New Delhi: In a landmark move aimed at reforming the management of Waqf properties across India, Union Minister for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, launched the UMEED Central Portal, a centralized digital platform designed to bring real-time transparency, verification, and monitoring to Waqf asset administration on June 6.
Speaking at the official launch event in the capital, Rijiju declared, “The UMEED Portal will add a new chapter in the history of Waqf property management and administration in India. It will not only bring transparency but will also help the common Muslims, particularly women and children.”
A momentous occasion to launch the "UMEED" Central Portal (Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency & Development Act, 1995) in New Delhi today. MoS @GeorgekurianBjp, officials of @MOMAIndia, States, UTs & Waqf Boards attended online. It's a big step towards better… pic.twitter.com/JWatXXNiRG
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) June 6, 2025
Developed by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the UMEED Portal — short for Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development — is set to revolutionize the way Waqf assets are handled, ensuring accountability and public participation.
Calling it a “historic step”, Rijiju underscored that this is far more than a digital upgrade. “It is a symbol of the government’s firm commitment to safeguarding the rights of minority communities and ensuring that community-owned Waqf assets are utilized effectively and fairly, for the poor Muslims, for whom it was originally meant,” he said.
Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs, George Kurian, who was also present at the launch, described the portal as a long-overdue reform. “The system ensures that every property is accounted for and used in accordance with the purpose it was endowed for,” he remarked.
The portal comes with a suite of features aimed at modernising and democratising Waqf governance:
- A digital inventory with geo-tagging of all Waqf properties
- An online grievance redressal system to ensure responsiveness
- Transparent leasing and usage tracking of Waqf assets
- Integration with GIS mapping and other e-Governance tools
- Public access to verified records and reports
Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, expressed confidence that the portal will become the “backbone of digital Waqf governance”, enhancing the role of Waqf properties in supporting education, healthcare, livelihood, and social welfare for underprivileged Muslims.
The launch of the UMEED Portal follows the recent passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, a significant legislative reform. After a marathon 12-hour debate in the Lok Sabha on April 3 — which saw the bill passed by a vote of 288-232 — and a subsequent 14-hour session in the Rajya Sabha, where it passed with 128 votes in favour and 95 against, the legislation received Presidential assent from Droupadi Murmu on April 5, officially becoming law.
