Question

Which is the most important reason to consider India as a secular state?
A. People of different religions live in India
B. Government works for the welfare of people of all religions
C. Religion is separated from politics
D. Minority religions are given special protection

Answer 1

Hint: A state is said to be a secular state when it neither supports nor disapproves any religion. One example of a non secular state is Pakistan.

Complete Answer:
In India religion is separated from politics, it means that the government of India does not affiliate itself with any particular religion unlike Pakistan which is an Islamic state. Even though the majority of the India population are Hindus but the government of India does not give any special preference to Hindus or any religion for that matter.
However it must also be noted that in the Indian context there is not a complete separation of the state and religion but in India secularism means that all religions are treated with equal respect. In the west there is a different concept according to which there is a complete separation of the religion and state.
In India we can also find that personal laws related to marriage, divorce, inheritance, etc. the constitution allows there to be different laws for people belonging to different religions.
However we can find that in India minority religions are given special protection. Incentives are given to religious denominations to start and maintain schools, to impart religious instructions and they also receive partial but significant financial support from the government.
Therefore, the correct answer is option, ‘D. Minority religions are given special protection’.

Note: We find that in the Indian constitution fundamental rights come under part 3. There are various kinds of fundamental rights provided to the citizens as well as non citizens of India. Freedom of religion is also one of the fundamental rights and is guaranteed by Article 25-28.