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 SECULARISM

Religion • State • Neutrality • Equality

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1️⃣ WHAT IS SECULARISM?

Secularism is the principle that the state should not be controlled by religion and should treat all religions equally.

Core idea: Political authority must be separate from religious authority.

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2️⃣ ORIGIN OF SECULARISM

• European religious wars (16th–17th century)
• Rise of Enlightenment
• Demand for separation of Church and State
• Liberal individualism

Secularism emerged to prevent religious domination of politics.

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3️⃣ WESTERN MODEL OF SECULARISM

Key Feature: Strict separation between religion and state.

• USA → Wall of separation
• France → Laïcité (religion excluded from public sphere)

State must remain neutral and religion is private.

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4️⃣ INDIAN MODEL OF SECULARISM

India does not follow strict separation. Instead, it follows "principled distance."

• State respects all religions
• Can intervene for reform (e.g., social justice)
• No official state religion

Constitutional Basis:

• Article 25 – Freedom of religion
• Article 26 – Manage religious affairs
• Article 27 – No religious tax
• Article 28 – No religious instruction in state institutions
• Preamble – Secular (added by 42nd Amendment)

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5️⃣ THINKERS ON SECULARISM

🟣 John Locke

Religious tolerance and separation.

🟣 Rajeev Bhargava

Principled distance model.

🟣 Nehru

Scientific temper and state neutrality.

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6️⃣ SECULARISM VS COMMUNALISM

Secularism: Equal respect for all religions.

Communalism: Political mobilization based on religion.

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7️⃣ CONTEMPORARY DEBATES

• Uniform Civil Code
• Minority rights vs majority politics
• Religious conversions
• Temple control debates
• Hijab controversy

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8️⃣ CRITICISMS OF SECULARISM

• Western model ignores cultural context
• Indian model accused of appeasement
• Difficult to maintain neutrality
• Religious identity remains politically powerful

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📝 UPSC MAINS QUESTIONS

1. Compare Western and Indian models of secularism.
2. Is Indian secularism under threat?
3. Discuss the concept of principled distance.
4. Does secularism weaken religious freedom?

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📌 QUICK REVISION MAP

• West → Separation
• India → Principled distance
• Locke → Tolerance
• Bhargava → Context-sensitive secularism
• Secularism ≠ anti-religion

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Secularism is not the absence of religion — It is the protection of freedom in a diverse society.