Persecution or discrimination against individuals from different religious communities often occurs when one religion receives official endorsement from the State, leading to the marginalization of other faiths. Secularism aims to eradicate all forms of religious domination, ensuring equality and freedom for all religions.

For a deeper understanding of secularism in the Indian context, refer to Chapter 2 of CBSE Notes Class 8 Civics.

Chapter 2: Understanding Secularism| Class 8 Civics Notes

What is Secularism?

India has embraced the principle of delineating the authority of religion from that of the State. Secularism entails this division, where religion is separated from the governance of the State.

The Indian Constitution guarantees individuals the liberty to uphold their religious beliefs and practices.

Why is it Important to Separate Religion from the State?

The separation between religion and the State is crucial in democratic societies due to the following reasons:

• It facilitates the functioning of a democratic system.
• It serves as a safeguard against the potential tyranny of the majority and ensures the protection of Fundamental Rights, particularly for minority groups, mitigating the risk of religious-based violence.
• It upholds individuals’ freedom to disassociate from their current religious beliefs and adopt alternative ones, fostering the liberty to interpret religious doctrines differently.

What is Indian Secularism?

Indian Secularism is engraved in the Indian Constitution, which mandates that the Indian State be secular. This ensures the following objectives:

• Prevention of domination of one religious community over another.
• Prevention of domination of certain members within the same religious community over others.
• Non-enforcement of any specific religion by the State and protection of individuals’ religious freedoms.

Steps Taken by Indian State to Protect Secularism in India

The Indian State employs various strategies to uphold secularism:

Distancing from Religion: Government institutions such as law courts, police stations, government schools, and offices refrain from endorsing or promoting any particular religion.

Noninterference: The State refrains from interfering with religious practices to respect the sentiments of all religions, making specific exceptions for certain religious communities.

Intervention: The State intervenes in religious matters to uphold laws pertaining to equal inheritance rights, particularly in religion-based ‘personal laws’ of communities.

Supportive Intervention: The State supports religious communities by granting them the right to establish their own educational institutions, providing non-preferential financial aid.

In what way is Indian secularism different from that of other democratic countries?

There is one significant way in which Indian secularism differs from the dominant understanding of secularism as practised in the United States of America.

In American secularism, there is a strict separation between religion and the State. Whereas in Indian secularism, the State can intervene in religious affairs.

Chapter 2 – Understanding Secularism- FAQs

What is Secularism and how is it practiced in India?

Secularism in India involves the separation of religion from the State, as enshrined in the Indian Constitution. It ensures that the government remains neutral in matters of religion and allows individuals the freedom to practice their religious beliefs.

Why is it Important to Separate Religion from the State?

The separation of religion from the State is crucial for various reasons:

• It promotes the functioning of a democratic system.
• It protects minority rights and prevents religious-based discrimination or violence.
• It upholds individuals’ freedom to choose and practice their religious beliefs without interference from the government.

What are the Key Objectives of Indian Secularism?

Indian secularism, mandated by the Constitution, aims to achieve the following:

• Prevent the dominance of one religious community over another.
• Ensure equality and prevent discrimination within religious communities.
• Maintain State neutrality and safeguard individuals’ religious freedoms.

What Sets Indian Secularism Apart from Other Democracies?

Indian secularism differs from the secularism practiced in other democratic countries, particularly the United States, in that it allows the State to intervene in religious affairs. Unlike the strict separation between religion and the State in the US, Indian secularism permits such interventions when necessary.

How Does the Indian State Protect Secularism?

The Indian State employs several strategies to uphold secularism, including:

• Maintaining a distance from religious practices in government institutions.
• Noninterference in religious matters to respect diverse beliefs.
• Intervention to uphold laws ensuring equality, particularly in matters of inheritance.
• Providing support to religious communities for educational and social initiatives.