Religion in India: Tolerance and Segregation
Indians see religious tolerance as a central part of who they are as a nation. Across the major religious groups, most people say it is very important to respect all religions to be “truly Indian.”
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3. Religious segregation
Indians live religiously segregated lives. Most form friendship circles within their own religious community and marry someone of the same faith; interreligious marriages are very uncommon. Indeed, a majority of Indians say it is very important to stop both women and men in their community from marrying outside their religion. Generally, Indians do not object […]
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6. Nationalism and politics
Indians nearly universally take great pride in their country. Fully 96% of Indian adults say they are very proud to be Indian, and similarly large percentages say they are very proud to be from their state and to be a member of their religious community. While nearly everyone is proud to be Indian, there is […]
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2. Diversity and pluralism
Indians are much more likely to view their country’s religious diversity as an asset than as a liability. About half of Indians (53%) say religious diversity benefits the country, while 24% say it is harmful. The remainder (24%) don’t take a position either way. At the same time, Indians of different religious backgrounds don’t see […]
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Globally, Social Hostilities Related to Religion Decline in 2019, While Government Restrictions Remain at Highest Levels
Social hostilities involving religion, including violence and harassment against religious groups by private individuals and groups, declined in 2019, according to Pew Research Center’s 12th annual study of global restrictions on religion, which examines 198 countries and territories.
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45% of Americans Say U.S. Should Be a ‘Christian Nation’
But they hold differing opinions about what that phrase means, and two-thirds of U.S. adults say churches should keep out of politics.
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11. Religious beliefs
India is home to a wide range of religious traditions, which is evident in the blend of beliefs held by its people – some of which cross religious lines. For instance, not only do most Hindus and Jains believe the Ganges River has the power to purify – a belief with roots in Hindu scripture […]
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7. Religious practices
By several standard measures, Indians are highly religious. A majority of Indian adults pray daily (60%), more than two-thirds visit a house of worship at least monthly (71%), and an overwhelming share say religion is very important in their lives (84%). Previous Pew Research Center surveys show much less importance given to religion in several […]
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3. Median index scores for government restrictions, social hostilities involving religion declined or remained stable in most regions in 2019
CORRECTION (Dec. 19, 2025): Two charts and some of the text in this chapter have been revised to correct the SHI median scores for the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, and the Middle East-North Africa region, and to revise Norway’s SHI category. The median scores changed by 0.1 point for each of these three regions. Refer to the errata […]
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10. Religion and food
Several of India’s most widely practiced religions include strict dietary laws. For instance, Islamic teachings have guidelines for halal eating, forbidding the consumption of pork and other products. Many Jains avoid not only meat but also root vegetables to avoid destroying the entire plant, which is seen as a form of violence in Jain theology. […]