Is begging illegal in India?

Legal Status of Begging in India

While there is no overarching national legislation, begging is officially banned in 20 states and Union Territories across India. A number of specific laws were established prior to independence, such as The Bengal Vagrancy Act of 1943, The Bombay Beggars Act of 1945, and The Madras Prevention of Begging Act of 1945, all aimed at criminalizing the act of begging.