Muslim population in India is around 20 crore in 2023: Govt in Lok Sabha

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• Jul 22, 2023 | Dhupali Das

The Muslim population in India will be around 19.7 crore by 2023, the government informed Parliament on...

Digital Desk: The Muslim population in India is around 19.7 crore in 2023, the government informed Parliament. In response to a question from Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mala Roy in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of Minority Affairs Smriti Irani stated that Muslims accounted for 14.2 percent of the total population according to Census 2011 and that the government has used this proportion to project the total Muslim population share in 2023.

Based on the Census 2011, the Muslim population was 17.2 crore. With the country's expected population of 138.8 crore in 2023, the government arrived at the estimated Muslim population figure of 19.7 crore using the same 14.2 percent proportion.

The minister also provided information on the Muslim community's socioeconomic indicators. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) in 2021-22, the literacy rate among Muslims aged seven and above was 77.7%, while the labor force participation rate for all ages was 35.1%.

In terms of access to basic facilities, the Multiple Indicator Survey 2020–21 performed by MoSPI found that 94.9 percent of Muslims had an upgraded supply of drinking water and 97.2 percent had access to an improved toilet. Moreover, 50.2 percent of Muslim households purchased or constructed new houses or flats for the first time after March 31, 2014.

However, the response did not provide precise information on population numbers linked to Pasmanda Muslims, as asked by Mala Roy. The questions also inquired about the socioeconomic position of Pasmanda Muslims in the country.

Roy had asked three questions: whether there was any countrywide data on Muslim population as of May 30, whether there was any population statistics on Pasmanda Muslims with the government, and details on the socioeconomic position of Pasmanda Muslims in the country.