GS2 PYQ (Mains Answer Writing): Indian Secularism | Indian Polity for UPSC CSE PDF Download

What can France learn from the Indian Constitution's approach towards to secularism? (UPSC GS2 Mains)

Introduction
Secularism is the constitutional principle of separation of the state from religious institutions. Secularism forms the core element of the basic structure of the Indian constitution. And even France is an indivisible, secular democratic social Republic guaranteeing that all their citizens regardless of their origin, race or religion are treated as equals before the law and respecting all religious beliefs.
France approach towards secularism 

• The French state does not favor any one religion & guarantees their peaceful coexistence in respect of laws and principles of the Republic. 
• The idea of secularism envisaged in India is different from that of France. 
• The paradigms of republicanism, as practiced in France or multiculturalism as implemented in a number of Western democracies, such as the UK and the US, or indeed employment-based integration models of Sweden or Germany, are all in crisis. 
• French secularist objects Islamic clothing, kosher or halal meals and “burkinis”France was a largely homogeneous Catholic country, where the clergy had an unduly high degree of influence over the state’s apparatus. 
• In France people are not supposed to wear any religious signs in the public institutions like Schools. 
• Any act which shows signs of preaching one’s religion, get ultimately banned in the France. 

How France can learn from Indian constitution 

• Secularism in France does not allow religion into public space, Indian secularism on the other hand is based on equal treatment to all religions and maintaining principle distance from all religious. 
• Indian Secularism deals not only with religious freedom of individuals but also with religious freedom of minority communities. 
• Only separation of state and religion isn’t sufficient for the existence of a secular state. On this line Indian model of secularism is different, the idea of inter religious equality is crucial to the Indian conception. It equally opposed oppression of Dalits and women within Hinduism, discrimination against women within Islam or Christianity. 
• In India – state provides Hajj subsidy to Muslims, administrative support for Amaranth Yatra to the pilgrimages, and allows Sikhs to carry Kripans along with them. 
• Indian deals not only with religious freedom of individuals but also with religious freedom of minority communities. Article 29 and 30 is the constitutional tool to acquire it. Within a particular religion, an individual has the right to profess the religion of his or her choice. 
• The Supreme Court of India progressively elaborated the “Essential practice of religion” doctrine to ascertain which elements are fundamental for a religious practice and which may be purged, considered as mere superstition by the intervention of state without infringing the principle of state neutrality in religious affairs. 
• Article 25 provides for freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagates religion; Article 25(2) of Indian constitution creates a further exception to the right. It accords to the state a power to make legislation in the interests of social welfare and reform, throwing up Hindu religious institutions of public character to all classes and sections of Hindus. 
• A good example here would be of recent Sabarimala case where the verdict allowed women of all ages in the Ayyappan temple and declared the banning of entry of women as gender discrimination, the dissent judgment of the view that it is not for courts to determine which religious practices are to be struck down except in issues of social evil like ‘sati’. 

Conclusion
So, while concluding we can say that complex religiously diverse societies are not to be ruled by over simplistic and uniform laws. Secularism is not an opinion among others, rather the freedom to have an opinion. It’s not a belief, rather principle authorizing all beliefs.

Topics covered - Indian vs French Constitution