At a time when Lok Sabha Elections 2024 campaigns are at their peak, EAC-PM has published a study showcasing religion-wise population rise and decline. As per reports, the data set was put out by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) in a recently published working paper on the share of religious minorities in 167 countries, including India. EAC-PM Study 2024 highlights that in India, the Hindu population decreased sharply by 7.8 percent from 1950 to 2015. While India is often accused of atrocities against minorities, the EAC-PM study showcases a totally different fact. In 1950, Hindu population share was 84%, but it came down to 78% in 2015. However, in the same period, the share of minorities, including Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, and Sikhs, went up. The number of Jains and Parsis in the population mix decreased. Below is percentage-wise religion's population share-
Hindu Population decrease
As per the study, between 1950 and 2015, the Muslim population share in India spiked by 43.15%, Christians saw a 5.38% increase, Sikhs a 6.58% rise, and Buddhists witnessed a slight increase. Muslims' share in the population recorded an increase from 9.84% to 14.09% in the same period (of 65 years). On the other hand, the decline of the Hindu population in India is the second most significant decline in the immediate neighbourhood, just after Myanmar's 10%. Apart from India, Nepal's majority community (Hindu) saw a 3.6% decline in its share of the country's population.
Following the EAC-PM's report, a new controversy over population imbalance has begun. Dr K Laxman, National President of BJP OBC Morcha was quoted saying by a newswire, "Population imbalance is not right. By implementing of Uniform Civil Code, there will be development in the country..."
Samajwadi Party leader ST Hasan was quoted saying, "There is an attempt to spread hatred in the county. To polarise votes, a conspiracy to divide Muslim vote is being undertaken. Why have they released data only till 2015 and not 2024? Other reports reveal that the fertility rate of Muslims is decreasing, so how can their population increase? Public is being misled by false numbers."
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was asked by a newswire about the EAC-PM's study. However, Priyanka Gandhi did not respond saying that the question had been framed by the BJP.