India has a population of 1.4 billion. About one-sixth of the population belongs to different religion and ethnicities. For a majority of the Indians, faith is important. Here are certain facts about religion in India that you need to know.

India has a huge population which not only includes an extensive number of Hindus but also a large number of Muslims. As a matter of fact India has the second-largest group of Muslims after Indonesia.

India is multiethnic and religiously pluralistic democracy. It is the largest in the world. Its constitution offers for freedom of conscience and also the right to profess, propagate, and practice religion. It is mainly to protect the minorities against any kind of discrimination on the basis of caste or religion.

Even though there are legal protection for religious minorities and groups, Indians experience a high level of government restriction when it comes to religion. There is a certain restriction on the religious conversions in six states which have at times have been used to intimidate and arrest Christians and Muslims who proselytize as the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Moreover, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs are legally considered to be Hindus and are not able to access employment, social services, or any kind of educational preferences.

India is also known to have experienced an extensive level of religion-related social hostilities in the last few decades. The hostile behavior is usually directed towards the Dalits. The religious minorities like Christians, Buddhists, Jains, and Muslims are also harassed. The Dalit women are victims of sexual harassment.