The term Diversity denoting collective differences so as to find out dissimilarities among the people: geographical, religious, linguistic, etc. Thus all these differences presuppose collective differences or prevalence of variety of groups and culture. Indian society is characterized by unity as well as diversity.

The Nature of Diversities in India.

Primarily there are major four types of diversities in India, which are:

1. Regional Diversities 

2. Linguistic Diversities 

3. Religious Diversities 

4. Cultural and Ethnic Diversities

1. Regional Diversities: It is evident that there are extreme regional diversities in its geographic features. Indian territory contains huge mountains, thick forests, numerous rivers, and etc. ft is only in India that there are different regions, different types of climates and the temperatures. India is a vast country.

From the Himalayas in the North to the Indian Ocean in the south. There are difference in altitude, temperature, Flora, and Fauna. India has every conceivable type of climate, temperature, and physical configuration. There is the scorching heat of Rajastan and the biting cold of the Himalayas, Rainfall varies from 1200 to 7.5 cms per year.

The result is that India has some of the wettest and driest areas in die world. India also possesses arid desserts and fertile riverine lands, bare and hilly tracts, and luxuriant open plain.

2. Linguistic Diversities: Language is another source of diversity. It contributes to collective identities and even to conflicts. The Indian Constitution has recognized 22 languages in the 8^th schedule for its official purposes but as many as 1652 languages and dialects are spoken in the country.

According to Grierson’s Linguistic Survey of India, these languages belong to five linguistic families, namely; Indo-Aryan languages, Dravidian languages, Austric languages, Tibeto – Burman languages and European languages.

a. The Indo-Aryan languages including in the Sanskrit, Hindi, Bengali, Marati, Gujarathi, Oriya, Panjabi, Bihari, Rajasthani, Assami, Sindhi and Kashmiri languages spoken by 3/4^th of Indian population.

b. The Dravidian languages include Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam.

c. The Austric languages include Mundari, Santhali, Maithili, Dogri and etc.

d. Tibeto – Burman languages: Tribal languages and dialects of North and North-East India belong to this category. For example Manipuri, Bodo, Ladiki, Khuki, etc.

e. The European languages include English, Portuguese and French. These last two languages are spoken mostly people in Goa and Pondicherry.

This makes language planning and promotion difficult. But the mother tongue does evoke strong sentiments and reactions. As a consequence of this multiplicity, there is considerable bilingualism and administration has to use more than one language. Linguistic diversity has posed administrative and political challenges.

3. Religious Diversities: There are eight major religious communities in India. Hindus constitute 82.7%, Muslims 11.8%, Christians 2.6%, Sikhs 2%, Buddhists 0.7%, Jains 0.4%, Zoroastrians 0.3%, and Jews 0.1%. Each major religion is subdivided along the lines of religious documents, sects, and cults.

The Hindus are now broadly divided into Shaivite (worshippers of Shiva), Vaishnavaite (worshippers of Vishnu and his incarnations), Shakta (worshippers of the Mother Goddess in various manifestations). Even among them, there are subdivisions based on doctrinal arid ritual differences.

Buddhism was spread widely in India once, it lost its hold in the country of its birth and remained confined only to a few pockets. Jainism too once held wide sway in India, and though its followers are now numerically small, they are found in both the northern and southern States. They have two main divisions: Digamberun clothed, and Shwetamber. The Indian Muslims are divided broadly into the Sunni and Shia communities.

Indian Christians are divided into Roman Catholics and Protestants and into many denominational churches. Sikhism is synthesizing religion that emphasizes egalitarianism. Grantha Sahib is the holy book and Amritsar Golden Temple is one of their holy piligrimage. The Parsis are a small community, but they have played an important role in India’s industrial development. The Jewish has been established in India for over a millennium.

They also had White and Black divisions and prohibition on intermarriage and inter-dining, but they all worshipped in the same synagogues. The Jati-like restrictions are much less in Bombay and Cochin, to where many Jews have migrated.

4. Cultural and Ethnic Diversities: Another important source of diversity is the cultural diversity. The people differ considerably in their social habits. Cultural difference varies from state to state. The conflicting and varying shades of blood, strains, culture, and modes of life, the character, conduct, beliefs, morals, food, dress, manners, social norms, Socio-Religious customs, rituals and etc.

Causes cultural and ethnic diversities in the country. Dr. R.K. Mukherji rightly said that “India is a museum of cults and customs, creeds and culture, faiths and tongues, racial types and social systems”. Another important source Of diversity is the cultural identity of particular communities and region.