Is Christianity Under Threat in India? Latest Persecution Statistics Revealed

Rising Persecution: How Christians Are Being Targeted

The Evangelical Fellowship of India’s Religious Liberty Commission (EFIRLC) reported 840 incidents of violence, harassment, and discrimination against Christians in 2024—up from 601 in 2023 and just 147 in 2014 (christiansincrisis.net, worldea.org).
United Christian Forum (UCF) documented 834 separate attacks, noting that Christians—who make up only 2.3% of the population—are facing religious intimidation nearly every day .

Uttar Pradesh emerged as the most affected state with 188–209 incidents.
Other major hotspots include Chhattisgarh (150–165), Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Jharkhand (theunn.com).

Tactics of Persecution

Hundreds of churches have been vandalized or attacked, with worship services often disrupted by mobs or state enforcement (worldea.org).
In Manipur, over 250 churches were destroyed and approximately 60,000 Christians displaced amid ethnic violence (reuters.com).

255 threats/harassment, 129 arrests, and 76 physical violence cases were recorded in 2024. These included abductions, forced displacement, and gender-based harm (theunn.com).
Under India’s anti-conversion laws (now active in 12 states), over 59 arrests were reported in a single quarter; these laws frequently serve to criminalize Christian social work or prayer gatherings (southasiajusticecampaign.org).

At least four Christians murdered in 2024. In Chhattisgarh, a pregnant Christian suffered a miscarriage after a targeted attack (theunn.com).
Inkhmanipur, community-wide violence displaced tens of thousands; Tamil and Sikh minorities in other states likewise report forced reconversions or “Ghar Wapsi” efforts (zenit.org).

The U.S. State Department’s 2023 report flagged India for sharp increases in hate speech, church destruction, and anti-conversion laws—calling attention to a pattern of religious intolerance (reuters.com).
Global Christian Relief reports nearly 4,949 attacks on Christian properties between 2022–2024—placing India at the top of global church-target violence statistics (christiantoday.co.in).
International experts attribute much of the violence to influence from BJP-ruled state governments, the RSS, and Hindu extremist mobs—frequently facilitated by anti-conversion laws and police complicity .
India was ranked 11th on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List for persecution, up from 31st in 2013 (christiansincrisis.net).

Over 400 Christian leaders petitioned Prime Minister Modi and President Murmu in December 2024, urging enforcement of constitutional religious freedom protections (nriaffairs.com).
Legal advocates and human rights groups condemned misuse of anti-conversion laws, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh, where several individuals, including a couple and a nun, were detained without evidence under dubious conversion charges (southasiajusticecampaign.org).
Organizations like Release International and South Asia Justice Campaign are providing legal support, relief, and advocacy for affected communities (southasiajusticecampaign.org).

Religious freedom: The constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion faces erosion due to state-backed laws targeting Christians and other minorities.
Social justice: Discrimination and hostility disproportionately impacts low-caste and tribal believers.
International reputation: Reports from the U.S. and global NGOs highlight India’s escalating religious rights violations, raising diplomatic concerns (theunn.com).

India is at a crucial crossroads. Will constitutional protections be reinforced, or will religious nationalism continue unchecked?

Some state governments are signaling worsening enforcement of religious restrictions:

Arunachal Pradesh aims to revive its dormant anti-conversion law in 2025 (zenit.org).
Uttar Pradesh has already seen convictions under its law, with several high-profile pastoral arrests (christianitytoday.com).

Yes, Christianity faces significant threat in India in 2025. Annual incidents have surged to historic highs.
Violence (physical, legal, social) is being used in various states to suppress Christian faith and practice.
Experts urge urgent reforms: repeal of anti-conversion legislation, accountability for attacks, and protection for religious minorities.
reuters.com
timesofindia.indiatimes.com