The Muslim community has registered a moderate 0.8 % growth in the 10-year period between 2001 and 2011 .
New Delhi : The official census figures for the 10-year period 2001-2011 for religion-wise population of the country show a marginal rise of 0.8 percent in the number of Muslims and 0.7 percent decline in the Hindu population. As per the data released on Tuesday, the Muslim community has registered a moderate 0.8 % growth to touch 17.22 crore in the 10-year period between 2001 and 2011, up from 13.8 crore, while the Hindu population showed a decline by 0.7 % at 96.63 crore during the same period.
The total population in the country in 2011 was 121.09 crore. Hindu 96.63 crore (79.8 %); Muslim 17.22 crore (14.2 %); Christian 2.78 crore (2.3 %); Sikh 2.08 crore (1.7 %); Buddhist 0.84 crore (0.7 %); Jain 0.45 crore (0.4 %), Other religions and persuasions (ORP) 0.79 crore (0.7 %) and religion not stated 0.29 crore (0.2 %).The proportion of Muslim population to total population has increased by 0.8 percentage point (PP) in 2011, the census data said.
The proportion of Hindu population to total population in 2011 has declined by 0.7 PP; the proportion of Sikh population has declined by 0.2 PP and the Buddhist population has declined by 0.1 PP during the decade 2001-2011. There has been no significant change in the proportion of Christians and Jains.
As per 2001 census, India”s total population was 102 crore of which Hindu population comprised of 82.75 crore (80.45 %) and Muslims were 13.8 crore (13.4 %). The growth rate of population in the decade 2001-2011 was 17.7 %. The growth rate of population of the different religious communities in the same period was as Hindus: 16.8 %; Muslim: 24.6 %; Christian: 15.5 %; Sikh: 8.4 %; Buddhist: 6.1 % and Jain: 5.4 %.
The timing of the release of the data ahead of the Bihar elections, where the Muslims form a sizeable chunk of the population, as well as the delay in the release of the caste based data from the census both have political significance. This data would come in handy for the Hindu hardliners like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad that have been raising the fears of Muslim domination and calling upon Hindus to shun family planning and produce more children.
However, these approximate figures were known for quite some time and have only been official confirmed today.
THE CASTE CAULDRON
Hindus comprise 79.8 per cent of the country’s total population at 96.63 cr and Muslims, with 17 crore people, are 14.2 per cent of the population.
However, the proportion of Hindus in the population has declined by 0.7 per cent while that of Muslims has increased by 0.8 per cent.
The growth rate of Muslims is the highest at 24.6 per cent. Hindus come next with a 16.8 per cent growth rate; Christians trail with 15.5 per cent. The growth rates of Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains is less than 10 per cent.
The proportion of Sikhs in the total population has declined by 0.2 per cent and that of Buddhists by 0.1 per cent. There is no significant change in the proportion of Christians and Jains.
The data was ready in UPA regime but reportedly was not released because of the national election.
Christians are the third largest community after Muslims with 2.78 crore people — that is, 2.3 per cent of the population. They are followed by Sikhs (2.08 crores), Buddhists (84 lakhs) and Jains (45 lakhs).
