Why does phenolpthalein give pink colour to Carbonate solution (CO3 ^ 2-) even though carbonate is acidic ?
Carbonate is basic, not acidic. Are you confusing it w/ carbonic acid? H2CO3? EDIT - You keep insisting it's acidic, but your are wrong. In a buffered system, carbonic acid, made from the dissolution of CO2 in water, is acidic. But that it NOT the same as a carbonate. The fact that your phenolphthalein turns pink is proof that the pH is >8.
