As per the Constitution of India, which one of the following statements regarding the freedom to manage religious affairs is not correct? Consider the rights of religious denominations under Article 26.

Introduction / Context:
This question deals with the freedom to manage religious affairs under Article 26 of the Constitution of India. Article 26 grants certain collective rights to every religious denomination or any section thereof, allowing them to organise and manage their religious and charitable activities. The question asks you to pick the statement that is not consistent with the constitutional guarantee, so you must carefully read the wording of each option and compare it with the language and spirit of Article 26.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The options refer to rights of religious denominations or communities to manage their affairs in matters of religion, to own and acquire property, and to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes.
One option introduces an exception for some minor communities.
We assume that the question is about the general constitutional guarantee, without any discriminatory exceptions between large and small communities.

Concept / Approach:
Article 26 says that subject to public order, morality, and health, every religious denomination or any section thereof shall have the right to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes, manage its own affairs in matters of religion, own and acquire movable and immovable property, and administer such property in accordance with law. The guarantee is general and applies to every religious denomination or section; it does not exclude minor communities or create special exceptions based on size or social status. Therefore any option that suggests that only some religious denominations enjoy these rights, while others do not, would be inconsistent with Article 26.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Examine Option a. It states that every religious denomination shall have the right to manage its own affairs in matters of religion except some minor communities. Article 26 does not recognise any such exception. All denominations, including minor ones, are entitled to these rights subject only to public order, morality, and health. Therefore Option a is not correct.Step 2: Examine Option b. This says that every religion or any section thereof has the right to own and acquire movable and immovable property. Article 26(c) explicitly confers this right, so this option is consistent with the Constitution.Step 3: Examine Option c. It states that every religious community has the right to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes. Article 26(a) grants exactly this right, subject to the usual limitations, so Option c is correct.Step 4: Examine Option d. It states that every community has the right to manage its own affairs in matters of religion, which again reflects Article 26(b). Therefore Option d is also correct. The only incorrect statement is Option a.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by directly recalling the wording of Article 26, which uses the inclusive phrase every religious denomination or any section thereof. The Constitution does not distinguish between major and minor communities for the purpose of these rights. Restrictions are based only on public order, morality, and health, not on the numerical strength or political influence of the community. Textbooks emphasise that all religious denominations enjoy these protections equally, reinforcing that any option mentioning exceptions for minor communities is contrary to the constitutional guarantee.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option b correctly reflects the right of religious denominations to own and acquire movable and immovable property, so it is in line with Article 26 and cannot be the incorrect statement sought by the question.

Option c correctly describes the right to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes, which is directly taken from Article 26(a), so it is also correct.
Option d matches the right to manage one's own affairs in matters of religion, which is an important part of Article 26(b), and is therefore correct as well.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may overlook the extra phrase except some minor communities in Option a and read it quickly as if it were simply stating the Article 26 guarantee. This can lead them to think that Option a is correct. Others may be unsure about whether small or new religious groups receive the same constitutional protection as large, established religions. The Constitution is clear that every religious denomination or section, large or small, is covered by Article 26. Careful reading of each option is essential to spot the subtle but important error in Option a.

Final Answer:
The incorrect statement is the one that excludes minor communities, so the right answer is: Every religious denomination shall have the right to manage its own affairs in matters of religion except some minor communities.