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Ambani's Antilia, the Kumbh Mela ground, and even the Taj Mahal — all of these have been claimed by the Waqf Board at some point. Hard to believe, right? Not only this the Waqf Board is the largest landowner in India after the Armed Forces and the Indian Railways.
India also has the largest Waqf holdings in the world. In fact, Waqf boards control 8.7 lakh properties covering 9.4 lakh acres, valued at an estimated 71.2 lakh crore. While countries like Turkey, Egypt, and Iraq no longer follow this system, India has laws that protect and regulate it.
The Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025 was passed by the Indian Parliament in early April 2025. The Lok Sabha approved the bill on 2 April 2025, followed by the Rajya Sabha on 3 April 2025. Later President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent, and the Act came into force on 8 April 2025. ​However, the Act has sparked political and legal controversy because of land claims, legal powers, and lack of transparency.
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about 4 months ago