ABSTRACT
According to the last available census data, Christians constitute 2.3 per cent of the Indian population. This figure has not changed much since the census prior to this one, showing that the Christian population remains static or even in slight decline. Legally, and in terms of census groupings, all Christians constitute an undifferentiated category. However, there are considerable differences and these in turn shape the challenges different groups face. In terms of numbers, there are perhaps just over 24 million Christians but they are spread very unevenly. Out of the Indian Christian population, 25.15 per cent of the Christians belong to Kerala, 15.71 per cent to Tamil Nadu, 4.19 per cent to Karnataka and 4.9 per cent to Andhra Pradesh. These four southern states account for 54.34 per cent of the total Christian population in India. In the North-East, the states of Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Manipur together have 29.09 per cent of the Christians. In Goa, Christians constitute 26.68 per cent of the state population. In sum, 90 per cent of the Christian population is found in three regional enclaves: South and South-West India, the North-East and the tribal belt in Central India consisting of Chotanagpur and contiguous areas.
