View source for Hinduism in India

{{Short description|Overview of the presence and role of Hinduism in India}}
<!---PLEASE NOTE INDIAN HINDUS ARE ''not'' AN ETHNIC GROUP, INFOBOX USED FOR DEMOGRAPHIC DATA--->

{{Use dmy dates|date= March 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date= March 2022}}

{{Infobox religious group
|population='''966.3 million'''{{increase}}<ref name=bynumbers>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/religious-communities-census-2011-what-the-numbers-say/article7582284.ece|title=India's religions by numbers|newspaper=The Hindu|date=26 August 2015|via=www.thehindu.com|access-date=8 March 2021|archive-date=15 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115030444/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/religious-communities-census-2011-what-the-numbers-say/article7582284.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> [[2011 census of India|(2011)]]<br /> '''79.80%''' of population {{Decrease}}|pop5=64,385,546
|image=File:Akshardham_Temple.jpg|scriptures=[[Bhagavad Gita]], [[Vedas]] and [[List of Hindu texts|others]]|languages='''[[Sanskrit]]''' (sacred)<br />[[Languages of India|Indian languages]] {{small|(according to the region)}}|religions='''[[Hinduism]]''' (majority)<br />Tribal people identified as ''[[Hinduism|Hindus]] (minority)''|pop7=60,657,103|region7=[[Hinduism in Rajasthan|Rajasthan]]|pop6=63,188,168|region6=[[Hinduism in Tamil Nadu|Tamil Nadu]]|region5=[[Hinduism in West Bengal|West Bengal]]|group=Indian Hindus|pop4=66,007,121|region4=[[Madhya Pradesh]]|pop3=86,078,686|region3=[[Bihar]]|pop2=89,703,056|region2=[[Hinduism in Maharashtra|Maharashtra]]|region1=[[Uttar Pradesh]]|pop1=159,312,654
|flag=[[File:Om symbol.svg|75px|link=Om]]
|image_caption=[[Akshardham (Delhi)|Akshardham temple]] in [[New Delhi]].}}
{{Hinduism in India}}

'''[[Hinduism]]''' is the largest [[religion in India]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Major Religions In India|url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/major-religions-in-modern-india.html|access-date=2021-07-28|website=WorldAtlas|date=20 September 2020|language=en-US|archive-date=24 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224003418/https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/major-religions-in-modern-india.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Indian Culture – Religion|url=http://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/indian-culture/indian-culture-religion|access-date=2021-07-28|website=Cultural Atlas|language=en|archive-date=19 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719221400/https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/indian-culture/indian-culture-religion|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the [[2011 Census of India]], 966.3 Million people identify as [[Hindu]],<ref name=bynumbers/> representing 79.8% of the [[demographics of India|country's population]]. [[India]] contains 94% of the global Hindu population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=By 2050, India to have world's largest populations of Hindus and Muslims|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/04/21/by-2050-india-to-have-worlds-largest-populations-of-hindus-and-muslims/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Pew Research Center|language=en-US|archive-date=22 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150422192233/https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/04/21/by-2050-india-to-have-worlds-largest-populations-of-hindus-and-muslims/|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Indian subcontinent]] is the birthplace of four of the [[Major religious groups|world's major religions]]: namely [[Hinduism]], [[Buddhism]], [[Jainism]], and [[Sikhism]]—collectively known as [[Indian religions]] that believe [[Moksha]] is the most supreme state of the ''[[Atman (disambiguation)#Religion|Ātman]]'' (soul).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Olivelle |first1=Patrick |title=Moksha {{!}} Indian religion |journal=Encyclopedia Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/moksha-Indian-religion |access-date=6 January 2021 |language=en |archive-date=1 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101105523/https://www.britannica.com/topic/moksha-Indian-religion |url-status=live }}</ref>  The vast majority of Indian Hindus belong to [[Shaivism|Shaivite]] and [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavite]] [[Hindu denominations|denominations]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Hinduism|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990819112057/http://adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Hinduism|url-status=usurped|archive-date=19 August 1999|title=Major Branches of Religions|website=www.adherents.com|access-date=13 August 2017}}</ref> India is one of the three countries in the world ([[Hinduism in Nepal|Nepal]] and [[Hinduism in Mauritius|Mauritius]] being the other two) where [[Hinduism]] is the dominant religion.

==History of Hinduism==
{{main|History of Hinduism}}The [[Vedic period|Vedic culture]] developed in India in {{BCE|1500}} and {{BCE|500}}.<ref>{{cite book |last = N. Siegel |first = Paul |title = The meek and the militant: religion and power across the world |year = 1986 |publisher = Zed Books, 1987 |isbn = 9780862323493}}</ref> After this period, the [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic religion]] merged with local traditions and the renouncer traditions, resulting in the emergence of Hinduism,<ref>{{cite book |last = Hoiberg |first = Dale |title = Students' Britannica India |publisher = Popular Prakashan, 2000 |isbn = 9780852297605}}</ref> which has had a profound impact on India's [[History of India|history]], [[Culture of India|culture]] and [[Indian philosophy|philosophy]]. The name ''India'' itself is derived from [[Sanskrit]] ''Sindhu'', the historic local appellation for the Indus River.<ref>"India", ''Oxford English Dictionary'', second edition, 2100a.d. Oxford University Press.</ref> Another popular alternative [[Names for India|name of India]] is ''[[Hindustan|Hindustān]]'', meaning the "land of ''Hindus''".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/hindustan|title=Hindustan definition and meaning {{!}} Collins English Dictionary|website=www.collinsdictionary.com|language=en|access-date=13 August 2017|archive-date=6 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106014510/https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/hindustan|url-status=live}}</ref>

India saw the rule of both Hindu and Muslim rulers from {{circa|{{CE|1200}}}} to {{CE|1750}}.<ref>{{cite book|title=World Religions in America, Fourth Edition|page=189|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=34vGv_HDGG8C&pg=PA189|publisher=Westminster John Knox Press|first=Jacob|last=Neusner|isbn=9781611640472|date=7 October 2009|access-date=11 October 2017|archive-date=24 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824113513/https://books.google.com/books?id=34vGv_HDGG8C&pg=PA189|url-status=live}}</ref> The fall of [[Vijayanagar Empire]] to Muslim sultans had marked the end of Hindu dominance in the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]]. Hinduism once again rose to political prestige, under the [[Maratha Empire]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n5uU2UteUpEC&pg=PA18|title=South Asia: A Short History|page=18|publisher=University of Hawaii Press|first=Hugh|last=Tinker|isbn=9780824812874|year=1966|access-date=11 October 2017|archive-date=24 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824113503/https://books.google.com/books?id=n5uU2UteUpEC&pg=PA18|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=9ukQMwCJsr8C Ganesha on the Dashboard] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215204529/https://books.google.com/books?id=9ukQMwCJsr8C |date=15 December 2019 }} p. 176, V. Raghunathan, M. A. Eswaran, Penguin</ref>[[File:1946 Map of British India with areas demanded for separate Pakistan by Muslim League.jpg|thumb|209x209px|The [[Partition of British India]] was based on religion. (as shown in map)|left]]

==Partition of India==
{{Main|Partition of India}}
The [[Partition of India|1947 Partition of India]] gave rise to bloody rioting and indiscriminate inter-communal killing of [[Hindus]], [[Muslims]], and [[Sikhs]] across the [[Indian subcontinent]]. As a result, around 7.2 million Hindus and Sikhs moved to [[India]] and 7.5 million Muslims moved to [[Pakistan]] permanently,  leading to demographic change of  both the nations to a certain extent.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Talbot|first1=Ian|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=utKmPQAACAAJ|title=The Partition of India|last2=Singh|first2=Gurharpal|date=2009-07-23|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-85661-4|pages=2|language=en|access-date=3 September 2021|archive-date=13 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213073754/https://books.google.com/books?id=utKmPQAACAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Quote|I find no parallel in history for a body of converts and their descendants claiming to be a nation apart from the parent stock.|[[Mahatma Gandhi]], opposing the division of India on the basis of religion in 1944.<ref name="Prasoon2010">{{cite book|author=Prof. Prasoon|title=My Letters.... M.K.Gandhi|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-qfEbNpv7ggC&pg=PA120|date=1 January 2010|publisher=Pustak Mahal|isbn=978-81-223-1109-9|pages=120|access-date=28 December 2019|archive-date=6 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206143858/https://books.google.com/books?id=-qfEbNpv7ggC&pg=PA120|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

==Demographics==
{{Table of religions in India}}
===Hindu population by States and Territories===
{{See also|Hindus by district in India}}
[[File:India Hindu district map 2011.png|thumb|Percentage of Hindus in each district. Data derived from 2011 census.]]
{| class = "wikitable sortable"
|+ Hindu population by state / UT, according to the 2011 census
|-
!'''Region'''
!'''Hindus'''
!'''Total'''
!'''% Hindus'''
|-
|'''India'''
|'''966,257,353'''
|'''1,210,854,977'''
|'''79.80%'''
|-
|[[Himachal Pradesh]]
|6,532,765
|6,864,602
|95.17%
|-
|[[Dadra and Nagar Haveli]]
|322,857
|343,709
|93.93%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Orissa|Odisha]]
|39,300,341
|41,974,218
|93.63%
|-
|[[Chhattisgarh]]
|23,819,789
|25,545,198
|93.25%
|-
|[[Madhya Pradesh]]
|66,007,121
|72,626,809
|90.89%
|-
|[[Daman and Diu]]
|220,150
|243,247
|90.50%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Gujarat|Gujarat]]
|53,533,988
|60,439,692
|88.57%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Rajasthan|Rajasthan]]
|60,657,103
|68,548,437
|88.49%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Andhra Pradesh|Andhra Pradesh]]
|74,824,149
|84,580,777
|88.46%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Tamil Nadu|Tamil Nadu]]
|63,188,168
|72,147,030
|87.58%
|-
|[[Haryana]]
|22,171,128
|25,351,462
|87.46%
|-
|[[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]
|1,089,409
|1,247,953
|87.30%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Karnataka|Karnataka]]
|51,317,472
|61,095,297
|84.00%
|-
|[[Tripura]]
|3,063,903
|3,673,917
|83.40%
|-
|[[Uttarakhand]]
|8,368,636
|10,086,292
|82.97%
|-
|[[Bihar]]
|86,078,686
|104,099,452
|82.69%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Delhi|Delhi]]
|13,712,100
|16,787,941
|81.68%
|-
|[[Chandigarh]]
|852,574
|1,055,450
|80.78%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Maharashtra|Maharashtra]]
|89,703,056
|112,374,333
|79.83%
|-
|[[Uttar Pradesh]]
|159,312,654
|199,812,341
|79.73%
|-
|[[Hinduism in West Bengal|West Bengal]]
|64,385,546
|91,276,115
|70.54%
|-
|[[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
|264,296
|380,581
|69.45%
|-
|[[Jharkhand]]
|22,376,051
|32,988,134
|67.83%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Goa|Goa]]
|963,877
|1,458,545
|66.08%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Assam|Assam]]
|19,180,759
|31,205,576
|61.47%
|-
|[[Sikkim]]
|352,662
|610,577
|57.76%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Kerala|Kerala]]
|18,282,492
|33,406,061
|54.73%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Manipur|Manipur]]
|1,181,876
|2,855,794
|41.39%
|-
|[[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
|10,678,138
|27,743,338
|38.49%
|-
|[[Arunachal Pradesh]]
|401,876
|1,383,727
|29.04%
|-
|[[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
|3,566,674
|12,541,302
|28.44%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Meghalaya|Meghalaya]]
|342,078
|2,966,889
|11.53%
|-
|[[Nagaland]]
|173,054
|1,978,502
|8.75%
|-
|[[Lakshadweep]]
|1,788
|64,473
|2.77%
|-
|[[Mizoram]]
|30,136
|1,097,206
|2.75%
|}

===Hindu majority State/Union Territory in India=== 

List of most Hindu majority states with more than 80% of population of Hindus.<ref  name=population/>
# [[Himachal Pradesh]] – (95.17%)
# [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli]] – (93.93%)
# [[Hinduism in Odisha|Orissa]] – (93.63%)
# [[Chhattisgarh]] – (93.25%)
# [[Madhya Pradesh]] – (90.89%)
# [[Daman and Diu]] – (90.50%)
# [[Gujarat]] – (88.57%)
# [[Rajasthan]] – (88.49%)
# [[Andhra Pradesh]] – (88.46%)
# [[Hinduism in Tamil Nadu|Tamil Nadu]] – (87.58%)
# [[Haryana]] – (87.46%)
# [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]] – (87.30%)	
# [[Hinduism in Karnataka|Karnataka]] – (84.00%)
# [[Tripura]] – (83.40%)
# [[Uttarakhand]] – (82.97%)
# [[Bihar]] – (82.69%)
# [[Hinduism in Delhi|Delhi]] – (81.68%)
# [[Chandigarh]] – (80.78%)
 
Apart from this, there are 10 States/Union Territory of Hindu majorities. With [[Hinduism in Maharashtra|Maharashtra]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] and [[Hinduism in West Bengal|West Bengal]] having more than 70 percent of population.<ref  name=population/>
{{Historical populations
|title       = Historical Hindu Population
|type        = 
|footnote    = 
|align       = right
|width       = 
|state       = 
|shading     = 
|pop_name    =
|percentages = 
|source      = [[census of India]] 
|1951 | 303,675,084
|1961 | 366,541,417
|1971 | 453,492,481
|1981 | 562,379,847
|1991 | 690,091,965
|2001 | 827,722,142 
|2011 | 966,257,353
}}

The Hindu population has increased more than three times from 303,675,084 in 1951 to 966,257,353 in 2011, but the Hindu percentage share of total population has declined from 84.1% in 1951 to 79.8% in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/09/21/key-findings-about-the-religious-composition-of-india/|title = Key findings about the religious composition of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/census-hindu-share-dips-below-80-muslim-share-grows-but-slower/|title = Census: Hindu share dips below 80%, Muslim share grows but slower|date = 24 January 2015}}</ref> When India achieved independence in 1947, Hindus formed 85% of the total population and pre-Partition British India had 73% of Hindus and 24% of Muslims. 
 
Among the community, it is estimated that  [[Forward caste]]s comprise 26 per cent, [[Other Backward Class]]es comprise 43%, Scheduled Castes ([[Dalit]]s) comprises 22% and Scheduled Tribes ([[Adivasi]]s) comprise 9%.<ref name="Sachar 2006">{{cite web|url=http://www.teindia.nic.in/Files/Reports/CCR/Sachar%20Committee%20Report.pdf|title=Sachar Committee Report (2004–2005)|last=Sachar|first=Rajinder|author-link=Rajinder Sachar|year=2006|publisher=Government of India|access-date=27 September 2008|page=6|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140402143832/http://www.teindia.nic.in/Files/Reports/CCR/Sachar%20Committee%20Report.pdf|archive-date=2 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Hindu minority State/Union Territory in India ===
Of the 28 states in India, Hindus form majority in 22 states except for [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] ([[Sikh]] majority), [[Meghalaya]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[Nagaland]], and [[Mizoram]] ([[Christian]] majority). In [[Manipur]], Hinduism is a plurality religion, where Hinduism is practised by 41.39% and Christianity is followed by 41.29%.<ref  name=population>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html|title=C-1 Population By Religious Community|access-date=31 December 2019|publisher=[[Census of India]]|archive-date=13 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913045700/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Out of the eight [[Union territory|Union territories]], Hindus form majority in five.<ref  name=population/><ref>{{cite news |title="Religion Must Be Viewed Pan-India": Top Court On Hindus-As-Minorities Plea |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/religion-must-be-viewed-pan-india-says-supreme-court-dismisses-plea-seeking-minority-benefits-for-hi-2150034 |date=2 August 2017 |newspaper=The Times of India |department=City: Thiruvananthapuram |agency=TNN |access-date=31 December 2019 |archive-date=17 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217075631/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/religion-must-be-viewed-pan-india-says-supreme-court-dismisses-plea-seeking-minority-benefits-for-hi-2150034 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
Hindus are minority in six states and three union territories of India namely—<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-12-18|title=SC quashes plea on minority status for Hindus in 8 states|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sc-quashes-plea-on-minority-status-for-hindus-in-8-states/story-cINqkaa36aKWlzFInHzj9O.html|access-date=2021-06-07|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|archive-date=5 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605135809/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sc-quashes-plea-on-minority-status-for-hindus-in-8-states/story-cINqkaa36aKWlzFInHzj9O.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title='Minority' plea on Hindus in 9 states|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/minority-plea-on-hindus-in-9-states/cid/1790366|access-date=2021-06-07|website=www.telegraphindia.com|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825184513/https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/minority-plea-on-hindus-in-9-states/cid/1790366|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
# [[Mizoram]] – (2.75%),
# [[Lakshadweep]] – (2.77%),
# [[Nagaland]] – (8.74%),
# [[Hinduism in Meghalaya|Meghalaya]] – (11.52%),
# [[Ladakh]] – (12.11%), 
# [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] – (28.8%),
# [[Arunachal Pradesh]] – (29.04%),
# [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] – (38.49%) and
# [[Hinduism in Manipur|Manipur]] – (41.39%)
 
Out of the eight states of northeast India, [[Tripura]], [[Sikkim]], and [[Assam]] are Hindu majority while four are Hindu minority, and one as a plurality.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Gheewala|first=C. L.|title=Was the Hindu State Pluralistic?|date=1942|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/42742673|journal=The Indian Journal of Political Science|volume=3|issue=3|pages=237–248|jstor=42742673|issn=0019-5510|access-date=8 June 2021|archive-date=8 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608033955/https://www.jstor.org/stable/42742673|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== States with declining Hindu population in India ===

====West Bengal====

Two districts in [[West Bengal]], [[Malda district|Malda]] and [[North Dinajpur]], had a Hindu majority in 2001 census which, by the time of the 2011 census, had become a Hindu minority or plurality.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/india/Bengal-beats-India-in-Muslim-growth-rate/articleshow/48675987.cms|title=Bengal beats India in Muslim growth rate|access-date=16 March 2020|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108011735/https://m.timesofindia.com/india/Bengal-beats-India-in-Muslim-growth-rate/articleshow/48675987.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> The percentage of Hindu population in the state has decreased from 78.45% in 1951 to 70.54% in 2011. Another district, Murshidabad, is a Muslim majority district where the Muslim population steadily increased from 55.24% in 1951 to 66.27% in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/report-taking-shape-amid-infiltration-buzz/cid/860630|title=Report taking shape amid infiltration buzz|website=www.telegraphindia.com|access-date=25 July 2020|archive-date=25 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725061350/https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/report-taking-shape-amid-infiltration-buzz/cid/860630|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Uttar Pradesh====
The proportion of Hindus in the [[Saharanpur district]] was 59.49% in 2001. This had declined to 56.74% by 2011 – a drop of 2.75%. At the same time the Muslim population increased from 39.11% in 2001 to 41.95% in 2011.<ref name="elections">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2017/feb/05/assembly-elections-minorities-on-majority-route-in-uttar-pradesh-1567017.html|title=Assembly elections: Minorities on majority route in Uttar Pradesh|access-date=16 March 2020|archive-date=22 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022181521/http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2017/feb/05/assembly-elections-minorities-on-majority-route-in-uttar-pradesh-1567017.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 

====Assam==== 
A study on population composition of [[Assam]] reveals that the Hindu population in Assam has declined from 70.78% in 1951 to 61.47% in 2011. Whereas in 1891, the Muslim population in Assam was only about 5%, by the 2001 census it had risen to above 30% and by 2011 to above 34% of the total Assam population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Citizenship Amendment Act: BJP chasing ghosts in Assam; Census data shows number of Hindu immigrants may have been exaggerated – India News , Firstpost|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/citizenship-amendment-bill-bjp-chasing-ghosts-in-assam-as-census-data-shows-number-of-hindu-immigrants-couldve-been-exaggerated-5640511.html|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Firstpost|date=18 December 2019|archive-date=25 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725082148/https://www.firstpost.com/india/citizenship-amendment-bill-bjp-chasing-ghosts-in-assam-as-census-data-shows-number-of-hindu-immigrants-couldve-been-exaggerated-5640511.html|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the 2001 census, there were six Muslim-majority districts in Assam, increasing to nine by the time of the 2011 census.<ref>{{Cite web|date=26 August 2015|first=Bharti|last=Jain|title=Muslim majority districts in Assam up {{!}} India News – Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Muslim-majority-districts-in-Assam-up/articleshow/48682463.cms|access-date=2020-11-17|website=The Times of India|language=en|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108092914/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Muslim-majority-districts-in-Assam-up/articleshow/48682463.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
====Kerala==== 
The population of [[Hinduism in Kerala|Hindus in Kerala]] has more than doubled from 8,344,351 in 1951 to 18,282,492 in 2011 census, but the share of Hindu population has dropeed from 68.5% in 1901 to 54.7% in 2011.<ref name="Kerala population Demographics" />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="line-height:20px;text-align:center;"
|+Hindu population of Kerala (1901–2011)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Raghunath|first=Arjun|date=2016-03-16|title=Kerala: Muslims will be double the number of Christians by 2051|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/160316/kerala-muslims-will-be-double-the-number-of-christians-by-2051.html|access-date=2021-07-19|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112001939/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/160316/kerala-muslims-will-be-double-the-number-of-christians-by-2051.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Kerala population Demographics">{{Cite web|title=Kerala population Demographics|url=http://14.139.171.199:8080/xmlui/bitstream/handle/123456789/87/WP468.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|url-status=live|access-date=19 July 2021|website=Bitscan}}</ref>
!Census
Year
| colspan="2" bgcolor="Orange" |[[Hinduism|<span style="color:white;">'''Hindus'''</span>]]
| bgcolor="Orange" |<span style="color:white;">'''''Decadal Growth rate (%)'''''</span>
|-
!1901
|4,378,305
|'''68.5%'''
|''N/A''
|-
!1911
|4,762,393
|'''66.8%'''
| +8.77
|-
!1921
|5,052,039
|'''64.9%'''
| +6.08
|-
!1931
|6,021,982
|'''63.4%'''
| +19.20
|-
!1941
|6,699,600
|'''61.8%'''
| +11.25
|-
!1951
|8,344,351
|'''61.6%'''
| +24.55
|-
!1961
|10,282,568
|'''60.9%'''
| +23.23
|-
!1971
|12,683,277
|'''59.4%'''
| +23.35
|-
!1981
|14,801,347
|'''58.2%'''
| +16.70
|-
!1991
|16,668,587
|'''57.3%'''
| +12.62
|-
!2001
|17,920,105
|'''56.3%'''
| +7.51
|-
!2011
|18,282,492
|'''54.7%'''
| +2.02
|}

====Manipur====
 
A decrease in the 1991–2001 period is observed in Manipur, from 57% to 52% population share, where there has been a resurgence of the indigenous [[Sanamahism|Sanamahi]] religion. The Hindu Population share in [[Manipur]] decreased also in 2001–2011 from 52% to 41.4%. The religious conversion of Hindus to Christianity and migration of Christians from [[Nagaland]] are considered as the reason for this decrease in Hindu population.<ref>{{cite news|title=Christian population on the rise in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur|url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/india-news/christian-population-on-the-rise-in-arunachal-pradesh-manipur/story-8Go2uITu2BLFJ547MPwohM.html|date=9 March 2017|newspaper=Hindustan Times|department=City: New Delhi|agency=TNN|access-date=1 January 2020|archive-date=20 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020213511/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/christian-population-on-the-rise-in-arunachal-pradesh-manipur/story-8Go2uITu2BLFJ547MPwohM.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Law & politics ==
{{Main|Hindu nationalism|Hindutva}}

Some right wing Hindu organisations have demanded that India should be declared a "Hindu state".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-06-17|title=Declare India a 'Hindu Rashtra': Hindu convention resolution|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/declare-india-a-hindu-rashtra-hindu-convention-resolution/story-Nu4lUVWtQZ9ETPQ9BfuYVM.html|access-date=2021-09-02|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|archive-date=1 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501091251/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/declare-india-a-hindu-rashtra-hindu-convention-resolution/story-Nu4lUVWtQZ9ETPQ9BfuYVM.html|url-status=live}}</ref>  As of 28th July 2020, there were pleas going on [[Supreme Court of India]] to remove the words '''[[secular]]''' and '''[[socialist]]''' from the [[Preamble to the Constitution of India]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-29|title=Plea in SC seeks to remove words 'socialist', 'secular' from Constitution's preamble-India News , Firstpost|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/plea-in-sc-seeks-to-remove-words-socialist-secular-from-constitutions-preamble-8650391.html|access-date=2021-09-02|website=Firstpost|archive-date=10 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610054646/https://www.firstpost.com/india/plea-in-sc-seeks-to-remove-words-socialist-secular-from-constitutions-preamble-8650391.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
{{div col|rules=yes}}
* [[Hinduism by country]]
* [[Religion in India]]
* [[Caste system in India]]
* [[Other Backward Class]]
* [[Hindus by district in India]]
* [[Hinduism in South India]]
* [[List of Hindu temples in India]]
* [[Freedom of religion in India]]
* [[Hindu Marriage Act, 1955]]
* [[Hindu Code Bills]]{{div col end}}
== Reference ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Hinduism in India}}

* {{Cite web|title=Hinduism – Origins, Facts & Beliefs|url=https://www.history.com/topics/religion/hinduism|website=History topics}}
* {{Cite encyclopedia|title=History of Hinduism in India|encyclopedia=[[Khan Academy]]|url=https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/ancient-medieval/early-indian-empires/a/hinduism-in-indian-culture|date=}}
{{Hinduism in India by region}}{{Asia in topic|Hinduism in}}
{{Religion in India topics}}

[[Category:Hinduism in India]]
[[Category:Hinduism by country|India]]
[[Category:Hinduism in South Asia|India]]
[[Category:Religion in India]]
[[Category:History of India]]
[[Category:History of Hinduism]]