The Jain community has been included in the list of minorities, an official statement from the minority affairs ministry said Monday.
They will be in addition to the five communities already notified as a minority. These are Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Zoroastrians (Parsis).
The cabinet last week approved notification of Jains as a minority community at the national level.
The change was made by a government notification last week.
Jains comprise 0.4 percent of India's population and in the 2001 census, were about 42 lakh-strong. Their population is now estimated at around 50 lakh.
Once recognised as a minority, they will get a share in central funds earmarked for welfare schemes and government programmes as well as scholarships. They can also manage and administer their own educational institutions.
