating Act, 1913, which allowed family Waqfs for eventual charitable use.

The 1923 and 1930 Acts introduced transparency and strengthened legal validity. The Waqf Act, 1954, created State Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council (1964), later replaced by the comprehensive Waqf Act, 1995, which introduced Waqf Tribunals with civil court powers.

The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2013 mandated three-member tribunals with a Muslim law expert, two women members on each board, banned the sale or gifting of Waqf assets, and extended lease terms to 30 years.

Now, according to the government, the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025 and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024 aim to modernize Waqf governance and resolve legal challenges.

The statement added that the ministry of minority affairs is implementing the Quami Waqf Board Taraqqiati Scheme (QWBTS) and Shahari Waqf Sampatti Vikas Yojana (SWSVY) to digitize records and fund commercial development on Waqf land.

Waqf properties in India

As of March 14, 2025, India has 8.72 lakh registered Waqf properties spread across more than 38 lakh acres, according to data on the Waqf Management System of India (WAMSI) portal. Of these, 4.02 lakh are Waqf by user. However, ownership documents have been uploaded for only 9,279 cases, and just 1,083 have corresponding Waqf deeds.

States with largest Waqf holdings

According to the state, Uttar Pradesh (Sunni) leads in number of properties at 2.17 lakh, though total area figures were not available. It is followed by West Bengal (80,480 properties), Punjab (75,965), Tamil Nadu (66,092) and Karnataka (62,830).

Here's a detailed look: