National Commission for Minorities holds national seminar on Parsis in Modern India in Mumbai
On 9 May 2026 the National Commission for Minorities held a national seminar, 'Parsis in Modern India: Navigating Cultural and Socio-Economic Pathways', in Mumbai, where Union Minister Kiren Rijiju spoke on preserving Parsi heritage and reviving the Avestan language.
Summary
The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) organised a national seminar on 'Parsis in Modern India: Navigating Cultural and Socio-Economic Pathways' at the Yashwantrao Chavan Centre, Mumbai, on 9 May 2026, as part of a series of academic engagements on minority communities started in February 2026. In his keynote address, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju spoke of the Government's efforts to rejuvenate the Avestan language and to address the declining Parsi population. A coffee table book on the Parsi community's legacy was unveiled, and a compendium on Jainism, Buddhism and Parsis is to be launched on 19 May 2026 at the State Minority Commissions Conference in New Delhi.
Key facts
- Seminar
- 'Parsis in Modern India: Navigating Cultural and Socio-Economic Pathways'
- Venue / date
- Yashwantrao Chavan Centre, Mumbai; 9 May 2026
- Organiser
- National Commission for Minorities
- Keynote
- Kiren Rijiju: Avestan language revival; declining Parsi population
- Next
- Compendium on Jainism, Buddhism and Parsis on 19 May 2026, New Delhi
Practice MCQs 1 questions
At the NCM seminar on Parsis in Mumbai in May 2026, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju spoke of the Government's efforts to rejuvenate which language linked to the Parsi community?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Avestan
Rijiju elaborated on efforts to rejuvenate the Avestan language and to address the declining Parsi population.