Q. With reference to linguistic and religious minorities, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Both linguistic and religious minorities are determined at state level.
2. Article 29 provides for the rights of minorities as well as majority.
3. The term minority is not defined in the Constitution of India.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect. Presently the linguistic minorities are identified on a state-wise basis thus determined by the state government whereas religious minorities are determined by the Central Government.
Statement 2 is correct. Under Article 29, any section of the citizens residing in any part of India having a distinct language, script or culture of its own, shall have the right to conserve the same. Supreme court held that the scope of this article is not restricted to minorities alone. This is because of the use of the word ‘section of citizens’ in the article includes minorities as well as majority.
Statement 3 is correct. The term minority is not defined in the Constitution of India. But National commission for minorities act, 1992 defines a minority as “a community notified as such by the Central government.’’ Government of India has declared six religions namely, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhist and Parsis (Zoroastrian) and Jain as religious minorities in India.
