Ministry of Religious Affairs
| धार्मिक कार्य मंत्रालय | |
 | |
| Ministry overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 24 November 2019 (first time) 9 December 2019 (second time) 12 May 2022 (third time) |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Vishwamitra |
| Minister responsible | |
The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Hindi: धार्मिक कार्य मंत्रालय) is a ministry of the Government of Vishwamitra. The ministry came into existence for the first time on 24 November 2019 and was bifurcated two days later into the Ministries of Hindu Religious Affairs and Muslim Religious Affairs. The two individual ministries were again integrated on 9 December 2019 and was formally abolished on 3 March 2020.
The ministry was briefly re-created on 12 May 2022 and was abolished the following month after being integrated with the Ministry of Minority Welfare to form the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare. Since then, the ministry has become the Department of Religious Affairs under the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare.
History
The Ministry of Religious Affairs was first created on 24 November 2019 by then President Varuna Sriraya under the council of ministers of Tanishkaa Patranabish with the aim to administer the religious affairs and to promote religious tolerance and preserve religion in the nation. Two days later, on 26 November 2019, the ministry was bifurcated into the Hindu Religious Affairs ministry and the Muslim Religious Affairs ministry.
The Ministry of Hindu Religious Affairs was to specially work towards the administration, promotion and preservation of religious affairs of the Hindus which were the largest religious group in the nation, while the Ministry of Muslim Religious Affairs worked towards the administration, promotion and preservation of Islam and its religious affairs which was constituted by the largest minority religious community. On 9 December 2019, the two ministries were integrated to form the Ministry of Religious Affairs which was further abolished on 3 March 2020.
On 12 May 2022, the Ministry of Religious Affairs was briefly re-created under the premiership of Farhaz Hazarika but was merged with the Ministry of Minority Welfare to form the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare. Since then, the Department of Religious Affairs had existed as a department under the ministry.
Functions
The Ministry of Religious Affairs is tasked to administer the religious affairs of the various religions and to preserve, promote and protect their traditions and customs. The ministry predominantly works for the religious affairs of the Hindu community and the Muslim religious community which are the two large religious groups in the nation.
Organization
The Ministry of Religious Affairs is headed by the Minister of Religious Affairs who is a member of the council of ministers. The current minister is Arpan Deka who has been in office since 20 October 2024.
