UPSC Prelims 2001 Q13: Indian Polity – Constitutional & Statutory Bodies
Consider the following statements about the minorities in India:
I. The Government of India has notified five communities, namely, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians,
Buddhists and Zoroastrians as Minorities.
II. The National Commission for Minorities was given statutory status in 1993.
III. The smallest religious minority in India are the Zoroastrians.
IV. The Constitution of India recognises and protects religious and linguistic minorities.
Which of these statements are correct?
- (a) II and III
- (b) I and IV
- (c) II, III and IV
- (d) I, II and IV
Answer: (d) I, II and IV
Explanation
Statements about the minorities in India
| Statement | Verdict |
|---|---|
| I. Five communities notified as minorities | Correct — Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and Zoroastrians (Parsis) were notified in 1993; Jains were added in 2014 |
| II. National Commission for Minorities got statutory status in 1993 | Correct — under the NCM Act, 1992, in force from May 1993 |
| III. Zoroastrians are the smallest religious minority | Not correct as stated — they are the smallest *notified* minority, but smaller religious groups exist, such as Indian Jews (about 5,000) |
| IV. The Constitution recognises and protects religious and linguistic minorities | Correct — Articles 29 and 30 |
Statements I, II and IV are correct. In 1993 the Centre notified five communities as minorities under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, and the Commission became statutory that year. Article 30 protects minorities 'whether based on religion or language'. Statement III overstates the case: Parsis are the smallest of the notified minorities, not the smallest religious group in India.
Answer: (d) I, II and IV.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Statement III is not correct as stated, and I and IV are left out.
- (b) Incorrect. Statement II is also correct.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement I is correct and III is not.
- (d) CORRECT. Statements I, II and IV are correct.
Key point
Six notified minorities today: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis (1993) and Jains (2014).
Remember
Five notified minorities (1993); NCM statutory 1993; Article 30 covers religion and language.
Common mistakes
- Thinking the NCM was set up under the Constitution; it is statutory.
- Counting Jains among the notified minorities in 2001.
- Forgetting that 'linguistic minority' is in Article 30 itself.
Exam tip
For minorities: Act 1992, notification 1993, Jains 2014.
Sources
- National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 and Notification S.O. 816(E), 23 October 1993
- Constitution of India — Articles 29 and 30