New Delhi, April 3 -- The Lok Sabha on Wednesday approved amendments to the central waqf law, which aims to make sweeping changes in the regulation and management of Islamic charitable endowments, accords more power to the government, and allows for the appointment of non-Muslims and women to waqf boards, after overcoming a stiff challenge from the Opposition that alleged the bill was unconstitutional.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was passed in the Lower House with 226 MPs in favour of the bill and 163 against, after a marathon 12-hour debate.

The government aims to bring the bill in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

Union home minister Amit Shah and minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju led the charge from the National Democratic Alliance (N...