Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what steps his Department is taking to help (a) promote and (b) protect religious minority rights in India.

HM Government is committed to defending Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all and promoting respect and tolerance.

Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon discussed human rights, including FoRB, with the Government of India, leaders of faith groups and others during his visit to India in May 2023. FoRB was also among the issues discussed during his visit to India in February 2024.

The British High Commission in New Delhi and our network of Deputy High Commissions across India consistently monitor human rights in the country, regularly engage with civil society and religious representatives, and have run projects supporting human rights.

India is a multi-faith, multi ethnic democracy and remains among the most religiously diverse societies in the world.