Religion in India: Difference between revisions

'''Religion in India''' is characterized by a diversity of religious beliefs and practices. The [[Indian subcontinent]] is the birthplace of four of the [[Major religious groups|world's major religions]]: namely [[Hinduism]], [[Buddhism]], [[Jainism]], and [[Sikhism]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Olivelle |first1=Patrick |title=Moksha {{!}} Indian religion |journal=Encyclopædia Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/moksha-Indian-religion |access-date=6 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The [[Constitution of India]], declares India to be a secular state with no [[state religion]].<ref>https://legislative.gov.in/constitution-of-india</ref> Religious diversity and [[Religious toleration|religious tolerance]] are established by the [[Law of India|law]]; the [[Constitution of India]] defines [[freedom of religion]] a [[Fundamental Rights in India|fundamental right]] and holds India to be a [[secular state]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Basu|first=Durga Das|title=Introduction to the Constitution of India|publisher=LexisNexis|year=2013|isbn=978-81-803-8918-4|edition=21|page=124|author-link=Durga Das Basu}}</ref> However, At a same time, "The [[India|Republic of India]] privileges [[Hinduism]] as state sponsored religion" through constitutionally, legislatively and culturally.<ref>https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/why-india-is-not-a-secular-state/239584</ref><ref>https://scroll.in/article/951661/is-there-a-hindu-bias-in-indias-secular-constitution-a-2005-academic-paper-suggests-as-much</ref>  

The [[Constitution of India]], declares India to be a secular state with no state religion.<ref>https://legislative.gov.in/constitution-of-india</ref> However, At a same time, "the [[India|Republic of India]] privileges [[Hinduism]] as state sponsored religion" through constitutionally, legislatively and culturally.<ref>https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/why-india-is-not-a-secular-state/239584</ref><ref>https://scroll.in/article/951661/is-there-a-hindu-bias-in-indias-secular-constitution-a-2005-academic-paper-suggests-as-much</ref> [[India]] is a [[secular state]] by the [[Forty-second Amendment of the Constitution of India]] enacted in 1976, asserting [[Preamble to the Constitution of India]] as [[secular]]<ref name="42amend">{{cite web |title=The Constitution (Forty-Second Amendment) Act, 1976 |url=http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend42.htm |publisher=Government of India |access-date=1 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328040620/http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend42.htm |archive-date=28 March 2015}}</ref> by [[Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed]] who was pressured by [[Indira Gandhi]], during the leadup to [[the Emergency (India)|the Emergency]].

|+ ''India Religious diversity as per (1947)''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org|title=JSTOR Home}}</ref><ref name="freepressjournal.in"/><ref name="sciencespo.fr"/><ref name="bbc.co.uk"/>

[[Islam]] is a [[monotheism|monotheistic]] religion centered on the belief in one God and following the example of [[Muhammad]]; it is the largest minority religion in India. About 14.2% of the country's population or approx. 172.2 million people identify as adherents of Islam (2011 census).<ref name="censusindia.gov.in"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Muslim-population-growth-slows/article10336665.ece|title=Muslim population growth slows|work=The Hindu|access-date=2017-07-28|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/india-has-79-8-percent-hindus-14-2-percent-muslims-2011-census-data-on-religion-2407708.html|title=India has 79.8% Hindus, 14.2% Muslims, says 2011 census data on religion|date=2015-08-26|work=Firstpost|access-date=2017-07-28|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Muslim population growth slows |work=[[The Hindu]]|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/census-2011-data-on-population-by-religious-communities/article7579161.ece|access-date=2016-10-18|date=2016-10-18|last1=S|first1=Rukmini|last2=Singh|first2=Vijaita}}</ref> Out of 172.2 million Muslims in India as per 2011 census, it was found that more than 100 million of them are from low caste converts specially [[Dalits]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://idsn.org/millions-dalit-muslims-face-caste-discrimination/|title=Millions of Dalit Muslims face caste discrimination|date=30 June 2016|website=International Dalit Solidarity Network}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://idsn.org/india-official-dalit-population-exceeds-200-million/|title=India: Official Dalit population exceeds 200 million|date=29 May 2013|website=International Dalit Solidarity Network}}</ref> The Islamic Invasion during Medieval Era has obtained the religion a significant population of adherents. The religion is regarded as "Minority religion" and the adherents are given "Special privileges". It makes India the country with the largest Muslim population outside [[Islam by country|Muslim-majority]] countries. Muslims are a majority in states [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] and [[Lakshadweep]],<ref name="web123">{{cite web |url=http://www.webindia123.com/religion/indiafacts.htm |title=Religion in India |access-date=2007-04-18 |work=Religion, webindia123.com |publisher=Suni Systems (P) Ltd }}</ref> and live in high concentrations in [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Bihar]], [[West Bengal]], [[Assam]], and [[Kerala]].<ref name="web123" /><ref name="COI_2001">{{cite web |title= Census of India 2001: Data on Religion |url= http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_data_finder/C_Series/Population_by_religious_communities.htm |access-date= 2007-12-31 |publisher= Office of the Registrar General, India}}</ref> There has been no particular census conducted in India with regards to sects, but sources suggest the largest denomination is [[Sunni Islam]]<ref name="state.gov">{{Cite web|last=Department Of State. The Office of Electronic Information|first=Bureau of Public Affairs|title=India|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/24470.htm|access-date=2022-02-21|website=2001-2009.state.gov|language=en}}</ref> with a substantial minority of [[Shiite Muslims]] and [[Ahmadi Muslims]]. Indian sources like [[Times of India]] and [[Daily News & Analysis|DNA]] reported the Indian Shiite population in mid-2005–2006 to be between 25% and 31% of entire Muslim population of India, which accounts them in numbers between 40 and 50 million.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com">{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-11-06/lucknow/27799200_1_model-nikahnama-new-nikahnama-shia-personal-law-board|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811081425/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-11-06/lucknow/27799200_1_model-nikahnama-new-nikahnama-shia-personal-law-board|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 August 2011|title=Shia women too can initiate divorce| newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=6 November 2006| access-date=2010-06-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_talaq-rights-proposed-for-shia-women_1062327 |title=Talaq rights proposed for Shia women| publisher=Daily News and Analysis, www.dnaindia.com |date=5 November 2006| access-date=2010-06-21}}</ref><ref name="state.gov"/><ref>{{cite web|url= http://twocircles.net/2009oct08/india_third_global_muslim_population_1_57_bn.html|title= India Third in Global Muslim Population|date= 8 October 2009| publisher=Twocircles.net |access-date=2010-07-03}}</ref>