The concept of secularism in India plays a critical role in managing the country’s vast religious diversity, as India is home to multiple major religions, including Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism, among others. Indian secularism, while distinct from Western secularism, is designed to maintain religious harmony by promoting equality among all religions, protecting individual religious freedoms, and preventing the state from favoring any one religion. However, its functioning in such a complex religious landscape involves a delicate balance between ensuring religious neutrality, managing community-specific laws, and addressing tensions between religious communities.

1. Indian Secularism: Equal Respect for All Religions

• Sarva Dharma Sambhava: Unlike the Western concept of secularism, which often implies a strict separation between religion and the state, Indian secularism is based on the principle of Sarva Dharma Sambhava—which means “equal respect for all religions.” The Indian state does not oppose religion but rather embraces a pluralistic approach where all religions are treated equally.
• Constitutional Provisions: The Indian Constitution enshrines secularism by guaranteeing freedom of religion under Articles 25 to 28. These provisions protect individuals’ rights to profess, practice, and propagate their religion while also allowing the state to intervene to ensure public order, morality, and health. The word “secular” was explicitly added to the Preamble of the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, reinforcing India’s commitment to religious neutrality.

2. State and Religion: No Official Religion, but Not Completely Separate

• No Official State Religion: India does not have an official state religion, making it a formally secular state. The government is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of religion and is expected to be neutral in matters concerning religious practices and institutions.
• State Involvement in Religious Affairs: While the Indian state does not endorse any religion, it does engage with religious institutions to regulate religious practices when necessary. For example, the state often manages the affairs of major Hindu temples, while also supporting minority religious groups through subsidies, educational institutions, and laws protecting their rights. This involvement is aimed at ensuring religious equity but is sometimes seen as contradictory to the principle of strict secularism.

3. Secularism and Personal Laws

• Religious Personal Laws: A unique feature of Indian secularism is the existence of religious personal laws that govern matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption for different religious communities. Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and other religious groups have separate personal laws, which reflect the state’s respect for religious customs and practices.
• Debates over Uniform Civil Code: The coexistence of personal laws has sparked debates over the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), which would apply the same laws to all citizens regardless of religion. Proponents of the UCC argue that it would further secularism by treating all citizens equally under one law, while opponents contend that it threatens religious freedom and cultural diversity by imposing uniformity on different religious practices.

4. Secularism and Religious Tolerance

• Fostering Religious Harmony: Indian secularism aims to foster religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence in a country where religious diversity is deeply ingrained in the social fabric. This approach is crucial in preventing religious majoritarianism and protecting the rights of minorities, particularly in a predominantly Hindu society where about 14% of the population practices Islam and smaller percentages follow other religions.
• Challenges of Religious Polarization: Despite legal provisions for secularism, religious polarization and tensions have periodically erupted in India. Communal violence, such as the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992 and subsequent riots, or the Gujarat riots of 2002, have exposed the limits of secularism in preventing religious conflict. These events reveal how deeply religion influences social and political life, and how secularism must contend with strong religious identities and sentiments.

5. Secularism and Political Mobilization

• Vote Bank Politics: In practice, Indian secularism is often challenged by vote bank politics, where political parties seek to mobilize voters based on their religious identity. This has led to accusations of both minority appeasement and the exploitation of religious sentiments by various political actors.
• Rise of Hindutva and Majoritarianism: The rise of Hindutva, an ideology that promotes Hindu cultural supremacy, has raised concerns about the erosion of secularism. Proponents of Hindutva often argue that India should be recognized as a Hindu nation, which challenges the constitutional commitment to equal respect for all religions. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has significant political influence, has faced criticism for promoting policies that appear to favor Hinduism over other religions, such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which excludes Muslims from its provisions.

6. Religious Minorities and Secularism

• Protection of Religious Minorities: Indian secularism has been designed to protect the rights of religious minorities, ensuring that they are not discriminated against by the state or by the majority community. Special provisions, such as Article 30, allow religious and linguistic minorities to establish and administer their own educational institutions, preserving their cultural and religious identity.
• Perceived Marginalization of Minorities: Despite these protections, religious minorities, especially Muslims, often feel marginalized in India’s political and social landscape. Discriminatory practices in employment, housing, and education, as well as incidents of mob violence and lynchings in the name of cow protection or religious conversion, have raised concerns about the efficacy of secularism in safeguarding minority rights.

7. Secularism in Practice: Educational and Cultural Policies

• Religious Freedom in Schools: The Indian Constitution ensures that religious instruction is not mandatory in government-funded schools. However, private religious schools are allowed to provide religious education according to their beliefs. This allows communities to preserve their religious identities while fostering secular education.
• Promotion of Religious Festivals: Secularism in India also allows the celebration of religious festivals of all communities at both the state and national levels. The government and public institutions often participate in or recognize religious festivals like Diwali, Eid, Christmas, and others, fostering inclusivity without favoring any single religion.

8. Secularism and the Judiciary

• Judicial Interpretation of Secularism: Indian courts have played a crucial role in interpreting and upholding secularism. The judiciary has consistently ruled in favor of protecting religious freedoms while also ensuring that religious practices do not violate fundamental rights. For instance, the Supreme Court’s decision in the Sabarimala case, allowing women of all ages to enter the temple, sparked a national debate on balancing religious traditions with gender equality.
• Anti-Conversion Laws: Several states in India have passed anti-conversion laws, ostensibly to prevent forced religious conversions. These laws, however, are often criticized for infringing on individuals’ right to choose their religion freely and are seen as disproportionately affecting minority religious groups, raising concerns about how secularism is applied in different regions.

9. Secularism and Globalization

• Impact of Globalization: Globalization has influenced Indian secularism by introducing new ideas about human rights, religious freedoms, and global standards of secular governance. As India becomes more integrated with the global community, there is increasing pressure to reconcile its secular commitments with global norms, especially concerning the treatment of religious minorities and the role of religion in the public sphere.
• Diaspora and Secularism: The Indian diaspora, which often experiences more secularized environments abroad, contributes to ongoing debates about secularism in India. Experiences of religious pluralism and secular governance in countries like the U.S. and U.K. influence discussions about how India can manage its own religious diversity.

Conclusion

Secularism in India is a complex and evolving concept that plays a crucial role in managing the country’s religious diversity. Indian secularism, with its emphasis on equal respect for all religions, aims to promote social harmony and protect the rights of religious minorities while allowing individuals to practice their faith freely. However, it faces challenges from religious polarization, political mobilization based on religion, and tensions between religious communities. As India continues to navigate its secular identity, the balance between respecting religious diversity and ensuring justice and equality for all remains a central concern in its democratic and pluralistic framework.