The central government is going to launch the ‘UMED’ portal on 6 June, which aims to ensure better management and increased transparency of Waqf properties across the country. According to sources, this portal is a brief name of ‘Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, Employees, and Development’ and is designed to register all Waqf properties on a centralized platform.
Under the scheme, registration of all Waqf properties will be mandatory within six months of the launch of the portal. Detailed description of properties, which will include their length, width and geo tagged location, it would be necessary to enter on the portal. Apart from this, properties which will be registered in the name of women will not be declared Waqf. The main beneficiaries of Waqf properties will be made to women, children and economically weaker sections.
Also read: ‘Muslim leaders misleading the community in the name of Waqf, property in their possession’, BJP leader Mohsin Raza spoke on the WAQF Amendment Act
Responsibility for registration on State Waqf Board
This registration will be done by the concerned State Waqf Board. If any property is not registered within the stipulated time frame for technical or other important reasons, then an extension of one to two months can be given. However, the properties which are not registered even after the prescribed period will be considered disputed and will be sent to the Waqf Tribunal.
The “UMED” portal is being launched in the context of the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which was approved by President Draupadi Murmu on 5 April. This bill was passed after a rapid debate in both houses of Parliament.
Petitions pending in Supreme Court against new Waqf law
Meanwhile, several petitions challenging the Waqf Act are pending in the Supreme Court. The central government has urged to dismiss these petitions and said that this law does not violate constitutional rights.
Also read: ‘Waqf is not an essential part of Islam, only donation is’, arguments in the Supreme Court of the Central Government
On 17 April, the Supreme Court refused to ban the Act after the government did not implement some provisions. In a recent hearing held on 27 May, the court has sought answers from the Center and other parties.