India, Aug. 26 -- The Goa Cabinet has cleared an anti-conversion bill to be tabled in the monsoon session of the state assembly beginning August 31, proposing up to 14 years of imprisonment and outlawing conversion through the use of force, coercion, undue influence, allurement, or marriage, people aware of the matter said on Wednesday.

Goa, where Christians and Muslims make up over 35% of the population, will become the 13th of the 28 states to have an anti-conversion law if the bill is passed.

The Goa Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill proposes up to 10 years' imprisonment for offenders, including religious figures such as priests, karmkandis, maulvis or mullas. The punishment could go up to 14 years of imprisonment i...