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 ?

Statement I is not strictly correct: while the Centre notified five communities (Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Zoroastrians) in 1993, the Jain community was added later in 2014, so it is no longer accurate to say the Government has notified only five communities [1]. Statement II is correct: the National Commission for Minorities became a statutory body under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, and the first statutory Commission was constituted in 1993 [2]. Statement III is generally accepted: Zoroastrians (Parsis) are the smallest major religious minority in India (by population). Statement IV is correct: the Constitution guarantees and protects minority religious and linguistic rights (Articles 25, 29, 30 and provisions for linguistic minorities such as Article 350B) [2].

Sources

1. [1] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 61: National Commission for Minorities > ESTABLISHMENT > p. 490
2. [2] Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 34: HOW THE CONSTITUTION HAS WORKED > REFERENCES > p. 499
3. [3] Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 34: HOW THE CONSTITUTION HAS WORKED > INTRODUCTION TO THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA > p. 489