Previous Year Question

Article 29 of the Constitution of India deals with the Protection of Interests of Minorities. It forms part of the Cultural and Educational Rights under Part III — Fundamental Rights. The official text of the Constitution itself gives Article 29 the heading “Protection of interests of minorities.”

Under Article 29(1), any section of citizens residing in India or any part thereof having a distinct language, script or culture has the right to conserve the same. Article 29(2) provides that no citizen shall be denied admission into an educational institution maintained by the State or receiving State aid only on grounds of religion, race, caste or language.

Important fact: Although the heading of Article 29 refers to minorities, the actual language of Article 29(1) uses the expression “any section of the citizens.” Therefore, its protection is not confined only to religious or linguistic minorities; any section of citizens having a distinct language, script or culture may claim its protection.