Secularism

Secularism is the principle of separating religion from the civic affairs and governance of a country.

No State Religion: India does not have an official religion, ensuring equal treatment of all religions by the state.
Equal Respect for All Religions: The Indian Constitution guarantees equal respect for all religions, prohibiting the government from favouring one religion over another.
Freedom of Religion: Fundamental rights include the freedom of conscience and the right to profess, practice, and propagate any religion, including the right to choose or change one’s religion.
Right to Manage Religious Affairs:All religious communities have the right to manage their internal affairs, including the establishment and maintenance of their own religious institutions.
Secularism with Positive Obligations: Indian secularism involves not just separation from religion but also allows the state to participate in religious activities (e.g., security for festivals, financial aid for religious site preservation), provided such actions are impartial and benefit all religions.
Minority Rights: Special provisions in the Constitution protect the rights of religious minorities, including the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
Constitutional Commitment: Secularism is explicitly enshrined in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution, and Articles 25 to 28 guarantee the right to freedom of religion for all citizens.

Preamble: Though the term “secular” was formally added in 1976 through the 42nd Amendment, the basic principle is inherent in the Preamble’s description of India as a “Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic”. This emphasises the equal treatment of all religions by the state.
Right to Equality (Articles 14 & 15): These articles guarantee equality before the law and prohibit discrimination based on religion, caste, or any other factor. This ensures that everyone is treated equally irrespective of their faith.
Freedom of Religion (Articles 25-28): This set of articles guarantees several key freedoms:
- Article 25: Freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate religion.
- Article 26: Right to manage religious affairs, establish and maintain institutions, and manage their own property.
- Article 27: No person shall be compelled to pay taxes for the promotion or maintenance of any particular religion or religious institution.
- Article 28: No religious instruction shall be compulsory in any state-run educational institution.