Test: Secularism - 1 - UPSC MCQ

The Constituent Assembly voted for a secular state as against a theocratic state. Article 25 of Indian Constitution describes religious freedom as the freedom of individual conscience.

All of these religions believe in one God and that people should treat each other kindly.

The holocaust was a systematic state sponsored persecution of Jews by the Nazi regime in Germany during the Second World War.

The majority of population in India follow Hindu religion. The most dominant religion in India is Hinduism. About 80% of Indians are Hindus. Hinduism is a religion of various Gods and Goddesses, which are worshipped regularly by the people.

Uniform Civil Code refers to law common to all communities in matters of marriage, divorce, inheritance etc. The objective of Uniform Civil Code is included in Article 44 of the Constitution as a directive principle, which has no judicial force.

Iran is a theocratic republic. Its supreme head is an Islamic cleric appointed for life and the state law is based on the Islamic law.

The inclusion of secularism in the Indian constitution was based on two considerations – plurality and diversity of religions and cultures in India and secondly to promote communal harmony and avoid cases of communal conflicts.

The above quote is by Mahatma Gandhi. He argued that religion and politics are inseparable yet he treated religion as a private matter. He argued that the state is responsible for secular welfare of its citizens like health, communication, foreign policy and currency, but not religion.

Israel was founded as a national home for Jews safe from persecution. Although Israeli law grants equal civil rights to all citizens regardless of religion and ethnicity, it gives preferential treatment to Jews.

The '' Hindutva'' is advocated by the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).