Rights of Minorities in the 21st Century A Comparative Study of India and Pakistan

The protection of minority rights is a critical issue in democratic societies, particularly in countries with diverse religious, ethnic, and linguistic communities like India and Pakistan. Both nations, emerging from the Partition of British India, have developed distinct legal frameworks for minority protection, shaped by their unique socio-political environments. This paper aims to examine how secularism in India and Islamic law in Pakistan influence the legal and social experiences of minorities. The research explores the central question: How do the legal frameworks in both countries address the protection of religious and ethnic minorities, and what are the implementation gaps? Using a qualitative methodology, this study analyzes constitutional provisions, legal texts, and case studies, supported by data from human rights reports. The comparative analysis focuses on legal guarantees, social realities, and the ongoing challenges faced by minorities in both countries, highlighting both similarities and divergences in their approaches.