Question

Mention any three constitutional provisions that make India a secular state.

Answer 1

Hint: India is a vast country and is known for its cultural diversity. The Constitution of India mandates that the Indian State be secular. In other words, it means that the State should keep itself away from religion.

Complete Step by Step Answer: Secularism means that no special status is given to any religion, in other words, there is no State religion.
Only a secular State, according to the constitution can realise its objectives to ensure:
1. That none of the religious community should dominate the other.
2. That the State does not take away the religious freedom of individuals or enforce any particular religion.
3. That none of the members dominate other members of the same religious community.
Indian state works in different ways to prevent the above domination.

A strategy of distancing is used by the State to keep itself away from religion. Thus, the state is not ruled by a religious group and nor does it support any one religion. India does not support anyone religion like that of America which supports Christianity and Buddhism in Sri Lanka, etc.
Second, is through a strategy of non-interference. To not interfere with religious practices and respect the sentiments of all religions, the State makes certain exceptions for particular religious communities, which is backed by the Constitution.
Third, the Indian Constitution guarantees the Fundamental Rights that are based on these secular principles.
This is not to say that there is no violation of these rights in the Indian society. Such violations happen frequently and to prevent such violations constitutional mechanisms are required.
The knowledge of such existing rights makes us sensitive to their violations and enables us to take action when these violations take place.

Note: Students often confuse Secularism and Socialism. The two terms are completely different and are not synonymous. Secularism means the rejection of religion, i.e., the separation of government institutions from a particular religious belief whereas Socialism refers to the growth of the state, and negates capitalism.