UP lags behind in registration of waqf properties on UMEED portal

Thousands of Mutawallis (caretakers) in Uttar Pradesh are in the doldrums and are running pillar to post to upload documents of their Waqf establishments as the deadline to register themselves under the UMEED portal ends on December 5.

According to the UP government records as of Wednesday, over 15,000 registrations have been completed out of the total 1.26 lakh waqf properties in the state.

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“By the next 9 days, we are expecting to reach around 30,000 registrations, but what will happen to the rest?” an official questioned.

Already, several organisations have demanded the extension of the registration time of the UMEED portal for two years, but the Central government has yet to respond.

The last date to register Waqf properties on the UMEED portal, which was launched on June 6, 2025, is December 5, 2025. This is a mandatory requirement under the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which was enacted on April 5.

The UMEED (The Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995) Portal is a flagship initiative by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs aimed at the end-to-end digitisation and centralised management of Waqf properties across India.

Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali, chairman of the Islamic Centre of India and the Executive Committee member of AIMPLB, said, “Mutawallis across the country are trying their best, but technical and demographic challenges are making the task hard. We have already requested a two-year extension to complete this mammoth task and taken the matter to the apex court.”

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Minority Welfare Minister Danish Azad Ansari, at the last moment, has accelerated the process and has cancelled leave for all employees of the Sunni Central Waqf Board until December 5.

“An inspection was conducted on Wednesday to review the progress and implementation of the UMEED Portal following the implementation of the Waqf Amendment Act,” he said.

The minister has directed the speedy digitisation of files stored in the record room. He had clearly stated that all files and documents related to Waqf properties must be properly maintained.

During the inspection, Minister Ansari met with various Waqf Mutawallis from across the state and briefed them on the processes related to the registration, management, transparency, and digitisation of Waqf properties.

Speaking with the Mutawallis, he stated that the Umeed Portal is an important step taken by the Modi government at the central level for protection, better monitoring, and smooth administration of Waqf properties. This will not only enhance transparency in the management of Waqf properties but will also effectively curb corruption and irregularities and enable Waqf properties to be used for the empowerment of the Muslim community, especially the backward Pasmanda Muslim community and Muslim women.

Danish Azad Ansari stated that Uttar Pradesh has the largest number of Waqf properties, approximately 1.25 lakh. Therefore, it is crucial to expedite the registration of Waqf properties on the Umeed Portal in the state.

Mr Ansari discussed in detail the technical and administrative aspects of the Umeed Portal and explained that the Yogi Adityanath government of Uttar Pradesh aims to fully digitally register all Waqf properties in the state on the portal as soon as possible. He urged the Mutawallis to upload the necessary documents on time and ensure maximum utilisation of all the facilities available through the portal.

The minister expressed confidence that through the Umeed portal, the Waqf management system will enter a new phase and the Muslim community will get direct benefit from it.