Understanding Secularism Class 8 Worksheet Civics Chapter 2

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Q1: What happened in Hitler's Germany? 

A) The assassination of Mrs. Indira Gandhi
B) Millions of people were killed
C) Bomb blast took place in Nagasaki
D) All of these 

Q2: What could the tyranny of the majority result in? 

A) Violation of fundamental rights
B) Inequality
C) Intervention
D) None of these 

Q3: What can we not do in government schools according to the chapter? 

A) Sing the national anthem
B) Sing Rashtriya Geet
C) Celebrate any religious festival
D) None of these

Q4: What does the term 'coercion' refer to in the context of the chapter? 

A) The ability of citizens to vote freely
B) Forcing someone to do something, as used by a legal authority
C) The practice of religious rituals in public spaces
D) The promotion of one religion over others by the State 

Q5: What is the role of the State when it comes to religious practices in India, according to the chapter notes? 

A) To promote all religions equally in public institutions
B) To make laws based solely on the majority religion's doctrines
C) To ensure that religious practices do not violate fundamental rights
D) To observe religious practices in government functions 

Fill in the Blanks

Q1: The Indian Constitution requires the state to maintain a __________ from religion. 

Q2: The Indian state allows certain __________ for specific religious practices to respect their importance to those communities. 

Q3: __________ refers to the separation of religion from the State. 

Q4: In a secular state, no one religious community should __________ another. 

Q5: The state can __________ in religious-based personal laws to ensure equality and justice.

True/False

Q1: In a secular state, the government can promote one religion as the state religion.

Q2: Secularism protects individuals' rights to exit from their religion and choose another.

Q3: The Indian state provides financial aid to religious schools on a preferential basis. 

Q4: The concept of secularism includes the state not interfering with religious matters unless necessary for legal and equality reasons.

Q5: The Indian Constitution allows individuals the freedom to interpret religious teachings in their own way.

Very Short Answer Questions

Q1: What does the term ‘secularism’ refer to?

Q2: Explain the concept of ‘principled distance’.

Q3: What is meant by the word ‘establishment’?

Q4: “The government cannot force Sikhs to wear a helmet while driving two wheelers.” Give reason.

Q5: When does discrimination occur?

Q6: Why government schools are not allowed to celebrate religious festival?

Q7: When was law passed by French government banning religious symbols in school? What was its impact?

Q8: Why is it important to separate religion from the State?

Q9: Will the government intervene if some religious group says that their religion allows them to practise infanticide? Give reasons for your answer.

Q10: How does the Indian constitution ensure its objectives of secular state?

You can access the solutions to this worksheet here.