Which one of the following statements relating to cultural and educational rights in India, as guaranteed by the Constitution, is not correct?

Introduction / Context:
This question examines your understanding of the cultural and educational rights guaranteed by Articles 29 and 30 of the Constitution of India. These provisions protect the rights of minorities and different sections of citizens to conserve their language, script, and culture, and to establish and administer educational institutions. They also prohibit discrimination by the State in granting aid to such institutions. You must identify which statement does not correctly reflect these constitutional protections.

Given Data / Assumptions:

Option a asserts that every section of citizens has the right to conserve its language, script, or culture.
Option b states that no citizen shall be denied admission into State maintained or State aided educational institutions on grounds of religion, race, or language.
Option c suggests that the State shall discriminate, in granting aid, against institutions under the management of a majority community.
Option d states that all minorities, whether based on religion or language, have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
We must identify which of these statements is inconsistent with Articles 29 and 30.

Concept / Approach:
Article 29(1) provides that any section of the citizens residing in the territory of India or any part thereof having a distinct language, script, or culture of its own shall have the right to conserve the same. Article 29(2) prohibits denial of admission to any educational institution maintained by the State or receiving aid out of State funds on grounds only of religion, race, caste, language, or any of them. Article 30(1) gives religious and linguistic minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. Article 30(2) specifically says that the State shall not, in granting aid to educational institutions, discriminate against any institution on the ground that it is under the management of a minority. The Constitution does not direct the State to discriminate against majority institutions; rather, it prohibits discriminatory treatment based on management by a particular community.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Assess Option a. This reflects Article 29(1), which gives any section of citizens the right to conserve its language, script, or culture. Therefore Option a is correct.Step 2: Assess Option b. While it does not list every ground (such as caste), it correctly states that no citizen shall be denied admission on grounds of religion, race, or language in State maintained or State aided institutions, which is in line with Article 29(2). So Option b is substantially correct.Step 3: Assess Option c. This says that the State shall discriminate, in granting aid, against institutions under the management of a majority community. The Constitution actually prohibits discrimination against minority managed institutions and does not authorise discrimination against majority institutions either. The principle is that aid should not be denied or varied solely due to the management being of a particular community. Hence Option c misstates the constitutional position and is not correct.Step 4: Assess Option d. This accurately reflects Article 30(1), which gives all religious and linguistic minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. Therefore Option d is correct. Thus, the only incorrect statement is Option c.

Verification / Alternative check:
Reading Articles 29 and 30 together makes it clear that the Constitution aims to protect both minority rights and equal access to education without discrimination on specified grounds. Article 30(2) focuses on preventing the State from discriminating against minority institutions in the grant of aid. There is no clause that instructs the State to discriminate against majority community institutions, and the general constitutional spirit is against such discrimination. Textbook explanations of cultural and educational rights always emphasise non discrimination and protection of minority institutions, confirming that the idea expressed in Option c is incorrect.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a correctly summarises Article 29(1), so it cannot be the incorrect statement that the question is looking for.

Option b correctly captures the essence of Article 29(2), which prohibits denial of admission on certain grounds, even though it does not list every single ground mentioned in the Constitution; the core idea is correct.
Option d correctly mirrors Article 30(1), which confers on minorities based on religion or language the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice, so this option is also correct.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may misread Option c quickly and think it is about protection of minority institutions, not noticing that it refers to majority community management and uses the word discriminate in the wrong way. Others may incorrectly assume that the Constitution favours minority institutions to such an extent that it permits discrimination against majority institutions, which is not the case. The Constitution emphasises equality and non discrimination while giving special protection to minority rights. Reading the options slowly and recalling the exact language of Article 30(2) helps avoid these misunderstandings.

Final Answer:
The incorrect statement is the one that says the State shall discriminate against institutions under the management of a majority community when granting aid, so Option c is the right answer.