Lok Sabha Question No. 2595 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-16
Subject: Definition of Minority
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Dhal Singh Bisen

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2595 ANSWERED ON 16.03.2023

## DEFINITION OF MINORITY

## 2595.   DR. DHAL SINGH BISEN:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)       the  definition  of  minority  and  the  minimum  percentage  of  population  required  to  be covered under the category of minorities, State/UT-wise;

(b)      the total population of minorities across the country, State/UT-wise;

(c)      whether any grant is being provided for the religious pilgrimages and if so, the details thereof; and

(d)      the measures being taken/proposed to be taken to strengthen the educational standards of the minority community?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a):  As  per  Section  2(c)  of  the  National  Commission  for  Minorities  (NCM)  Act,  1992, 'minority'  means a  community notified as  such by  the  Central  Government.  The  minimum percentage  of  population  required  to  be  covered  under  the  category  of  minorities  are  not defined in the NCM Act, 1992.

(b): In the Population Census conducted by the office of Registrar General of India, the term 'minority'  is  not  identified  but  the  data  on  religions  professed  by  the  people  of  India  is collected.  The  last  Census  was  conducted  in  2011.  As  per  Census-2011,  the  religion-wise population across the country, State/UT-wise is at Annexure.

(c): No grant is being provided by this Ministry for the religious pilgrimages.

(d):  The  Government  implements  various  schemes  for  the  welfare  and  upliftment  of  every strata, including minorities, especially the economically weaker and lesser privileged sections of the society, through various schemes of the Ministry of Skill Development  and Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Textiles, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Women and Child Development and Ministry of Rural Development. Ministry of Minority Affairs has specifically implemented various schemes across the country for  socio-economic  and  educational  empowerment  of  the  notified  minority  communities including Pre Matric, Post Matric and Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Schemes.

Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) in respect of Lok Sabha  Unstarred Question No. 2595  for  reply  on  16.03.2023  regarding  Definition  of  Minorities  asked  by  Dr.  Dhal  Singh Bisen.

Religion-wise Population (2011 Census)

| Annexure referred to in Part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2595 regarding Definition of Minority for 16.03.2023 raised by Dr. Dhal Singh Bisen   | Annexure referred to in Part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2595 regarding Definition of Minority for 16.03.2023 raised by Dr. Dhal Singh Bisen   | Annexure referred to in Part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2595 regarding Definition of Minority for 16.03.2023 raised by Dr. Dhal Singh Bisen   | Annexure referred to in Part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2595 regarding Definition of Minority for 16.03.2023 raised by Dr. Dhal Singh Bisen   | Annexure referred to in Part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2595 regarding Definition of Minority for 16.03.2023 raised by Dr. Dhal Singh Bisen   | Annexure referred to in Part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2595 regarding Definition of Minority for 16.03.2023 raised by Dr. Dhal Singh Bisen   | Annexure referred to in Part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2595 regarding Definition of Minority for 16.03.2023 raised by Dr. Dhal Singh Bisen   | Annexure referred to in Part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2595 regarding Definition of Minority for 16.03.2023 raised by Dr. Dhal Singh Bisen   |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                                                                                                                            | Total                                                                                                                                                      | Hindu                                                                                                                                                      | Muslim                                                                                                                                                     | Christian                                                                                                                                                  | Sikh                                                                                                                                                       | Buddhist                                                                                                                                                   | Jain                                                                                                                                                       |
| States/UTs                                                                                                                                                 | Persons                                                                                                                                                    | Persons                                                                                                                                                    | Persons                                                                                                                                                    | Persons                                                                                                                                                    | Persons                                                                                                                                                    | Persons                                                                                                                                                    | Persons                                                                                                                                                    |
| JAMMU&                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                            |
| KASHMIR                                                                                                                                                    | 12541302                                                                                                                                                   | 3566674                                                                                                                                                    | 8567485                                                                                                                                                    | 35631                                                                                                                                                      | 234848                                                                                                                                                     | 112584                                                                                                                                                     | 2490                                                                                                                                                       |
| HIMACHAL                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                            |
| PRADESH                                                                                                                                                    | 6864602                                                                                                                                                    | 6532765                                                                                                                                                    | 149881                                                                                                                                                     | 12646                                                                                                                                                      | 79896                                                                                                                                                      | 78659                                                                                                                                                      | 1805                                                                                                                                                       |
| PUNJAB                                                                                                                                                     | 27743338                                                                                                                                                   | 10678138                                                                                                                                                   | 535489                                                                                                                                                     | 348230                                                                                                                                                     | 16004754                                                                                                                                                   | 33237                                                                                                                                                      | 45040                                                                                                                                                      |
| CHANDIGARH                                                                                                                                                 | 1055450                                                                                                                                                    | 852574                                                                                                                                                     | 51447                                                                                                                                                      | 8720                                                                                                                                                       | 138329                                                                                                                                                     | 1160                                                                                                                                                       | 1960                                                                                                                                                       |
| UTTARAKHAND                                                                                                                                                | 10086292                                                                                                                                                   | 8368636                                                                                                                                                    | 1406825                                                                                                                                                    | 37781                                                                                                                                                      | 236340                                                                                                                                                     | 14926                                                                                                                                                      | 9183                                                                                                                                                       |
| HARYANA                                                                                                                                                    | 25351462                                                                                                                                                   | 22171128                                                                                                                                                   | 1781342                                                                                                                                                    | 50353                                                                                                                                                      | 1243752                                                                                                                                                    | 7514                                                                                                                                                       | 52613                                                                                                                                                      |
| NCT OF DELHI                                                                                                                                               | 16787941                                                                                                                                                   | 13712100                                                                                                                                                   | 2158684                                                                                                                                                    | 146093                                                                                                                                                     | 570581                                                                                                                                                     | 18449                                                                                                                                                      | 166231                                                                                                                                                     |
| RAJASTHAN                                                                                                                                                  | 68548437                                                                                                                                                   | 60657103                                                                                                                                                   | 6215377                                                                                                                                                    | 96430                                                                                                                                                      | 872930                                                                                                                                                     | 12185                                                                                                                                                      | 622023                                                                                                                                                     |
| UTTAR                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                            |
| PRADESH                                                                                                                                                    | 199812341159312654                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                            | 38483967                                                                                                                                                   | 356448                                                                                                                                                     | 643500                                                                                                                                                     | 206285                                                                                                                                                     | 213267                                                                                                                                                     |
| BIHAR                                                                                                                                                      | 104099452                                                                                                                                                  | 86078686                                                                                                                                                   | 17557809                                                                                                                                                   | 129247                                                                                                                                                     | 23779                                                                                                                                                      | 25453                                                                                                                                                      | 18914                                                                                                                                                      |
| SIKKIM                                                                                                                                                     | 610577                                                                                                                                                     | 352662                                                                                                                                                     | 9867                                                                                                                                                       | 60522                                                                                                                                                      | 1868                                                                                                                                                       | 167216                                                                                                                                                     | 314                                                                                                                                                        |
| ARUNACHAL PRADESH                                                                                                                                          | 1383727                                                                                                                                                    | 401876                                                                                                                                                     | 27045                                                                                                                                                      | 418732                                                                                                                                                     | 3287                                                                                                                                                       | 162815                                                                                                                                                     | 771                                                                                                                                                        |
| NAGALAND                                                                                                                                                   | 1978502                                                                                                                                                    | 173054                                                                                                                                                     | 48963                                                                                                                                                      | 1739651                                                                                                                                                    | 1890                                                                                                                                                       | 6759                                                                                                                                                       | 2655                                                                                                                                                       |
| MANIPUR                                                                                                                                                    | 2855794                                                                                                                                                    | 1181876                                                                                                                                                    | 239836                                                                                                                                                     | 1179043                                                                                                                                                    | 1527                                                                                                                                                       | 7084                                                                                                                                                       | 1692                                                                                                                                                       |
| MIZORAM                                                                                                                                                    | 1097206                                                                                                                                                    | 30136                                                                                                                                                      | 14832                                                                                                                                                      | 956331                                                                                                                                                     | 286                                                                                                                                                        | 93411                                                                                                                                                      | 376                                                                                                                                                        |
| TRIPURA                                                                                                                                                    | 3673917                                                                                                                                                    | 3063903                                                                                                                                                    | 316042                                                                                                                                                     | 159882                                                                                                                                                     | 1070                                                                                                                                                       | 125385                                                                                                                                                     | 860                                                                                                                                                        |
| MEGHALAYA                                                                                                                                                  | 2966889                                                                                                                                                    | 342078                                                                                                                                                     | 130399                                                                                                                                                     | 2213027                                                                                                                                                    | 3045                                                                                                                                                       | 9864                                                                                                                                                       | 627                                                                                                                                                        |
| ASSAM                                                                                                                                                      | 31205576                                                                                                                                                   | 19180759                                                                                                                                                   | 10679345                                                                                                                                                   | 1165867                                                                                                                                                    | 20672                                                                                                                                                      | 54993                                                                                                                                                      | 25949                                                                                                                                                      |
| WEST BENGAL                                                                                                                                                | 91276115                                                                                                                                                   | 64385546                                                                                                                                                   | 24654825                                                                                                                                                   | 658618                                                                                                                                                     | 63523                                                                                                                                                      | 282898                                                                                                                                                     | 60141                                                                                                                                                      |
| JHARKHAND                                                                                                                                                  | 32988134                                                                                                                                                   | 22376051                                                                                                                                                   | 4793994                                                                                                                                                    | 1418608                                                                                                                                                    | 71422                                                                                                                                                      | 8956                                                                                                                                                       | 14974                                                                                                                                                      |
| ODISHA                                                                                                                                                     | 41974218                                                                                                                                                   | 39300341                                                                                                                                                   | 911670                                                                                                                                                     | 1161708                                                                                                                                                    | 21991                                                                                                                                                      | 13852                                                                                                                                                      | 9420                                                                                                                                                       |
| CHHATTISGARH                                                                                                                                               | 25545198                                                                                                                                                   | 23819789                                                                                                                                                   | 514998                                                                                                                                                     | 490542                                                                                                                                                     | 70036                                                                                                                                                      | 70467                                                                                                                                                      | 61510                                                                                                                                                      |
| MADHYA PRADESH                                                                                                                                             | 72626809                                                                                                                                                   | 66007121                                                                                                                                                   | 4774695                                                                                                                                                    | 213282                                                                                                                                                     | 151412                                                                                                                                                     | 216052                                                                                                                                                     | 567028                                                                                                                                                     |
| GUJARAT                                                                                                                                                    | 60439692                                                                                                                                                   | 53533988                                                                                                                                                   | 5846761                                                                                                                                                    | 316178                                                                                                                                                     | 58246                                                                                                                                                      | 30483                                                                                                                                                      | 579654                                                                                                                                                     |
| DAMAN& DIU                                                                                                                                                 | 243247                                                                                                                                                     | 220150                                                                                                                                                     | 19277                                                                                                                                                      | 2820                                                                                                                                                       | 172                                                                                                                                                        | 217                                                                                                                                                        | 287                                                                                                                                                        |
| NAGAR HAVELI                                                                                                                                               | 343709                                                                                                                                                     | 322857                                                                                                                                                     | 12922                                                                                                                                                      | 5113                                                                                                                                                       | 217                                                                                                                                                        | 634                                                                                                                                                        | 1186                                                                                                                                                       |
| MAHARASHTRA                                                                                                                                                | 112374333                                                                                                                                                  | 89703057                                                                                                                                                   | 12971152                                                                                                                                                   | 1080073                                                                                                                                                    | 223247                                                                                                                                                     | 6531200                                                                                                                                                    | 1400349                                                                                                                                                    |
| ANDHRA PRADESH                                                                                                                                             | 84580777                                                                                                                                                   | 74824149                                                                                                                                                   | 8082412                                                                                                                                                    | 1129784                                                                                                                                                    | 40244                                                                                                                                                      | 36692                                                                                                                                                      | 53849                                                                                                                                                      |
| KARNATAKA                                                                                                                                                  | 61095297                                                                                                                                                   | 51317472                                                                                                                                                   | 7893065                                                                                                                                                    | 1142647                                                                                                                                                    | 28773                                                                                                                                                      | 95710                                                                                                                                                      | 440280                                                                                                                                                     |
| GOA                                                                                                                                                        | 1458545                                                                                                                                                    | 963877                                                                                                                                                     | 121564                                                                                                                                                     | 366130                                                                                                                                                     | 1473                                                                                                                                                       | 1095                                                                                                                                                       | 1109                                                                                                                                                       |
| LAKSHADWEEP                                                                                                                                                | 64473                                                                                                                                                      | 1788                                                                                                                                                       | 62268                                                                                                                                                      | 317                                                                                                                                                        | 8                                                                                                                                                          | 10                                                                                                                                                         | 11                                                                                                                                                         |
| KERALA                                                                                                                                                     | 33406061                                                                                                                                                   | 18282492                                                                                                                                                   | 8873472                                                                                                                                                    | 6141269                                                                                                                                                    | 3814                                                                                                                                                       | 4752                                                                                                                                                       | 4489                                                                                                                                                       |
| TAMIL NADU                                                                                                                                                 | 72147030                                                                                                                                                   | 63188168                                                                                                                                                   | 4229479                                                                                                                                                    | 4418331                                                                                                                                                    | 14601                                                                                                                                                      | 11186                                                                                                                                                      | 89265                                                                                                                                                      |
| PUDUCHERRY                                                                                                                                                 | 1247953                                                                                                                                                    | 1089409                                                                                                                                                    | 75556                                                                                                                                                      | 78550                                                                                                                                                      | 297                                                                                                                                                        | 451                                                                                                                                                        | 1400                                                                                                                                                       |
| ANDAMAN & NICOBAR INDIA                                                                                                                                    | 1210854977966257353                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                            | 172245158                                                                                                                                                  | 27819588                                                                                                                                                   | 20833116                                                                                                                                                   | 8442972                                                                                                                                                    | 4451753                                                                                                                                                    |
| ISLANDS                                                                                                                                                    | 380581                                                                                                                                                     | 264296                                                                                                                                                     | 32413                                                                                                                                                      | 80984                                                                                                                                                      | 1286                                                                                                                                                       | 338                                                                                                                                                        | 31                                                                                                                                                         |