India is a “Secular” state. It means that the Indian State

Question

India is a “Secular” state. It means that the Indian State

1. A. favours only selected religions
2. B. favours the religion of the majority community
3. C. favours the religion of the minority community
4. D. favours no particular religion (Correct answer)

Correct Answer

Option D — favours no particular religion

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is favours no particular religion.

Key Points

• A secular state favours no particular religion: it has no official religion and treats all faiths equally.
• India's model is one of principled distance rather than strict separation — the state may intervene in religious matters to secure equality and social reform.
• The word Secular was added to the Preamble by the 42nd Amendment, 1976, though the Supreme Court has held the principle was always implicit.

Additional Information

• The relevant fundamental rights are Articles 25 to 28, guaranteeing freedom of conscience, of profession and practice, and of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
• Article 27 bars compelling anyone to pay taxes for promoting a religion; Article 28 restricts religious instruction in wholly state-funded educational institutions.
• Secularism was held to be part of the basic structure of the Constitution in *S.R. Bommai* (1994).