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The Ministry of Minority Affairs has operationalised the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) Portal to create an authenticated, transparent digital record of Waqf properties across India.

What is Waqf?

A Waqf is a permanent charitable endowment under Islamic law, where a person dedicates property for religious or public welfare purposes. Once declared Waqf, the property:

• Cannot be sold, inherited, or transferred
• Is managed by a Mutawalli (caretaker)
• Is meant to benefit the community in perpetuity

About the UMEED Portal

Launched on 6 June 2025, the UMEED Portal is a centralised digital platform for registration and regulation of Waqf properties. A six-month window, ending on 6 December 2025, was provided to upload authenticated data of existing Waqf properties.

The portal replaces the earlier Waqf Management System of India (WAMSI), which had long been criticised for inaccurate, inconsistent, and duplicate data. WAMSI was officially disabled on 8 May 2025.

Key Features of the UMEED Portal

• Digital registration with precise measurements and geolocation mapping
• Maker–checker–approver workflow to ensure data verification
• Mandatory documentary evidence at each stage of entry
• Legal awareness provisions clarifying rights of beneficiaries
• Unregistered properties after the deadline to be treated as disputed and referred to Waqf Tribunals
• Ensures compliance with updated legal provisions while protecting the rights of women, children, and economically weaker beneficiaries

Capacity Building and Implementation

To facilitate smooth adoption:

• Seven zonal review-cum-training meetings were conducted with States/UTs
• Around ?10 crore was released in tranches for capacity building
• Helplines, virtual training sessions, and master trainer workshops were organised

Despite these efforts, many Waqf Boards were slow initially and became active only close to the deadline.

Upload Performance and Data Trends

The data upload showed a late surge pattern:

• Minimal uploads in June–August
• Gradual increase in September and October
• Massive surge in November and early December, with over 2.4 lakh properties initiated in the final days

In total, over 5.17 lakh properties were initiated on the portal within the six-month window. The system reportedly handled heavy traffic smoothly, supported by round-the-clock technical assistance.

Several large States recorded substantial verified uploads, including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Gujarat, Punjab, Bihar, Haryana, and Jammu & Kashmir, indicating improved compliance in the final phase.

Why Old WAMSI Data Is Not Comparable

Claims that only a small percentage of Waqf properties have been uploaded stem from comparisons with outdated WAMSI figures. However, WAMSI had:

• Duplicate entries
• Incorrect land measurements
• Zero-area listings
• Inflated or unverifiable records

Because of these inconsistencies, WAMSI was discontinued. In contrast, UMEED uses fresh, verified, document-backed data, making comparisons between the two systems misleading.

Governance Significance

The UMEED Portal represents a major step toward:

• Digitisation of religious endowments governance
• Transparency and accountability in Waqf property management
• Reducing disputes through authenticated land records
• Strengthening institutional oversight and legal clarity
• Promoting good governance through technology (e-Governance reform)

It also improves dispute resolution by directing unresolved cases to Waqf Tribunals, ensuring legal recourse.