As the national deadline for digitising Waqf properties concluded, data shows that only around 2.16 lakh of the estimated 8 lakh Waqf assets have been successfully registered on the UMEED portal. The figure represents just 27 percent of the total, signaling a major gap in compliance with the new Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025, which mandated the complete digital listing of properties.
Despite more than five lakh applications being initiated across states, thousands were rejected due to incomplete documentation or technical inconsistencies. The push for digitisation aimed to bring transparency to a sector long criticised for scattered records, disputed ownership and encroachments. But the numbers reveal that most states are struggling to adapt to the new system.
<h3 data-start="1422" data-end="1460">Karnataka Leads, Bengal Trails</h3>
Karnataka has emerged as the top performer, uploading over 52,000 properties and completing more than 80 percent of its registrations. Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Gujarat have also crossed the halfway mark, with Punjab touching nearly 90 percent.
On the other end of the spectrum, West Bengal has recorded a drastic shortfall, with fewer than one percent of its properties registered. The state, which holds over 80,000 Waqf assets on paper, has only uploaded a few hundred. Officials attribute the gap to documentation challenges and slow adoption of the new digital guidelines.
Uttar Pradesh, home to two separate Waqf boards, has also seen limited progress, with most registrations still stuck in initial stages. Maharashtra has reached close to 50 percent but continues to deal with verification delays.
<h3 data-start="2275" data-end="2309">Why the Numbers Are So Low</h3>
Many boards say the primary barrier is historical documentation. A substantial share of Waqf properties fall under &ldquo;Waqf by user,&rdquo; where no formal deed exists and the original declaration was made generations ago. Digitising such records requires proof, geo-tagging and a paper trail that often no longer exists.
Technical hurdles, shortage of trained staff, and poor record-keeping over decades have further slowed down the digitisation process. In some states, administrative hesitation and political delays in adopting the amended Act also contributed to slow progress.
<h3 data-start="2886" data-end="2910">What Happens Now</h3>
With the deadline over, Waqf Boards that failed to complete registration will now have to approach Waqf Tribunals to seek extensions or approval for pending entries. Many states, including Telangana and Uttar Pradesh, have thousands of properties stuck in maker or verification stages and will need tribunal clearance to move forward.
Officials warn that the failure to upload complete records could leave vast portions of Waqf land vulnerable to mismanagement, disputes and encroachment. The digital portal was designed to safeguard properties and create a traceable system, but without full compliance, the intended transparency may remain out of reach.
As the country waits for tribunal decisions and fresh instructions from the Centre, the future of hundreds of thousands of unregistered Waqf properties remains uncertain.

Waqf Property Uploads Lag Nationwide at 27 Percent

With the UMEED deadline over, most states trail far behind in registering Waqf assets

Waqf Property Uploads Lag Nationwide at 27 Percent

With the UMEED deadline over, most states trail far behind in registering Waqf assets

December 8, 2025 | 22:04 IST