Ministry of Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare

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Ministry of Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare
धार्मिक मामले और अल्पसंख्यक कल्याण मंत्रालय
Ministry overview
Formed10 July 2021 (first time)
11 June 2022 (current)
Preceding agencies
Dissolved17 March 2022 (first time)
JurisdictionGovernment of Vishwamitra
HeadquartersRajagriha
Minister responsible
Child agencies
  • Department of Religious Affairs
  • Department of Minority Welfare
  • Department of Religious Tolerance
  • Department of Hindu Religious Affairs
  • Department of Islamic Affairs, Waqf, Hajj
  • Department of Christian Religious Affairs and Preservation
  • Department of Other Minority Communities (OMC) Welfare

The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare (Hindi: धार्मिक मामले और अल्पसंख्यक कल्याण मंत्रालय), formerly known as the Ministry of Religious and Minority Affairs is a ministry of the Government of Vishwamitra which is responsible for administrating religious affairs and contributing to the welfare of the minority communities. Its functions also include the preservation of religious traditions and culture of the various religious and ethnic groups in the nation and working towards the upliftment of the status of the minority communities, both religious minorities and linguistic minorities.

The ministry came into existence for the first time on 10 July 2021 as an integration of the former Ministries of Community Development, Religious Affairs (Hindu Religious Affairs and Muslim Religious Affairs) and Minority Affairs. The ministry subsequently became a part of the Ministry of Welfare on 17 March 2022 and was further bifurcated into the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Minority Affairs on 12 May 2022. The individual ministries were integrated on 11 June 2022 to form the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare.

History

The Ministry of Religious and Minority Affairs was formed on 10 July 2021 in a cabinet decision passed by then Prime Minister Ștefan Marius Snagoveanu. The ministry was formed to look into matters pertaining to religious affairs and the conservation of religious traditions of the Hindus, Muslims and the Christians and to work towards the betterment and development of the minority groups of people of which the Muslims form the largest of the minorities.

On 17 March 2022, the ministry was absorbed along with the Ministry of Social Justice to form the Ministry of Welfare. On 12 May 2022, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Minority Affairs were created as two independent government ministries. Further, on 11 June 2022, the two independent ministries were integrated into one ministry, that is, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare.

Organization

The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare is headed by the Minister of Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare who is a member of the union cabinet and is often held by a minister with cabinet rank. The Minister is often assisted by a junior minister or the Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare.

Departments

The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare is divided into seven subdivisions or departments with each department being tasked to perform specialised functions related to the area under the ministry. The departments were created by an order of the Rashtradhyaksh through a gazette notification issued on 10 June 2022. The current departments are:

Department of Religious Affairs

The Department of Religious Affairs is responsible for the planning and regulation of all religious activities and its affairs being carried out throughout the nation under patronage of the state or royal patronage. The department also handles specialised matters related to the various religious councils and boards.

Department of Minority Welfare

The former Ministry of Minority Affairs became a department under the ministry as the Department of Minority Welfare. The department is responsible for performing specific duties related to the welfare of the minority groups in the nation and working towards their promotion and development.

Department of Religious Tolerance

The Department of Religious Tolerance is tasked with the responsibility to contribute towards the promotion of religious tolerance among the citizens. Matters related to inter-faith affairs and inter-faith councils come under the purview of the department.

Department of Hindu Religious Affairs

The Department of Hindu Religious Affairs is responsible for matters specially related to the Hindu religious groups which is the largest religious community in the nation. It is also responsible for coordinating with Hindu religious groups and councils and organizing developmental activities in the nation.

Department of Islamic Affairs, Waqf, Hajj

The Department of Islamic Affairs, Waqf, Hajj is responsible for matters specially related to the Muslim religious community which is the largest religious group in the minorities. It is also responsible for coordinating with Islamic societies and communities for planning religious matters and also coordinates with matters related to Waqf and Hajj pilgrimages.

Department of Christian Religious Affairs and Preservation

The Department of Christian Religious Affairs and Preservation is responsible for matters specially related to the Christian religious community and their preservation.

Department of Other Minority Communities (OMC) Welfare

The Department of Other Minority Communities (OMC) Welfare is responsible for matters related to all other minority communities and their introducing schemes for their welfare.

Ministers

Minister of Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare
धार्मिक मामले और अल्पसंख्यक कल्याण मंत्री
Incumbent
Manggala Alif Prasetia

since 18 January 2023
Ministry of Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare
StyleThe Right Honourable
Member of
Reports toPrime Minister
NominatorPrime Minister
AppointerRashtradhyaksh
on the recommendation of the Prime Minister
Term lengthAt His Majesty's pleasure
Formation10 July 2021; 2 years, 8 months ago
First holderPrince Abhiraj Kar
DeputyMinister of State for Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare

The Minister of Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare is the head of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare who is responsible for the maintenance of the affairs of the ministry. The Minister often holds cabinet rank however in some occasions a minister of state with independent charge has also served as the minister of religious affairs and minority welfare. The first minister was Prince Abhiraj of Purvanchal while the current minister is Manggala Alif Prasetia who is a minister of state with independent charge and has been in office since 18 January 2023.

Cabinet ministers of religious affairs and minority welfare are often assisted by a junior minister, or a Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare.

The current minister is Manggala Alif Prasetia since 18 January 2023 who is the minister of state with independent charge.

Cabinet Ministers

Key
  • MoS, I/C means Minister of State (Independent Charge)
Portrait Minister
(Birth-Death)
Term of office Political party Ministry Prime Minister
From To Period
Ministers of Religious and Minority Affairs (10 July 2021 – 17 March 2022)
File:Photo of Abhiraj Kar.jpg His Serene Highness
Prince Abhiraj

वरिष्ठराजकुमार अभिराज
(born 2006)
10 July
2021
11 September
2021
63 days Congress Ștefan II Duke
Ștefan Marius Snagoveanu
File:Portrait of Princess Anoushkaa (2021).jpg Her Royal Highness
Princess Anoushkaa

राजकन्या अनुष्का
(born 2010)
11 September
2021
21 October
2021
40 days Farhaz I Duke
Farhaz Hazarika
Patrick Kenny
पैट्रिक केनी
(born 2001)
21 October
2021
22 November
2021
32 days Independent Phillip
(Caretaker)
Count
Phillip Joseph Pillin
File:Portrait of Farhaz Hazarika (November 2021).jpg Duke
Farhaz Hazarika

फरहाज़ हज़ारिका
(born 2003)
Prime Minister
22 November
2021
17 March
2022
115 days Congress Farhaz II Self
Ministry abolished (17 March – 11 June 2022)
Ministers of Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare (11 June 2022 – present)
Baron
Matthew Tonna

मैथ्यू टोना
(born 2005)
11 June
2022
30 July
2022
49 days Independent Farhaz III Maha Sri Duke
Farhaz Hazarika
File:Portrait of Farhaz Hazarika (November 2021).jpg Duke
Farhaz Hazarika

फरहाज़ हज़ारिका
(born 2003)
Prime Minister
30 July
2022
12 November
2022
105 days
Tan Sri Dato Sri Utama Count
Matthew Tonna

मैथ्यू टोना
(born 2005)
12 November
2022
18 January
2023
67 days Congress Farhaz IV
Dato Sri Baron
Manggala Alif Prasetia

मंगला अलिफ़ प्रसेतिया
(born 2008)
MoS (I/C)
18 January
2023
Incumbent 1 year, 71 days

Ministers of State

Portrait Minister
(Birth-Death)
Term of office Political party Ministry Prime Minister
From To Period
Ministers of State of Religious Affairs and Minority Affairs (11 June 2022 – present)
Thomas Jacobs
थॉमस जैकब्स
(born 2008)
11 June
2022
1 July
2022
20 days Independent Farhaz III Duke
Farhaz Hazarika
Position vacant (1 July – 12 November 2022)
Baron
Manggala Alif Prasetia

मंगला अलिफ़ प्रसेतिया
(born 2008)
12 November
2022
18 January
2023
67 days Congress Farhaz IV Maha Sri Duke
Farhaz Hazarika
Position vacant (18 January 2023 – present)

See also