Temples in Madhya Pradesh will only accept online donations: Minister

Donations at major temples will only be accepted through secure online channels while temple administrations will promote the QR code system

Published on: Jun 22, 2026, 21:05:15 IST

By Shruti Tomar, Bhopal

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The Madhya Pradesh government on Monday decided to revamp its temple donation system by accepting only online transfers following the recent Ayodhya Ram Temple donation row.

The highest income was reported by the Mahakaleshwar temple with ₹168 crore. (shrimahakaleshwar.mp.gov.in)

Minister of state for religious trusts and endowments, culture, and tourism, Dharmendra Lodhi, said, “We are forming a committee to ensure transparency in the donation system. All government-run temples and shrines will adopt a secure mechanism. While donations in Hundis will continue, larger contributions will be accepted only through online systems. QR codes will also be promoted to facilitate small donations.”

The committee will inspect prominent temples across the state to review existing practices. After its assessment, a detailed report will be submitted to the government to strengthen transparency in donations and offerings, he added.

Donations at major temples will only be accepted through secure online channels while temple administrations will promote the QR code system for small donations, he said.

Also Read:Ayodhya Ram Temple in focus over alleged disappearance of donation funds: The row explained

This move comes after allegations regarding Ayodhya Ram Temple donations were discussed publicly, though no official confirmation has been issued regarding those claims. A three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) was also constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government to probe the alleged embezzlement of donation money. According to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, devotees contributed ₹54.79 crore through donation boxes installed at the Ram Mandir, while ₹18.88 crore was received through cash counters at the temple premises. Online donations accounted for ₹8.33 crore, and contributions received under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act stood at ₹0.78 crore. Apart from donations, the Trust earned ₹138.03 crore as interest from its bank deposits during the same period.

In 2025 alone, temples in Madhya Pradesh received donations and funds exceeding ₹250 crore. The highest income was reported by the Mahakaleshwar temple with ₹168 crore, followed by Maa Sharda Devi temple at ₹27 crore, and Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga in Khandwa at ₹35 crore.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shruti Tomar
I have spent over a decade chronicling Madhya Pradesh’s political and social landscape, covering politics, investigative journalism, crime, human interest, and government policy, blending sharp insight with ground‑level depth. I have closely tracked three assembly elections, three Lok Sabha elections, leadership transitions in MP while exposing governance lapses, tender irregularities, and flawed policy rollouts. My reports have revealed gaps in the Cheetah project, irregularities in medical education, rigging in recruitment exams, and loopholes in policy implementation. In crime reporting, I have moved beyond FIRs to map systemic patterns — from organised crime networks and gender‑based violence to custodial accountability — balancing urgency with sensitivity. My journalism is defined by a commitment to human interest. I have profiled the marginalised Bancchda community, documented atrocities against tribal groups, and highlighted efforts to preserve their culture through heritage liquor and revival of spiritual practices. I have reported on farmers struggling with failed MSP promises, giving voice to those often reduced to statistics in policy files. Passionate about field reporting, I have reported on rampant sand mining in Chambal and Narmada, pharmaceutical companies supplying medicines under altered names, the dire condition of schools and colleges, the plight of commercial sex workers, and skewed sex ratios in specific districts. Beyond deadlines, and as HT’s state correspondent and assistant editor in Madhya Pradesh, I engage with ministers, farmers, students, and activists, believing the best policy stories begin with a single human voice. A postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, I also hold a diploma in sports journalism.Read More

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