NEW DELHI (Diya TV) — In a move aimed at modernizing and streamlining the governance of Waqf properties in India, Union Minister for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Friday launched the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) Portal in the national capital. The digital platform is set to usher in a new era of transparency, accountability, and community involvement in the management of Waqf assets across the country.
Calling it a “historic step,” Rijiju said the UMEED Portal marks a paradigm shift in how Waqf properties—community-owned assets dedicated to charitable or religious purposes in the Muslim community—are administered. “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 common Muslims, particularly women and children,” Rijiju said during the launch event.
Developed by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the centralized digital platform is designed to facilitate real-time uploading, verification, and monitoring of Waqf properties. Its features include a comprehensive digital inventory with geo-tagging, integration with GIS mapping tools, and public access to verified property records. It also offers an online grievance redressal system aimed at addressing concerns from stakeholders efficiently and transparently.
The event was also attended by Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurian, who stressed the importance of the platform in bridging the gap between the Waqf administration and the public. “This system ensures that every property is accounted for and used for the purpose it was endowed. The portal was a long-overdue reform that will curb misuse and bring Waqf administration closer to the people,” Kurian said.
The UMEED Portal draws its name from the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act, 1995, and reflects the government’s commitment to digitally transforming Waqf governance. It aims to ensure Waqf assets serve their intended beneficiaries, especially marginalized and underprivileged segments within the Muslim community.
Chandra Shekhar Kumar, Secretary of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, emphasized that the UMEED Portal is expected to become the backbone of digital Waqf governance. “This platform will ensure Waqf assets contribute meaningfully to education, healthcare, livelihood generation, and social welfare for underprivileged Muslims,” Kumar stated.
Beyond technology, Rijiju positioned the initiative as part of a broader commitment to social justice. “The portal is more than a tech upgrade. It symbolizes the government’s determination to safeguard minority rights and ensure that Waqf assets are used effectively and fairly, for poor Muslims, for whom it was originally meant,” he said.
The launch comes at a time when debate around the Waqf Act, 2025, is intensifying. Petitioners have challenged the new law in the Supreme Court, calling it a “creeping acquisition” of Waqf assets and arguing that it undermines the presumption of constitutionality. While the UMEED Portal represents a bold step forward in administration, it also arrives amid complex legal and political discourse over Waqf autonomy and community rights.
Nevertheless, the portal’s proponents argue that by providing greater visibility, improving accountability, and creating a digital trail for each property, the platform will empower communities and ensure better utilization of Waqf resources. It is expected to play a critical role in social upliftment through structured investments in welfare initiatives such as schools, hospitals, and vocational training centers.
