This document provides an overview of secularism in India. It begins by defining secularism as a system that rejects religion in politics and aims to accommodate all religious beliefs. The introduction notes there is no fixed definition and secularism is understood differently in India's diverse political structure. The document then examines how secularism relates to India's constitution, noting that while not explicitly defined, the 42nd amendment added it to the preamble in 1975. It aims to secure justice, equality, and liberty for citizens while ensuring religious harmony and national unity. In conclusion, the document states that India's idea of secularism must be evaluated in its historical context and practices, with allegiance given to constitutional provisions over any abstract definitions.

1. ENGLISH PROJECT ON
SECULARISM IN INDIA
BY: NISTHAH AGARWAL
CLASS XII-G 1

2. SECULARISM IN INDIA

3. WHAT DOES SECULARISM MEAN?
SECULAR= NETURAL & IMPERTIAL
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4. 1.
Introduction
Defining secularism has been a tough task as there has been no fixed definition used in
theory or in practice. Broadly, secularism has been defined as a system of belief that
essentially rejects religion or at least forwards the notion that religion should be
separated from politics; affairs of the state. The idea aims at creating a social system
which accommodates people of all religion, that they live peacefully. It does not allow
discrimination in the hands of state on the basis of people’s religious beliefs. Secularism
is understood differently in diverse Indian political structure. There exists a variety of
stands among policy makers, the judiciary and the election campaign politics.
Sometimes, the ideas of secularism practiced even go beyond the constitutional vision
which creates tensions. To understand Indian secularism, we will have to evaluate the
relationship between state and religion in all spheres of political life of a citizen.

5. "The state does not owe
loyalty to any particular
religion as such; it is not
irreligious or anti
religious, it gives equal
freedom to all religions."
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6. SECULARISM AND INDIAN
CONSTITUTION
✣ The word secularism was not included in the Indian Constitution, neither did the
founding fathers explicitly defined the term. It was only in the 42nd Amendment to
the Indian Constitution in 1975 that the term was incorporated into the Preamble of
our Constitution.
✣ The Constituent Assembly had a vision which aimed at securing the citizen of
India justice, equality and liberty. While these three political remains at the core of
the Constitution, fraternity remains the basic aim, assuring unity and integrity of the
nation with dignity. Religious harmony is one such aims that goes along with the
idea of fraternity and most particularly in the Indian context.
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7. preamble
of India
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8. Conclusion
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The idea of secularism cannot be abstracted from the historical context of the
practice of secularism. It has to be evaluated vis-a-vis the ideas which are
formulated in other contexts as well as recognizing the Indian way of secularism
in practice and theory. The idea of secularism embedded in the Constitution is
quite close to what Chandhoke writes; the practices of democracy and the core
political values of equality, freedom and rights. Secularism doesn’t need to be
followed; we can simply give allegiance to the provisions of the Constitution.

9. 9
"THE FACT REMAINS THAT SECULARISM IS INHERENT IN THE
INDIAN SYSTEM, IN THE INDIAN ETHOS AND CULTURE, INDIA
CANNOT BUT BE SECULAR“ Pranab Mukherjee

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