Q. With reference to Minorities, consider the following statements:
1.The Constitution does not mention the word “minorities” anywhere.
2.Only those communities notified the National Minorities Commission Act are regarded as minorities.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Constitution does not define the term “minorities” anywhere, but only mentions it in some Articles.
For instance, 1) Article 29 deals with the “Protection of interests of minorities”, 2) Article 30 deals with the “right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions”, 3) Article 350(A) says there shall be a Special Officer for linguistic minorities to be appointed by the President.
Statement 2 is correct: Currently, only those communities notified under Section 2(c) of the National Minorities Commission Act, 1992 by the central government are regarded as minorities.
Hence, in the exercise of its powers, the Centre has notified six groups — Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains— as ‘minority’ communities.
Source: Indian Express
