Ministry of Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare

Minister of Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare
धार्मिक मामले और अल्पसंख्यक कल्याण मंत्री
Minister of Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare; धार्मिक मामले और अल्पसंख्यक कल्याण मंत्री
	Coat of arms of Vishwamitra
	Incumbent; Manggala Alif Prasetia; since 18 January 2023
	Ministry of Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare
Style	The Right Honourable
Member of	Lok Sabha; Council of Ministers;
Reports to	Prime Minister
Nominator	Prime Minister
Appointer	Rashtradhyaksh; on the recommendation of the Prime Minister
Term length	At His Majesty's pleasure
Formation	10 July 2021; 3 years, 1 month ago
First holder	Prince Abhiraj Kar
Deputy	Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare

Ministry of Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare
धार्मिक कार्य एवं अल्पसंख्यक कल्याण मंत्रालय
	Coat of arms of Vishwamitra
Ministry overview
Formed	10 July 2021 (first time); 11 June 2022 (current)
Preceding agencies	Ministry of Religious Affairs (2022); Ministry of Minority Affairs (2022);
Dissolved	17 March 2022 (first time)
Jurisdiction	Government of Vishwamitra
Headquarters	Rajagriha
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

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
Portrait		Minister (Birth-Death)	From	To	Period	Political party	Ministry	Prime Minister
Ministers of Religious and Minority Affairs (10 July 2021 – 17 March 2022)
		His Serene Highness Prince Abhiraj वरिष्ठराजकुमार अभिराज (born 2006)	10 July 2021	11 September 2021	7001630000000000000♠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	7001400000000000000♠40 days	Congress	Farhaz I	Duke Farhaz Hazarika
		Patrick Kenny पैट्रिक केनी (born 2001)	21 October 2021	22 November 2021	7001320000000000000♠32 days	Independent	Phillip (Caretaker)	Count Phillip Joseph Pillin
		Duke Farhaz Hazarika फरहाज़ हज़ारिका (born 2003) Prime Minister	22 November 2021	17 March 2022	7002115000000000000♠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	7001490000000000000♠49 days	Independent	Farhaz III	Maha Sri Duke Farhaz Hazarika
		Duke Farhaz Hazarika फरहाज़ हज़ारिका (born 2003) Prime Minister	30 July 2022	12 November 2022	7002105000000000000♠105 days	Independent	Farhaz III
		Tan Sri Dato Sri Utama Count Matthew Tonna मैथ्यू टोना (born 2005)	12 November 2022	18 January 2023	7001670000000000000♠67 days	Congress	Farhaz IV
		Dato Sri Baron Manggala Alif Prasetia मंगला अलिफ़ प्रसेतिया (born 2008) MoS (I/C)	18 January 2023	Incumbent	7002598000000000000♠1 year, 233 days	Congress	Farhaz IV

Ministers of State

Portrait	Minister (Birth-Death)	Term of office			Political party	Ministry	Prime Minister
Portrait	Minister (Birth-Death)	From	To	Period	Political party	Ministry	Prime Minister
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	7001200000000000000♠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	7001670000000000000♠67 days	Congress	Farhaz IV	Maha Sri Duke Farhaz Hazarika
Position vacant (18 January 2023 – present)

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