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According to the 2011 Census of India, around 2.9 million people in India did not state their religion and were counted in the "religion not stated". They were 0.24% of India's population. Their number have significantly increased 4 times from 0.7 million in 2001 census at an average annual rate of 15%.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Daniyal |first1=Shoaib |title=People without religion have risen in Census 2011, but atheists have nothing to cheer about |url=https://scroll.in/article/753475/people-without-religion-have-risen-in-census-2011-but-atheists-have-nothing-to-cheer-about |access-date=8 August 2022 |work=Scroll.in}}</ref><ref name="census_2011_religion">{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW00C-01%20MDDS.XLS |title=Population by religious community - 2011 |publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner |work=2011 Census of India |access-date=25 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825155850/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW00C-01%20MDDS.XLS |archive-date=25 August 2015}} Percentages are calculated from population figures for individual religions in this word document by dividing them from total population of India.</ref><ref name=census2011>{{cite web|title=All India Religion Census Data 2011|url=http://www.census2011.co.in/religion.php|publisher=Government of India|access-date=1 March 2011}}</ref> According to the 2012 WIN-Gallup Global Index of Religion and Atheism report, 81% of Indians were religious, 13% were non-religious, 3% were convinced atheists, and 3% were unsure or did not respond.<ref name=gallup2012>{{cite web|title=Global Index of Religion And Atheism |url=http://redcresearch.ie/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/RED-C-press-release-Religion-and-Atheism-25-7-12.pdf |publisher=WIN-Gallup |access-date=3 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016062403/http://redcresearch.ie/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/RED-C-press-release-Religion-and-Atheism-25-7-12.pdf |archive-date=16 October 2012 }}</ref> While a demographic study by {{wipe|Cambridge University Press}} in 2004, have found that there are 102.87 million atheists and agnostics living in India, thus constituting 
9.1% of the total population, out of total 1.1296 billion people respectively.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/most-atheist-countries | title=Most Atheist Countries 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.populationpyramid.net/india/2004/ | title=Population Pyramids of the World from 1950 to 2100 }}</ref>

[[Philosophy:Atheism|Atheism]] and [[Philosophy:Agnosticism|agnosticism]] have a long history in India and flourished within the Śramaṇa movement. Indian religions like [[Philosophy:Jainism|Jainism]], [[Religion:Hinduism|Hinduism]] and [[Religion:Buddhism|Buddhism]] consider atheism to be acceptable.<ref name="wayoflife">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J_-rASTgw8wC&pg=PA71|title=Hinduism, a way of life|last=Chakravarti|first=Sitansu|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ.|year=1991|isbn=978-81-208-0899-7|page=71|access-date=2011-04-09}}
</ref><ref name="Joshi">{{cite journal|last=Joshi|first=L.R.|year=1966|title=A New Interpretation of Indian Atheism|journal=Philosophy East and West|publisher=University of Hawai'i Press|volume=16|issue=3/4|pages=189–206|doi=10.2307/1397540|jstor=1397540}}</ref>

India has produced some notable atheist politicians and social reformers.<ref name="secularism"/>

== History ==

===Ancient India===
{{See also|Śramaṇa}}Several ''śramaṇa'' movements are known to have existed in India before the 6th century BCE (pre-Buddha, pre-Mahavira), and these influenced both the [[Philosophy:Āstika and nāstika|āstika and nāstika]] traditions of Indian philosophy.<ref name="Ray, Reginald A. 1994">{{Cite book|title=Buddhist saints in India : a study in Buddhist values and orientations|last=Ray, Reginald A.|date=1994|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=0195072022|location=New York|oclc=24211851}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Unifying Hinduism : philosophy and identity in Indian intellectual history|last=Nicholson, Andrew J.|isbn=9780231149877|edition=  Paperback |location=New York|oclc=881368213|date = December 2013}}</ref> Martin Wiltshire states that the Śramaṇa tradition evolved in India over two phases, namely Paccekabuddha and Savaka phases, the former being the tradition of individual ascetic and latter of disciples, and that Buddhism and Jainism ultimately emerged from these as sectarian manifestations.<ref name="Wiltshire, Martin Gerald. 1990">{{Cite book|title=Ascetic figures before and in early Buddhism : the emergence of Gautama as the Buddha|last=Wiltshire, Martin Gerald.|date=1990|publisher=Mouton de Gruyter|isbn=0899254675|location=Berlin|oclc=22207705}}</ref> These traditions drew upon already established Brahmanical concepts, states Wiltshire, to formulate their own doctrines.<ref name="Wiltshire, Martin Gerald. 1990"/> Reginald Ray concurs that Śramaṇa movements already existed and were established traditions in pre-6th century BCE India, but disagrees with Wiltshire that they were nonsectarian before the arrival of Buddha.<ref name="Ray, Reginald A. 1994"/>

====Schools of Philosophy====
In [[Philosophy:Indian philosophy|Indian philosophy]], there are six major orthodox (''[[Philosophy:Āstika and nāstika|astika]]'') schools of [[Philosophy:Hindu philosophy|Hindu philosophy]]—[[Philosophy:Nyaya|Nyaya]], [[Philosophy:Vaisheshika|Vaisheshika]], [[Philosophy:Samkhya|Samkhya]], Yoga, [[Philosophy:Mīmāṃsā|Mīmāṃsā]] and [[Philosophy:Vedanta|Vedanta]], and five major heterodox ([[Philosophy:Āstika and nāstika|nāstika]]) schools of Śramaṇa —[[Philosophy:Jainism|Jain]], [[Religion:Buddhism|Buddhist]], Ajivika, [[Philosophy:Ajñana|Ajñana]], and Cārvāka.<ref>{{Cite book|title=A Comparative study of religions|last=Masih, Yakub, 1916-|date=2005|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers|isbn=9788120808157|location=New Delhi|oclc=706614801}}</ref> The four most studied [[Philosophy:Āstika and nāstika|Nāstika]] schools, those rejecting the doctrine of [[Religion:Vedas|Vedas]], are [[Philosophy:Jainism|Jainism]], [[Religion:Buddhism|Buddhism]], Cārvāka, and [[Philosophy:Ājīvika|Ājīvika]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=An introduction to Hinduism|last=Flood, Gavin D., 1954-|date=1998|publisher=Cambridge University Press|others=Foundation Books |isbn=8175960280|edition=  1st South Asian paperback |location=[Cambridge, UK]|oclc=43575765}}</ref>

=====Charvaka=====
{{Main|Philosophy:Charvaka}}
{{Rquote|right|There is no heaven, no final liberation, nor any soul in another world, Nor do the actions of the four classes, orders, etc., produce any real effect.|from the '' Sarvadarśanasaṅ̇graha'', attributed to ''Brhaspati''<ref>{{cite book|author=Ramkrishna Bhattacharya|title=Studies on the Carvaka/Lokayata|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=59eygxzQTWQC&pg=PA91|year=2011|publisher=Anthem Press|isbn=978-0-85728-433-4|page=91}}</ref><ref name="Madhava">{{cite book|author=Mādhava|title=The Sarva-darśana-saṃgraha|url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/34125/34125-h/34125-h.htm|access-date=8 September 2013|year=1908|publisher=Project Gutenberg}}</ref>}}

The ''Cārvāka'' school originated in India around the 6th century BCE.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/Not-scared-of-God-but-man/articleshow/46570208.cms|title=Not scared of God, but man|website=The Times of India}}</ref> It is classified as a ''nāstika'' school. It is noteworthy as evidence of a [[Philosophy:Materialism|materialistic]] movement in ancient India.<ref name=moor>{{cite book|author1= Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan|author2= Charles A. Moore|title= A Sourcebook in Indian Philosophy|publisher= Princeton University Press|year= 1957|edition= Twelfth Princeton Paperback printing 1989|pages= [https://archive.org/details/sourcebookinindi00radh/page/227 227–249]|isbn= 0-691-01958-4|url= https://archive.org/details/sourcebookinindi00radh/page/227}}</ref> Followers of this school only accepted ''pratyakşa'' (perception) as a valid ''pramāna'' (evidence). They considered other ''pramāna'' like ''sabda'' (testimony), ''upamāna'' (analogy), and ''anumāna'' (inference) as unreliable.<ref name="pramana">{{cite book|author=Deepak Sarma|title=Classical Indian Philosophy: A Reader|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5TK5I6R9xtkC&pg=PA4|year=2011|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-13399-9|page=4}}</ref> Thus, the existence of a soul (''ātman'') and God were rejected, because they could not be proved by perception. They also considered everything to be made of four [[Philosophy:Mahābhūta|elements]]: earth, water, air and fire. The Cārvāka pursued enjoyment of life and elimination of physical pain. So, they can be considered hedonistic.<ref name="hedonism">{{cite book|author=Eugene F. Bales|title=A Ready Reference to Philosophy East and West|url=https://archive.org/details/readyreferenceto0000bale|url-access=registration|access-date=7 September 2013|year=1987|publisher=University Press of America|isbn=978-0-8191-6640-1|pages=[https://archive.org/details/readyreferenceto0000bale/page/211 211]–}}</ref> All of the original Cārvāka texts are considered lost.<ref name="carvakalost">{{cite book|author=William M. Indich|title=Consciousness in Advaita Vedanta|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7ykZjWOiBMoC&pg=PA35|year=2000|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-1251-2|page=35}}</ref> A much quoted ''sūtra'' ([[Philosophy:Barhaspatya sutras|Barhaspatya sutras]]) by Brhaspati, who is considered the founder of the school, is thought to be lost.<ref>{{cite book|author=Eugene F. Bales|title=A Ready Reference to Philosophy East and West|url=https://archive.org/details/readyreferenceto0000bale|url-access=registration|access-date=7 September 2013|year=1987|publisher=University Press of America|isbn=978-0-8191-6640-1|pages=[https://archive.org/details/readyreferenceto0000bale/page/211 211]}}</ref> The ''Tattvopaplavasimha'' by [[Philosophy:Jayarāśi Bhaṭṭa|Jayarāśi Bhaṭṭa]] (8th century CE) and the ''Sarvadarśanasaṅ̇graha'' by Madhavacarya (13th century) are considered important secondary Cārvāka texts.<ref name="hedonism"/>

=====Samkhya=====
{{Main|Philosophy:Samkhya}}
''Sāṃkhya'' is an ''āstika'' school, but has some atheistic elements. Sāṃkhya is a radically [[Philosophy:Dualism (Indian philosophy)|dualist]] philosophy.<ref name="dual">{{cite book|author=Richard King|title=Indian Philosophy: An Introduction to Hindu and Buddhist Thought|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uca8R72W8iQC&pg=PA63|year=1999|publisher=Edinburgh University Press|isbn=978-0-7486-0954-3|pages=52, 63}}</ref> They believed that the two [[Philosophy:Ontology|ontological principles]], ''puruṣa'' (consciousness) and ''prakriti'' (matter), to be the underlying foundation of the universe.<ref name="dual"/><ref name="Dasgupta">{{cite book|author=Surendranath Dasgupta|title=A History of Indian Philosophy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PoaMFmS1_lEC&pg=PA238|year=1992|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0412-8|page=238}}</ref> The objective of life is considered the achievement of separation of pure consciousness from matter (''[[Philosophy:Kaivalya|kaivalya]]'').<ref name=dual/> The reasoning within this system led to the ''Nir-isvara Sāṃkhya'' (''Sāṃkhya'' without God) philosophy, which deemed the existence of God as unnecessary.<ref name="nir-isavara">{{cite book|author=Dale Maurice Riepe|title=Naturalistic Tradition in Indian Thought|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UZZGEhp8gasC&pg=PA210|year=1996|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-1293-2|page=210}}</ref> There is the opposing reasoning which accepts God, called ''Sesvara Sankhya'' (''Sāṃkhya'' with God).<ref name="withgod">{{cite book |author=Andrew J. Nicholson |title=Unifying Hinduism: Philosophy and Identity in Indian Intellectual History |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-52642-5 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/unifyinghinduism0000nich/page/118 118–] |title-link=Unifying Hinduism: Philosophy and Identity in Indian Intellectual History |date=14 October 2010 }}</ref> ''Samkhya Karika'' (c. 350 CE) is the earliest known systematic text of this philosophy.<ref name=dual/>

=====Mīmāṃsā=====
{{Main|Philosophy:Mīmāṃsā}}
''[[Philosophy:Mīmāṃsā|Mīmāṃsā]]'' (meaning [[Religion:Exegesis|exegesis]])<ref name=dual/> is also an ''astika'' school. They believed the Vedas to be author-less and self-authenticating. They did not accept the Vedas as being composed by any ''ṛishi'' (saint), they considered them to not be authored by anyone (''apauruṣeya''). They accepted the minor deities of the Vedas but resisted any notion of a Supreme Creator. They only concentrated on upholding the ''[[Philosophy:Ṛta|ṛta]]'' (order) by following the duties of the Vedas. The foundational text of this school is the ''Mīmāṃsā Sutra'' by [[Biography:Jaimini|Jaimini]] (c. 200 BCE - 200 CE).<ref name=dual/>

=====Ājīvika=====
{{Main|Philosophy:Ājīvika}}
''[[Philosophy:Ājīvika|Ājīvika]]'' is yet another ''nastika'' school with an atheistic outlook. None of their scriptures survive and there is some question as to whether or not the accounts of them in secondary sources (often hostile) are accurate. They believed in a naturalistic atomic theory and held that the consequence of natural laws led to a deterministic universe. They denied [[Philosophy:Karma|karma]], but upheld the [[Philosophy:Ātman (Hinduism)|atman]]. They lived in ascetic communities and existed in southern India until at least the 14th century.

=====Buddhism and Jainism=====
[[Philosophy:Jainism|Jainism]] rejects the idea of a [[Religion:Creator deity|creator deity]] responsible for the manifestation, creation, or maintenance of this universe. According to Jain doctrine, the universe and its constituents (soul, matter, space, time, and principles of motion) have [[Unsolved:Jainism and non-creationism|always existed]]. All the constituents and actions are governed by universal natural laws and an immaterial entity like God cannot create a material entity like the universe. Jainism offers an elaborate [[Religion:Jain cosmology|cosmology]], including heavenly beings (devas), but these beings are not viewed as creators; they are subject to suffering and change like all other living beings, and must eventually die. Jains define godliness as the inherent quality of any soul characterising infinite bliss, infinite power, Kevala Jnana (pure infinite knowledge){{sfn|Sangave|2001|p=164}} and Perfect peace. However, these qualities of a soul are subdued due to [[Unsolved:Karma in Jainism|karmas]] of the soul. One who achieves this state of soul through right belief, right knowledge and right conduct can be termed a god. This perfection of soul is called kevalin. A soul thus becomes a liberated soul – liberated of miseries, cycles of rebirth, world, karmas and finally liberated of body as well. This is called moksha.

[[Biography:Gautama Buddha|Gautama Buddha]] rejected the existence of a [[Religion:Creator deity#Buddhism|creator deity]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Thera|first=Nyanaponika|title=Buddhism and the God-idea|url=http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/nyanaponika/godidea.html|work=The Vision of the Dhamma|publisher=Buddhist Publication Society|location=Kandy, Sri Lanka|quote=In Buddhist literature, the belief in a creator god (issara-nimmana-vada) is frequently mentioned and rejected, along with other causes wrongly adduced to explain the origin of the world; as, for instance, world-soul, time, nature, etc. God-belief, however, is placed in the same category as those morally destructive wrong views which deny the kammic results of action, assume a fortuitous origin of man and nature, or teach absolute determinism. These views are said to be altogether pernicious, having definite bad results due to their effect on ethical conduct.}}</ref><ref>''Approaching the Dhamma: Buddhist Texts and Practices in South and Southeast Asia'' by Anne M. Blackburn (editor), Jeffrey Samuels (editor). Pariyatti Publishing: 2003 {{ISBN|1-928706-19-3}} pg 129</ref> refused to endorse many views on creation<ref>{{cite book|title=The All Embracing Net of Views: Brahmajala Sutta|year=2007|publisher=Buddhist Publication Society|chapter-url=http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.01.0.bodh.html|author=Bhikku Bodhi|editor=Access To Insight|location=Kandy, Sri Lanka|chapter=III.1, III.2, III.5}}</ref> and stated that questions on the origin of the world are not ultimately useful for ending [[Philosophy:Dukkha|suffering]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Acintita Sutta: Unconjecturable|url=http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.077.than.html|work=AN 4.77|publisher=Access To Insight|author=Thanissaro Bhikku|language=en|year=1997|quote=Conjecture about [the origin, etc., of] the world is an unconjecturable that is not to be conjectured about, that would bring madness & vexation to anyone who conjectured about it.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cula-Malunkyovada Sutta: The Shorter Instructions to Malunkya|url=http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.063.than.html|publisher=Access To Insight|author=Thanissaro Bhikku|language=en|year=1998|quote=It's just as if a man were wounded with an arrow thickly smeared with poison. His friends & companions, kinsmen & relatives would provide him with a surgeon, and the man would say, 'I won't have this arrow removed until I know whether the man who wounded me was a noble warrior, a priest, a merchant, or a worker.' He would say, 'I won't have this arrow removed until I know the given name & clan name of the man who wounded me... until I know whether he was tall, medium, or short... The man would die and those things would still remain unknown to him. In the same way, if anyone were to say, 'I won't live the holy life under the Blessed One as long as he does not declare to me that 'The cosmos is eternal,'... or that 'After death a Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist,' the man would die and those things would still remain undeclared by the Tathagata.}}</ref> [[Religion:Buddhism|Buddhism]] instead emphasises the system of causal relationships underlying the universe, [[Philosophy:Pratītyasamutpāda|pratītyasamutpāda]], which constitute the [[Philosophy:Dharma|dhamma]] and source of enlightenment. No dependence of phenomena on a supernatural reality is asserted in order to explain the behaviour of matter.

====Philosophers and ancient texts====
[[Biography:Ajita Kesakambali|Ajita Kesakambali]] was a materialist philosopher. He is mentioned in the ''Samaññaphala Sutta''. He rejected gods, an afterlife and karma.<ref name="ajita kesa">{{cite book|author=David J. Kalupahana|title=Ethics in Early Buddhism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sXhp8w6r93QC&pg=PA16|year=2008|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-3280-0|pages=16–17}}</ref> Payasi is a character, referred to as a prince, who appears in the Buddhist text ''Digha Nikaya'' in the ''Payasi Sutta''. He didn't believe in rebirth or karma. He debated Kassapa, a disciple of Buddha, and lost according to Buddhist sources.<ref name="payasi2">{{cite book|author=K. R. Norman|title=Pāli Literature: Including the Canonical Literature in Prakrit and Sanskrit of All the Hīnayāna Schools of Buddhism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XdCkFokTBbEC&pg=PA40|year=1983|publisher=Otto Harrassowitz Verlag|isbn=978-3-447-02285-9|page=40}}</ref><ref name="IndianPhilo">{{cite book|author=Surendranath Dasgupta|title=A History of Indian Philosophy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PoaMFmS1_lEC&pg=PA106|year=1992|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0412-8|page=106}}</ref>

=====Jabali's speech from the Ramayana=====

In the Hindu epic ''[[Biology:Ramayana|Ramayana]]'' (''Ayodhya Khanda''), when Bharata goes to the forest to convince [[Biology:Rama|Rama]] to return home, he was accompanied by a sophist<ref name="jabali sophist">{{cite book|title=A Comparative History of Ideas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gpulmza7BBYC&pg=PA152|year=1992|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-1004-4|page=152}}</ref> called Jabali ("{{lang|sa|जाबालिः}}"). Jabali uses [[Philosophy:Nihilism|nihilistic]]<ref name="nihilist jabali"/> reasoning to convince Rama. He also says that rituals are a waste of food and scriptures were written by smart men so that people will give alms. But Rama calls him a deviant from the path of ''[[Philosophy:Dharma|dharma]]'' ("{{lang|sa|धरमपथात}}"), refuses to accept his "''nastika''" views and blame his own father for taking Jabali into service.<ref name=valmiki_uncensored>{{cite book|title=Ramayana|page=Sarga 108–109|author=Valmiki|chapter=Ayodhya Kanda}}</ref> He also equates the Buddha to a thief.<ref name=valmiki_uncensored/> On hearing Rama's retort, Jabali retracts his statements, saying that he was merely arguing like a nihilist.<ref name="nihilist jabali">{{cite book|title=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jvkAAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA307|year=1862|publisher=Cambridge University Press for the Royal Asiatic Society|page=307}}</ref> However, these verses referring to the Buddha<ref name="buddha jabali">{{cite book|author=Mahadev Moreshwar Kunte|title=The Vicissitudes of Âryan Civilization in India: An Essay, which Treats of the History of the Vedic and Buddhistic Polities, Explaining Their Origin, Prosperity, and Decline|url=https://archive.org/details/vicissitudesrya01kuntgoog|access-date=9 September 2013|year=1880|publisher=printed at the Oriental Printing Press by N. W. Ghumre|page=[https://archive.org/details/vicissitudesrya01kuntgoog/page/n482 449]}}</ref> are considered a later interpolation, as those verses use a different metre.<ref name="buddha jabali"/><ref name="directed at buddhist?">{{cite book|author=Sanujit Ghose|title=Legend of Ram: Antiquity to Janmabhumi Debate|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rfgkCrumMfYC&pg=PA140|year=2004|publisher=Bibliophile South Asia|isbn=978-81-85002-33-0|page=140}}</ref>

=====The Carvaka incident in the Mahabharata=====
A character described as a Carvaka briefly appears in the ''[[Religion:Mahabharata|Mahabharata]]'' (in the ''Shanti Parva''). As Yudhishthira enters the city of Hastinapur, a brahmin, referred to as Carvaka, accuses him of killing his own kinsmen and says that he would suffer for it. The accuser is revealed to a ''[[Unsolved:Rakshasa|rakshasa]]'' in disguise, who was a friend of Duryodhana. He had existed since the Satya Yuga by virtue of a boon from the god [[Religion:Brahma|Brahma]], that he could only be killed when he is showing contempt towards brahmins. He was killed by other brahmins by the chanting of sacred hymns and Yudhishthira was assured that his actions were within the kshatriya code.<ref name="Fitzgerald">{{cite book|author=James L. Fitzgerald|title=The Mahabharata, Volume 7: Book 11: The Book of the Women Book 12: The Book of Peace|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8iIbqXwKoxIC&pg=PA86|year=2003|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=978-0-226-25250-6|pages=255–258}}</ref> This event may be a possible denigration of the Carvaka philosophy.<ref name="carvaka maha">{{cite book|author=Arvind Sharma|title=Essays on the Mahābhārata|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnCxH85Vra4C&pg=PA309|year=2007|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-2738-7|page=309}}</ref>

===Medieval India===
In the 9th century CE, Jain philosopher Jinasena wrote the [[Religion:Mahapurana (Jainism)|Mahapurana]]. The book contains the following often quoted words,<ref name="world">{{cite book|author=Warren Matthews|title=World Religions, 7th ed.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3V4zalTcXCwC&pg=PA156|year=2011|publisher=Cengage Learning|isbn=978-1-111-83472-2|page=156}}</ref>

{{Cquote|Some foolish men declare that a creator made the world. The doctrine that the world was created is ill-advised, and should be rejected. If God created the world, where was he before creation? If you say he was transcendent then, and needed no support, where is he now?}}

This quote was also featured later in [[Biography:Carl Sagan|Carl Sagan]]'s book, Cosmos.<ref name="Cosmos">{{cite book|author=Carl Sagan|title=Cosmos|year=1985|publisher=Ballantine Books|isbn=978-0-345-33135-9|chapter=Chapter 10|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/cosmoscosm00saga}}</ref> In the 14th century, philosopher Madhavacarya wrote the ''Sarvadarśanasaṅ̇graha'', which is a compilation of all Indian philosophies, including ''Carvaka'', which is described in the first chapter.<ref name="Madhava"/>

=== Modern India ===

====19th century====

Between 1882 and 1888, the Madras Secular Society published a magazine called ''The Thinker'' (''Tattuvavivesini'' in [[Social:Tamil language|Tamil]]) from Madras. The magazine carried articles written by anonymous writers and republished articles from the journal of the London Secular Society, which the Madras Secular Society considered itself affiliated to.<ref name="madras journal">{{cite news|title=Tracing the history of an unknown radical group|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/tracing-the-history-of-an-unknown-radical-group/article5203705.ece?homepage=true|access-date=7 October 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=5 October 2013}}</ref>

====20th century====
[[File:YUKTHIVADI.JPG|thumb|left|150px|The Yukthivadi in 1929 was the first atheist/rationalist magazine published in Malayalam.]] 
[[Biography:Periyar E. V. Ramasamy|Periyar E. V. Ramasamy]] (1879 - 1973) was an atheist and rationalist leader of Self-Respect Movement and Dravidar Kazhagam. His views on irreligion are based on the eradication of the caste system, religion must be denied to achieve the obliteration of caste system.

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (1883 –1966) was an eminent [[Religion:Hindu nationalism|Hindu nationalist]] leader of the Indian independence movement. He was also an atheist and a staunch rationalist<ref>{{Cite book|title = Towards Understanding Communalism|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=8_RtAAAAMAAJ|publisher = Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development|date = 1992-01-01|isbn = 9788185835174|first = Pramod|last = Kumar}}</ref> who disapproved of orthodox Hindu belief, dismissing cow worship as superstitious.<ref>{{Cite news|title = The man who thought Gandhi a sissy|url = https://www.economist.com/news/christmas-specials/21636599-controversial-mentor-hindu-right-man-who-thought-gandhi-sissy|newspaper = The Economist|access-date = 2016-01-23|issn = 0013-0613}}</ref> Being Hindu, for him, was a cultural and political identity.

Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964), India's first Prime Minister was a Hindu agnostic and a self-styled scientific humanist.<ref>{{cite book|author=Sankar Ghose|title=Jawaharlal Nehru, a Biography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MUeyUhVGIDMC&pg=PA332|year=1993|publisher=Allied Publishers|isbn=978-81-7023-369-5|page=332}}</ref> He wrote in his autobiography, ''Toward Freedom'' (1936), about his views on religion and superstition.<ref name="voices">{{cite book|author=Dale McGowan|title=Voices of Unbelief: Documents from Atheists and Agnostics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wWWU32YNq4UC&pg=PA139|year=2012|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-59884-978-3|page=139}}</ref>

[[Biography:Meghnad Saha|Meghnad Saha]] (1893 – 1956) was an atheist [[Biography:Astrophysicist|astrophysicist]] best known for his development of the Saha equation, used to describe chemical and physical conditions in stars.

Bhagat Singh (1907-1931), an Indian revolutionary and socialist nationalist who was hanged for using violence against British government officials, was a staunch atheist. He laid out his views in the essay Why I Am an Atheist, written in jail shortly before his execution.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scroll.in/article/715660/on-bhagat-singhs-death-anniversary-why-i-am-an-atheist|title=On Bhagat Singh's death anniversary: 'Why I am an atheist'}}</ref>

Goparaju Ramachandra Rao (1902-1975), better known by his nom de guerre "Gora," was a social reformer, anti-caste activist, atheist and desciple of [[Biography:Mahatma Gandhi|Mahatma Gandhi]]. He and his wife, Saraswathi Gora (1912-2007) who was also an atheist and social reformer, founded the Atheist Centre in 1940.<ref name="humanism">{{cite book|author=Wiel Veugelers|title=Education and Humanism: Linking Autonomy and Humanity|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T_4Wyzz-utoC&pg=PA114|access-date=8 September 2013|date=16 November 2011|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-94-6091-577-2|page=114}}</ref> The Atheist Centre is an institute working for social change.<ref name="Disenchanting India">{{cite book|author=Johannes Quack|title=Disenchanting India: Organized Rationalism and Criticism of Religion in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TNbxUwhS5RUC&pg=PA338|year=2011|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-981260-8|pages=89, 338|author-link=Johannes Quack}}</ref> Gora expounded his philosophy of positive atheism as a way of life.<ref name=humanism/> He later wrote more about positive atheism in his 1972 book, ''Positive Atheism''.<ref name="gorapositive">{{cite book|author=Robyn E. Lebron|title=Searching for Spiritual Unity...Can There Be Common Ground?|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KILFE33zGngC&pg=PA532|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009083814/http://books.google.com/books?id=KILFE33zGngC&pg=PA532|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 October 2013|access-date=8 September 2013|date=January 2012|publisher=CrossBooks|isbn=978-1-4627-1262-5|page=532}}</ref> Gora also organised the first World Atheist Conference in 1972. Subsequently, the Atheist Centre has organised several World Atheist Conferences in Vijayawada and other locations.<ref name="Disenchanting India"/>

Khushwant Singh (1915-2014), a prominent and prolific writer, of Sikh extraction, was avowedly non-religious.

In 1997, the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations was founded.<ref name=atheism_voice>{{cite news|title=In India, atheism finds its voice|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/1197562/report-in-india-atheism-finds-its-voice|access-date=5 September 2013|newspaper=DNA India|date=13 October 2008}}</ref>

====21st century====

Amartya Sen (1933-), an Indian [[Social:Economist|economist]], philosopher and Nobel laureate, is an atheist<ref>{{Cite web|title = The Arguing Indian|url = http://alumni.berkeley.edu/california-magazine/july-august-2006-indo-chic/arguing-indian|website = Cal Alumni Association|access-date = 2016-01-23|date = 22 January 2010}}</ref> and he holds that this can be associated with one of the [[Philosophy:Atheism in Hinduism|atheist schools]] in [[Religion:Hinduism|Hinduism]], the [[Philosophy:Charvaka|Lokayata]].<ref>{{Cite news|title = A World Not Neatly Divided|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/23/opinion/a-world-not-neatly-divided.html|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 2001-11-23|access-date = 2016-01-23|issn = 0362-4331|first = Amartya|last = Sen}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = News & Broadcast - Amartya Sen Speaks on Culture at World Bank|url = http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:20045541~pagePK:64257043~piPK:437376~theSitePK:4607,00.html|website = web.worldbank.org|access-date = 2016-01-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Rediff on the NeT Business News: Market economy not the panacea, says Sen|url = http://www.rediff.com/business/1998/dec/28sen.htm|website = www.rediff.com|access-date = 2016-01-23}}</ref>

Sunday Sapiens, the successor of Maharashtra Rationalist Association,<ref>{{cite book|last=Quack|first=Johannes|date= 2012|title=Disenchanting India: Organized Rationalism and Criticism of Religion in India|url=http://www.oxfordscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199812608.001.0001/acprof-9780199812608-chapter-10|publisher=Oxford University Press|pages=101–106|isbn=9780199812608}}
</ref> is actively involved in developing scientific temper and eradicating superstition.

In 2008, the website Nirmukta was founded. It later became an organisation aiming to promote free thought and [[Philosophy:Secular humanism|secular humanism]] in India.<ref name="milliongods" />

In 2009, historian [[Biography:Meera Nanda|Meera Nanda]] published a book entitled "The God Market". It examines how Hindu religiosity is gaining more popularity among the rising middle class, as India is liberalising the economy and adopting globalisation.<ref name=glitter>{{cite news|title=The Glitter in the Godliness|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?263657|access-date=6 September 2013|newspaper=Outlook India|author=William Dalrymple|date=18 January 2010}}</ref>

In March 2009, in Kerala, a pastoral letter addressing the [[Religion:Laity|laity]] was issued by the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council urging the members to not vote for political parties which advocate atheism.<ref name="don't vote">{{cite news|title=Don't vote for those who preach atheism: Kerala church body|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/don-t-vote-for-those-who-preach-atheism-kerala-church-body/438276/|access-date=2 October 2013|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=24 March 2009}}</ref><ref name="don't vote2">{{cite news|title=Kerala Church makes a poll sermon|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-others/tp-states/kerala-church-makes-a-poll-sermon/article1049087.ece?ref=archive|access-date=2 October 2013|newspaper=The Hindu Business Line|date=12 April 2009}}</ref> In July 2010, another similar letter was issued.<ref name="don't vote 2010">{{cite news|title=Church blow to 'atheist' parties|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100726/jsp/nation/story_12726907.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100731095411/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100726/jsp/nation/story_12726907.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 July 2010|access-date=2 October 2013|newspaper=The Telegraph (India)|date=26 July 2010}}</ref>

On 10 March 2012, [[Biography:Sanal Edamaruku|Sanal Edamaruku]] investigated a so-called miracle in Vile Parle, where a [[Biography:Jesus|Jesus]] statue had started weeping and concluded that the problem was caused by faulty drainage. Later that day, during a TV discussion with some church members, Edamaruku accused the [[Organization:Catholic Church|Catholic Church]] of miracle-mongering. On 10 April, Angelo Fernandes, President of the Maharashtra Christian Youth Forum, filed a police complaint against Edamaruku under the Indian Penal Code Section 295A.<ref name=jesus>{{cite news|url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/2/2012041720120417220221187efd41360/FIR-against-rationalist-for-questioning-%E2%80%98miracle%E2%80%99.html|title=FIR against rationalist for questioning 'miracle'|date=17 April 2012|newspaper=Mumbai Mirror|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615170321/http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/2/2012041720120417220221187efd41360/FIR-against-rationalist-for-questioning-%E2%80%98miracle%E2%80%99.html|archive-date=15 June 2012|access-date=5 September 2012}}</ref> In July while on a tour in {{wipe|Finland}}, Edamaruku was informed by a friend that his house was visited by the police. Since the offence is not bailable, Edamaruku stayed in Finland.<ref name=jesus2>{{cite news|title=Jesus wept … oh, it's bad plumbing. Indian rationalist targets 'miracles'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/nov/23/india-blasphemy-jesus-tears|access-date=6 September 2013|newspaper=The Guardian|date=23 November 2012}}</ref>

On Friday 7 July 2013, the first "Hug an Atheist Day" was organised in India by Nirmukta. The event aimed to spread awareness and reduce the stigma associated with being an atheist.<ref name=hug>{{cite news|title=Think free and hug an atheist this Friday|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/1844423/report-think-free-and-hug-an-atheist-this-friday|access-date=8 September 2013|newspaper=DNA India|date=6 June 2013}}</ref><ref name=hug2>{{cite news|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Give-the-atheist-closest-to-you-a-hug/2013/06/06/article1621383.ece?pageNumber=1&parentId=77669&operation=complaint|title=Give the atheist closest to you a hug|access-date=8 September 2013|newspaper=The New Indian Express|date=6 June 2013}}</ref>

On 20 August 2013, Narendra Dabholkar, a rationalist and anti-superstition campaigner,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/govind-pansare-mm-kalburgi-gauri-lankesh-murder-5316465/|title=Indian rationalism, Charvaka to Narendra Dabholkar|date=21 August 2018|work=The Indian Express|first=Seema|last=Chishti}}</ref> was shot dead by two unknown assailants, while he was out on a morning walk.<ref name=dabholkar>{{cite news|title=Rationalist Dabholkar shot dead|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/rationalist-dabholkar-shot-dead/article5041138.ece|access-date=6 September 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=20 August 2013}}</ref>

On 9th Jan 2021, E.A.Jabbar, freethinker, atheist, and rationalist from Kerala and Islamic preacher M.M. Akbar were engaged in a debate on [[Religion:Quran|Quran]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/tracking-indian-communities/to-believe-or-not/ | title=To believe or not? | website=The Times of India | date=23 January 2021 }}</ref> Both sides claimed to have defeated the other debater even as there was no clear verdict. Manoj John,<ref>{{Cite news|date=29 July 2020|title="Manoj John elected to international rationalist federation (മനോജ് ജോൺ അന്താരാഷ്ട്ര യുക്തിവാദി ഫെഡറേഷനിൽ)". Mathrubhumi Newspaper. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.|work=Mathrubhumi daily newspaper|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/nri/pravasi-bharatham/mumbai/mumbai-news/article-1.4937724|access-date=27 January 2022|archive-date=28 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128130922/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/nri/pravasi-bharatham/mumbai/mumbai-news/article-1.4937724|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Maharashtra Rationalist Association|date=2021-05-29|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Maharashtra_Rationalist_Association&oldid=1025719471|work=Wikipedia|language=en|access-date=2022-01-27}}</ref>{{circular reference|date=December 2022}} an internationally reputed atheist activist, was dragged into a controversy after Liyakhathali CM alleged that the former took money from M.M. Akbar to tilt the debate in Akbar's favour. International atheist organisations immediately conducted a four-month long investigation and absolved Manoj John of having any link with Islamic organisations or having accepted money from them. It later turned out to be a false allegation to tarnish Manoj John's rising reputation and recognition in the global freethought movement, showing at the same time the dissaray among the irreligion camp in Kerala state of India.

In August 2021, Abdul Khader Puthiyangadi, an {{wipe|India}}n citizen, a rationalist from Kerala, He was arrested by UAE police in 2021 without bail and sentenced to prison in UAE for 3 years for criticizing Islam on social media in his native language [[Social:Malayalam|Malayalam]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/release-of-malayali-rationalist-sought/article36551598.ece|title = Release of Malayali rationalist sought|newspaper = The Hindu|date = 19 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nastiknation.org/news/2021/04/26/freethinker-from-kerala-faces-death-penalty-in-dubai-jail-as-he-is-trapped-into-blasphme-charges/|title = Freethinker from Kerala faces death penalty in Dubai jail as he is trapped into blasphme charges|work=Nastik Nation|date=26 April 2021|access-date=27 December 2022}}</ref> Liyakhathali CM, who was working towards the release of Puthiyangadi without authorisation by the latter's family, has been accused of unauthorised and intransparent fund collection for this purpose by many secular activists but the allegations have not yet been proven.{{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed for the whole sentence|date=January 2022}}

On 10 January 2022, ex-Muslim rationalist Aneesh Jasy from Tamil Nadu was arrested without bail citing his Facebook posts against Islam <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/ex-muslim-rationalist-aneesh-jasy-arrested-tn-cops-facebook-posts-islam-159662 | title=Ex-Muslim rationalist Aneesh Jasy arrested by TN cops for Facebook posts on Islam | date=9 January 2022 |work=The News Minute |access-date=27 December 2022}}</ref>

===== Rise of ex-Muslims of Kerala =====
In 2021 in Kerala, several [[Philosophy:Ex-Muslims|ex-Muslims]] formed an organisation called ''Ex-Muslims of Kerala''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Ex Muslims of Kerala - Rights and dignity for who leave Islam|url=https://exmuslimsofkerala.org/|access-date=27 December 2022}}</ref> It is an organisation founded in 2021 by E. A. Jabbar, Liyakkathali CM, Arif Hussain, and a few others who left Islam in Kerala.<ref name=":0"/> The organisation gives support to those who left Islam, a minority that is facing persecution from the Islamic community, just because they left the religion.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Ex-Muslim organisation gathers steam in Kerala|url=https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=725045&u=|work=Kerala Kaumudi|date=8 January 2022|access-date=27 December 2022}}</ref> The organisation conducts debates with Islamic scholars and fundamentalists on various topics.<ref name=":0"/> Ex-Muslim of Kerala observes 9 January as ex-Muslim day, by conducting seminars on atheism and Islam.<ref name=":1"/>

== Legal status, rights and laws ==
Atheism and irreligion are not officially recognised in India. Apostasy is allowed under the right to freedom of religion in the Constitution, and the Special Marriage Act, 1954 allows the marriage of people with no religious beliefs, as well as non-religious and non-ritualistic marriages. However, there are no specific laws catering to atheists and they are considered as belonging to the religion of their birth for administrative purposes.<ref name=milliongods>{{cite news|title=Indian atheists seek recognition in the land of a million gods|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-30/science/32483706_1_atheists-religion-beliefs|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724083120/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-30/science/32483706_1_atheists-religion-beliefs|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 July 2013|access-date=5 September 2013|newspaper=The Times of India|date=30 June 2012}}</ref> The box in which the 'caste' and 'religion' are to be filled is still present in a lot of forms. Some of these boxes on forms are also compulsory, and one does not always have the option of leaving them empty. The closest option one gets is 'Choose not to say' or 'Other' as an answer to these boxes.<ref name="news18.com">{{Cite web |date=2019-02-16 |title=Tamil Nadu Woman Becomes First Indian To Get 'No Caste, No Religion' Certificate After 9-Year-Long Battle |url=https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/no-caste-no-religion-tamil-nadu-woman-becomes-first-indian-to-get-certificate-after-9-year-old-battle-2038463.html |first=Raka |last=Mukherjee |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref>

Ravi Kumar, an atheist from Haryana is another person who is struggling and fighting to be officially and legally irreligious and caste-less in India. He went to court to declare him officially atheist and he got one certificate in which it was mentioned that he had "No Caste, No Religion, & No God". Later, Justice Tejinder Singh Dhindsa of the Punjab and Haryana High Court said they had exceeded their authority and asked heim to return the certificate; he refused to do so. The Fatehabad district authorities who issued the certificate withdrew it in April 2019. Kumar plans to continue his quest to be officially declared an atheist.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-27 |title=The Atheist |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/the-atheist-tattoo-religious-belief-god-6089681/ |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-03 |title=Price this Haryana man is paying for turning atheist — no job & social boycott |url=https://theprint.in/india/price-this-haryana-man-is-paying-for-turning-atheist-no-job-social-boycott/230665/ |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>

Sneha Parthibaraja, a lawyer from Vellore was the first citizen in India to get an official 'no religion, no caste' certificate.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-05 |title=Meet Sneha, First Indian To Receive 'No Caste, No Religion' Certificate |url=https://odishabytes.com/meet-sneha-first-indian-to-receive-no-caste-no-religion-certificate/ |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=odishabytes |language=en-US}}</ref> She won this right on February 5, 2019, after a 9-year court battle.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet country's first woman to be legally 'caste, religion-less' citizen - M.A. Sneha: A caste and religion less person |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/meet-countrys-first-woman-to-be-legally-caste-religion-less-citizen/m-a-sneha-a-caste-and-religion-less-person/slideshow/68164541.cms |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=The Economic Times}}</ref><ref name="news18.com"/> Indian actor Kamal Haasan, who is known for his atheism, congratulated her on Twitter for this achievement.<ref name="news18.com"/>

===Hate speech laws and irreligion===

===Notable verdicts===

On 29 October 2013, the Bombay High Court judged in favour of an atheist school teacher from Nashik.<ref name="atheist teacher">{{cite news|title=Teacher cannot be forced to fold hands in school prayers: Bombay high court|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Teacher-cannot-be-forced-to-fold-hands-in-school-prayers-Bombay-high-court/articleshow/25137023.cms|access-date=4 November 2013|newspaper=The Times of India|date=2 November 2013}}</ref> Sanjay Salve had been employed by the state-funded Savitribai Phule Secondary School since 1996. In June 2007, during a prayer session, Salve didn't fold his hands during the pledge or prayer. The school management called this indiscipline and refused him a higher pay grade in 2008 when Salve became eligible for it. Salve sought legal recourse citing the article 28 (a) of the Constitution which states "no person attending any educational institution recognised by the State or receiving aid out of State funds shall be required to take part in any religious instruction that may be imparted in such institution or to attend any religious worship that may be conducted in such institution".<ref>{{cite law|title=Constitution of India, Section 28 (a)|date=1950}}</ref><ref name="what wrong">{{cite news|title=Pray, what wrong did I do, asks atheist teacher|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pray-what-wrong-did-i-do-asks-atheist-teacher/article5080102.ece?ref=relatedNews|access-date=4 November 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=20 September 2013}}</ref> The court ruled in Salve's favour and directed the school to release his dues by 31 January 2014.<ref name="answers prayers">{{cite news|title=Bombay High Court answers atheist teacher's prayer; asks school to pay dues|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-bombay-high-court-answers-atheist-teacher-s-prayer-asks-school-to-pay-dues-1911611|access-date=4 November 2013|newspaper=DNA India|date=31 October 2013}}</ref>

On 23 September 2014, the Bombay High Court declared that the government cannot force a person to state a religion on any document or form. The court also stated any citizen has the right to declare that he/she doesn't belong to any religion. The decision came in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Ranjit Mohite, Kishore Nazare and Subhash Ranware, representing an organisation called Full Gospel Church of God, after the Maharashtra state printing press refused to issue them a gazette notification stating that they belonged to no religion. The petitioners stated that the organisation had 4000 members, and that they believe in Jesus Christ but they do not follow [[Religion:Christianity|Christianity]] or any religion. Responding to the petition, the Maharashtra and the central governments had stated that "no religion" cannot be treated as a religion on official forms. The court cited the Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees right to freedom of conscience, while passing the verdict.<ref name=no_religion_BHC>{{cite news|title=Citizen can declare that he does not belong to any religion: Bombay High Court|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/citizen-can-declare-that-he-does-not-belong-to-any-religion-bombay-high-court/1/392828.html|access-date=26 November 2014|work=India Today|date=26 September 2014}}</ref><ref name=BHC_religion>{{cite news|title=Citizen can declare that he does not belong to any religion: Bombay High Court|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/citizen-can-declare-that-he-does-not-belong-to-any-religion-bombay-high-court/|access-date=26 November 2014|work=The Indian Express|date=24 September 2014}}</ref>

==Persecution and attacks==
Narendra Nayak, an advocate of atheism, has claimed to have been attacked three times and had his scooter damaged twice, with one of the attacks leaving him with head injuries. This compelled him to take self-defence lessons and carry a nunchaku.<ref name=nunchaku1>{{cite news|title=Rationalists fight superstition with dignity and nunchakus|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-22/bangalore/41435861_1_karnataka-superstition-karate|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825075441/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-22/bangalore/41435861_1_karnataka-superstition-karate|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 August 2013|access-date=6 September 2013|newspaper=The Times of India|date=22 August 2013}}</ref> Megh Raj Mitter's house was surrounded by a mob after he debunked the [[Biology:Hindu milk miracle|Hindu milk miracle]], forcing him to call the police.<ref name=Twilight>{{cite news|title=Confrontation in the Twilight zone|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/confrontation-in-the-twilight-zone-113083001107_1.html|access-date=5 September 2013|newspaper=Business Standard|date=30 August 2013}}</ref>

On 15 March 2007, a bounty of {{INRConvert|700|k|lk=r|year=2007}} was announced on atheist<ref name=Theocracy>{{cite news|title=Taslima on IBNLive chat: 'India is not a theocracy'|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/taslima-on-ibnlive-chat-india-is-not-a-theocracy/56692-7-9.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141215113951/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/taslima-on-ibnlive-chat-india-is-not-a-theocracy/56692-7-9.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 December 2014|access-date=15 December 2014|work=IBNLive|date=18 January 2008}}</ref> Bangladeshi author [[Biography:Taslima Nasrin|Taslima Nasrin]], while living in India, by a [[Religion:Muslim|Muslim]] cleric named Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan for allegedly writing derogatory statements about Muhammad in her work.<ref name=TaslimaHead>{{cite news|title=Muslim body announces Rs 5 lakh for Taslima's head|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-muslim-body-announces-rs-5-lakh-for-taslimas-head-1085098|access-date=15 December 2014|work=DNA India|date=15 March 2007}}</ref> In December 2013, an FIR was filed against Nasrin in Bareilly by a cleric named Hasan Raza Khan, for hurting religious sentiments. Nasrin had allegedly tweeted on [[Company:Twitter|Twitter]] that "In India, criminals who issue [[Religion:Fatwa|fatwa]]s against women don't get punished." Raza Khan said that by accusing clerics of being criminals, Nasrin had hurt religious sentiments.<ref name=AntiFatwaTweet>{{cite news|title=Cleric files FIR against Taslima Nasreen's anti-fatwa tweet|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Cleric-files-FIR-against-Taslima-Nasreens-anti-fatwa-tweet/articleshow/26925330.cms|access-date=15 December 2014|work=The Times of India|date=6 December 2013}}</ref>

On 2 July 2011, the house of U. Kalanathan, secretary of the Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham, was attacked in Vallikunnu after he suggested on television that the temple treasures of [[Religion:Padmanabhaswamy Temple|Padmanabhaswamy Temple]] should be used for public welfare.<ref name=kalanathan>{{cite news|title=Rationalist leader's house attacked|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/rationalist-leaders-house-attacked/article2157439.ece|access-date=23 October 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=4 July 2011}}</ref> On 20 August 2013, Narendra Dabholkar, a rationalist and anti-superstition campaigner, was assassinated.<ref name=dabholkar/>

On 16 February 2015, rationalist Govind Pansare and his wife were attacked by unknown gunmen. He later died from the wounds on 20 February.<ref name=Pansare>{{cite news|title=Rationalist Pansare is dead|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/461081/rationalist-pansare-dead.html|access-date=5 October 2015|work=Deccan Herald|date=21 February 2015}}</ref> On 30 August 2015, M. M. Kalburgi, a scholar and rationalist, was shot dead at his home. He was known for his criticism of superstition and idol worship.<ref name=Kalburgi>{{cite news|title=Rationalist Kalburgi Shot Dead in Dharwad|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/Rationalist-Kalburgi-Shot-Dead-in-Dharwad/2015/08/31/article3002639.ece|access-date=5 October 2015|work=The New Indian Express|date=31 August 2015}}</ref><ref name=Time-kalburgi>{{cite magazine|title=Indian Scholar Who Spoke Out Against Idol Worship Is Shot Dead|url=http://time.com/4016747/mm-kalburgi-india-murder-rationalist-idol-worship-hindu-nationalism/|access-date=5 October 2015|magazine={{wipe|Time (magazine)}}|date=31 August 2015}}</ref> Soon afterwards, another rationalist and author, K. S. Bhagwan, received a threatening letter. He had offended religious groups by criticizing the Gita.<ref name=BhagwanWriter>{{cite news|title=Writer Bhagwan receives threat letter|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/writer-bhagwan-receives-threat-letter/article7635331.ece|access-date=5 October 2015|work=The Hindu|date=10 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=ThreatLetter>{{cite news|title=In Karnataka, Another Writer Gets Threat Letter After Scholar MM Kalburgi's Murder|url=http://www.ndtv.com/karnataka-news/after-mm-kalburgis-murder-writer-ks-bhagwan-receives-threat-letter-1215955|access-date=5 October 2015|work=NDTV|date=10 September 2015}}</ref>

In March 2017, 31-year-old A Farooq, an Indian Muslim youth from Coimbatore who became an atheist, was killed by members of a Muslim radical group.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/tamil-nadu-youth-h-farook-killed-for-being-an-atheist-father-says-he-too-will-become-one-4586999/|title=Tamil Nadu youth killed for being an atheist, father says he too will become one|date=27 March 2017|first=Arun|last=Janardhanan|work=The Indian Express|access-date=27 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyo.in/politics/atheist-hacked-coimbatore-farooq-religion-god-conflict/story/1/16395.html|title=As long as gods are used for votes, Indian atheists will get killed|work=DailyO|first=Rashmi|last=Singh|date=27 March 2017|access-date=27 December 2022}}</ref>

==Demographics==

===Indian government census===
The Indian census does not explicitly count atheists.<ref name="secularism">{{cite book|author=Phil Zuckerman|title=Atheism and Secularity|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z1hbaAHsAlUC&pg=RA1-PA139|access-date=7 September 2013|date=21 December 2009|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-35182-2|chapter=Chapeter 7: Atheism and Secularity in India}}</ref> In the 2011 Census of India, the response form required the respondent to choose from six options under religion. The "Others" option was meant for minor or tribal religions as well as atheists and agnostics.<ref name=milliongods/>

The religion data from 2011 Census of India was released in August 2015. It revealed that about 2,870,000 people had stated no religion in their response, about 0.27% of the nation's population.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scroll.in/article/753475/people-without-religion-have-risen-in-census-2011-but-atheists-have-nothing-to-cheer-about|title=People without religion have risen in Census 2011, but atheists have nothing to cheer about|work=Scroll.in|first=Shoaib|last=Daniyal|date=7 September 2015|access-date=27 December 2022}}</ref> However, the number included atheists, rationalists and also those who believed in a higher power. K. Veeramani, a Dravidar Kazhagam leader, said that it was the first time the number of non-religious people was recorded in the census. However, he added that he believed that the number of atheists in India was actually higher as many people don't reveal their atheism out of fear.<ref name=FirstTimeCensus>{{cite news|title=2.87 million Indians have no faith, census reveals for first time|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/2-87-million-Indians-have-no-faith-census-reveals-for-first-time/articleshow/48689278.cms|access-date=10 September 2015|work=The Times of India|date=27 August 2015}}</ref>

===Different surveys===

====World Values Survey (2006)====

According to the 2006 [[Organization:World Values Survey|World Values Survey]], conducted by the Dentsu Communication Institute Inc, Japan Research Center (2006), 6.6% of Indians stated that they had no religion.<ref name="dentsu">{{cite web|title=World Values Survey (2006) ''English source requested''|url=http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~honkawa/9460.html|access-date=5 September 2013|language= ja}}</ref>

====WIN-Gallup Global Index of Religion and Atheism====

According to the 2005 Global Index of Religion and Atheism report from WIN-Gallup, 87% of Indians were religious and 4% called themselves atheists.<ref name=surveyTOI>{{cite news|title=More Indians have stopped believing in God: Survey|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-05-27/uk/39556084_1_more-indians-dip-4-people|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528042059/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-05-27/uk/39556084_1_more-indians-dip-4-people|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 May 2013|access-date=5 September 2013|newspaper=The Times of India|date=27 May 2013}}</ref> According to the 2012 report by the same organisation, 81% of Indians were religious, 13% were non-religious, 3% were convinced atheists and 3% were unsure or did not respond.<ref name=gallup2012/>

====Worldviews and Opinions of Scientists in India (2007)====

In 2007, a survey was conducted by the Institute for the Study of Secularism in Society and culture of the [[Organization:Trinity College (Connecticut)|Trinity College]] with the help of [[Organization:Center for Inquiry|Center for Inquiry]] (India) called Worldviews and Opinions of Scientists in India. 1100 scientists surveyed from 130 institutes. Most of them identified themselves as secular (59%) or somewhat secular (16%) but refused to be labelled irreligious. 83% defined secularism, as it appears in the Indian constitutions, as the separation of state and religion. But, 93% also defined it as tolerance of other religious philosophies. 20% equated secularism to atheism. Only 11% called themselves completely not spiritual. However, 8% reportedly said they would refuse to do [[Biology:Stem cell controversy|stem cell research]] based on religious or moral convictions.<ref name=SecularScientists>{{cite news|title=Indian scientists are secular, but religious: Survey|url=http://computing.in.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3207887|access-date=15 December 2014|work=[[Software:MSN|MSN]]|date=16 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006231549/http://computing.in.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3207887|archive-date=6 October 2013}}</ref> Y. S. Rajan commented on this saying that most Indians don't feel there is a conflict between science and religion.<ref name=trinity>{{cite web|title=Worldviews and Opinions of Scientists India 2007-08|url=http://prog.trincoll.edu/ISSSC/INDIAN_SURVEY_WEBSITE/|publisher=[[Organization:Trinity College (Connecticut)|Trinity College]]|access-date=5 September 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006200643/http://prog.trincoll.edu/ISSSC/INDIAN_SURVEY_WEBSITE/|archive-date=6 October 2013}}</ref> Other the hand, Innaiah Narisetti, chairman of Centre for Inquiry (India) and Pushpa Bhargava, the former director of the [[Organization:Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology|Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology]], pointed out the lack of [[Scientific temper|scientific temper]] among Indian scientists.<ref name=god_scientists>{{cite news|title=God save Indian science|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080610/jsp/nation/story_9389713.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929164252/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080610/jsp/nation/story_9389713.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 September 2008|access-date=8 September 2013|newspaper=Telegraph India|date=10 June 2008}}</ref>

====Religion Among Scientists in an International Context (2014)====
In a survey conducted by Elaine Howard Ecklund of [[Organization:Rice University|Rice University]], it was found that:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!
! India 
! United Kingdom
|-
| Scientists who identified as nonreligious 
| 6%
| 65%
|-
| Scientists who attend religious services on a regular basis (once a month or more)
| 32%
| 12%
|-
| Scientists who never attend religious services 
| 19%
| 68%
|-
| Scientists who believe that there are basic truths in many religions
| 73%
| 49%
|-
| Scientists who believe in God 
| 27%
| 11%
|-
| Scientists who believe in a higher power of some kind
| 38%
| 8%
|}
The ongoing study has surveyed 1,581 scientists from UK and 1,763 from India.<ref name=MoreReligious>{{cite news|title=Indian scientists significantly more religious than UK scientists|url=http://esciencenews.com/articles/2014/09/25/indian.scientists.significantly.more.religious.uk.scientists|access-date=15 December 2014|work=(e)Science News|date=25 September 2014}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Philosophy:Atheism in Hinduism|Atheism in Hinduism]]
* Freedom of religion in India
* Hate speech laws in India
* [[Religion:Irreligion|Irreligion]] 
* Religion in India
* [[Philosophy:Religious skepticism|Religious skepticism]] 
* [[Philosophy:Secular humanism|Secular humanism]] 
* Secularism in India
* Superstition in India

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book |author=Johannes Quack |title=Disenchanting India: Organized Rationalism and Criticism of Religion in India |year = 2011 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-981260-8|}}
* {{cite book|last=Sangave|first=Vilas Adinath|title=Aspects of Jaina religion|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8UhvGRoyAqMC|year=2006|publisher=Bharatiya Jnanpith|isbn=978-81-263-1273-3}}
* {{cite book|last=Binder |first=Stefan |title=Total Atheism: Secular Activism and the Politics of Difference in South India |location=United Kingdom |publisher=Berghahn Books |year=2020 |isbn=978-1789206753}}

==External links==

{{Irreligion}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Irreligion in India}}
[[Category:Atheism]]

{{Sourceattribution|Irreligion in India|1}}