The share of Hindus in India’s population has shown the sharpest dip in a decade since Independence and has dropped below 80 per cent.
According to figures of the religion census of 2011, yet to be officially released, Hindus comprised 78.35 per cent of the total population of 121.05 crore, compared with 80.45 per cent of the total population in 2001. In absolute terms, however, the Hindu population increased 14.5 per cent from 82.75 crore to 94.78 crore during the period (2001-11).
The dip in the number of Hindu population is mainly attributed to growth in educational and income levels in the community.
However it need to be mentioned that the Hindu population during the same period have increased from 30.36 crore to 82.75 crore. The population of other communities like Sikhs and Christians has been more or less the same as it was in 2001, steady at around 2% of total population.
This data was finalized in January 2014 but was not made public by the previous UPA government keeping in mind a possible negative fallout in 2014 general elections. Home Minister Rajnath Singh had announced last wednesday that the present government will officially declare the religion data soon.
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