The Indian model of secularism is based on the principle of “Sarva Dharma Sambhava” which means all religions can co-exist peacefully. The term ‘Secular’ was added to the preamble of the Constitution by the 42nd Constitution Amendment Act of 1976. It emphasizes the fact that constitutionally, India is a secular country which has no State religion and shall recognize and accept all religions, not favour or patronize any particular religion. Over the years, India has developed its own unique concept of secularism which has fundamentally different tenets from the western concept of secularism in the following ways:

• Separation of state from religion: In the Western model of secularism, state and religion have separate spheres of their own, with independent jurisdiction i.e. there is mutual exclusion of state and religion, principled distance of state from religion and no illegitimate intrusion of religion in the state. While in India, both state and religion can, and often do interact and intervene in each other’s affairs within the legally prescribed and judicially settled parameters. In other words, Indian secularism does not have a total separation of religion from the State affairs.
• Aid on the basis of religion: In the western model, the state cannot aid any religious institutions. While the Indian model has chosen a positive mode of engagement where the state provides all religious minorities the right to establish and maintain their own educational institutions which may receive assistance from the state.
• Interference with religious activities: While in the western model, the state cannot hinder the activities of religious communities as long as they are within the broad limits setup by the law of the land, in Indian secularism, state may engage with religion negatively to oppose religious tyranny like practices of untouchability, sati, child marriage etc. India has intervened by enforcing legislation against these evil practises.
• Religious domain: Unlike the western concept of secularism where religion is relegated entirely to the private sphere and has no place in public life whatsoever, the Indian state has the policy of setting up Departments of Religious Endowments, Wakf Boards, etc. and is also involved in appointing Trustees of these boards.
• Personal Laws: In the western model, a single uniform code of law is used to dispense justice regardless of religious hackground. In the Indian model, although the law is the same for all citizens, certain personal laws with regards to marriage and property rights are different for every community. But they are all given equal consideration under the Indian Penal Code.

Although the general meaning of secularism is nominally the same in all democratic setups, its application varies across regions. Secularism should not be seen as an end in itself but a means to address religious plurality and achieve peaceful coexistence of different religions.