Basic understanding
- The Constitution of India mentions the word ‘minority’ in various articles, including Article 29, 30, 350 A, and 350 B.
- The Constitution recognizes minorities based on religion and language, but it does not define the term ‘minority.’
- According to Section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act 1992, ‘minority’ refers to a community designated as such by the Central government. The Union Government has notified six religious communities – Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis), and Jains – as minority communities, which constitute about 19% of the population of the country.
- State governments have the power to designate state minorities and establish State Minority Commissions. For example, Jains were recognized as a minority by 11 states before being nationally recognized in 2014.
SC pronouncements on Minorities
- In the Kerala Education Bill case of 1958, the Supreme Court ruled that a minority group should be numerically a minority in a “State as a whole” rather than in a particular area or region.
- In two other cases, Bal Patil & others v UOI (1999) and TMA Pai Foundation v State of Karnataka (2002), the Supreme Court held that for state laws, the state should be the unit for determining a religious or linguistic minority.
Issues faced by Minorities
| Problem | Description |
| Communal Tensions and Riots | Minorities suffer the most during communal tensions and riots. The frequency and magnitude of these events have increased post-1960s, leading to a loss of confidence in the system and difficulty for the government to restore trust. |
| Identity Crisis | Differences in socio-cultural practices, history, and backgrounds lead to an identity crisis among minorities, causing problems in adjustment with the majority community. |
| Security Concerns | Small numbers relative to the rest of society and differences in identity create feelings of insecurity among minorities about their life, assets, and well-being. These feelings may increase when relations between majority and minority communities are strained. |
| Lack of Representation | While the Indian Constitution guarantees equality and equal opportunities for all citizens, including religious minorities, Muslims feel neglected and underrepresented in civil service and politics. |
| Separatism | Demands put forward by some religious communities in some areas are not acceptable to others, leading to a gap between them and others. For example, the separatist tendency among some Muslim extremists in Kashmir and their demand for an independent Kashmir is not acceptable to others. |
| Education and Employment among Muslims | Muslim participation in education is relatively low, but it has improved in recent years. Muslim participation in higher education is particularly poor due to household endowments and location. Muslims are primarily engaged in self-employment, and their participation as regular workers, especially in the tertiary sector in urban areas, is lower than that of other socio-religious communities. |
Certain Initiatives
- The Prime Minister has launched a new 15-point program aimed at the welfare of minorities in India.
- USTAAD: The scheme aims to upgrade skills and training in the preservation of traditional ancestral arts and crafts of minorities.
- Hamari Darohar: This initiative aims to preserve the rich and diverse heritage of minority communities in India.
- Strengthening of State Wakf Boards: This program provides support for training and administrative costs of State Wakf Boards and aims to strengthen them.
- Nai Roshni: This scheme is intended to reach out to women through non-governmental organizations, providing financial support for conducting leadership development training so that women can assume leadership roles and assert their rights collectively or individually.
FAQs
1. Who are considered minorities in India?
Minorities in India typically include groups that are numerically smaller than the majority population in a specific region. These minority groups can be categorized based on various factors such as religion, language, ethnicity, and tribal identity. Major religious minority groups in India include Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis.
2. What rights do minorities have in India?
Minorities in India are entitled to several rights and protections under the Indian Constitution. These include the right to religious freedom, cultural preservation, and educational opportunities. Affirmative action measures, like reservations in educational institutions and government jobs, are also in place to promote the socio-economic well-being of minority communities.
3. Which states in India have Hindu minority populations?
While Hindus form the majority religious group in India as a whole, there are certain states and regions where Hindus are in the minority. Some of these states include Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Lakshadweep, where other religious groups or communities constitute a significant portion of the population.
4. What are linguistic minorities in India?
Linguistic minorities in India are groups of people who speak languages that are not widely spoken in a particular state or region. India is incredibly diverse linguistically, with numerous languages spoken across the country. Linguistic minority rights include the right to receive education and conduct government affairs in their native language, as well as the preservation of their linguistic and cultural heritage.
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