Muslim professionals in India face underrepresentation under BJP Government

Muslim professionals in India face underrepresentation under BJP Government
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Data obtained through Right to Information (RTI) queries reveals that Muslims occupy only 6.6% of doctor positions across nine government medical colleges in West Bengal, despite comprising 27.01% of the state’s population, The Hindu reported on Sunday.

This underrepresentation in the health sector mirrors broader trends in government employment. According to the latest staff census reported by Telegraph India, Muslims account for only 6.08% of West Bengal’s public-sector workforce, far below their demographic share. Nationally, while Muslim recruitment into the Union Public Service Commission has risen by over 70% in recent years, totals remain at roughly 5% of successful candidates, with only four making the top 100 in the 2022 examination cycle.

Researchers attribute these disparities partly to opaque data practices. Of 23 medical colleges approached, only half responded to RTI requests, with several citing health department directives to withhold caste and religious profiles. Advocates warn that greater transparency is essential to ensure proportional representation and to inform equitable policy interventions.