India is generally regarded as the spiritual and religious capital of the world due to the presence of diverse faiths and unbroken traditions.

Unlike the West, religion in India is not a completely private affair, and law permits a degree of religious freedom to every citizen.

As a result, religion and public life are not strictly separated, which sometimes creates frictions when old rules come into conflict with new rules.

To promote religious harmony and to ensure equal space for all religions in a democratic framework, India accords special status to some religions as religious minorities to protect and promote their interests.