RBSE Class 11 Political Science Important Questions Chapter 8 Secularism

Rajasthan Board RBSE Class 11 Political Science Important Questions Chapter 8 Secularism Important Questions and Answers. 

RBSE Class 11 Political Science Important Questions Chapter 8 Secularism

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. 
Which amendment of the constitution added the word ‘Secular’ in the Preamble?
Answer: 
42nd Amendment.

 

Question 2. 
Mention one merit of Secularism
Answer: 
Secularism is more democratic.

Question 3. 
Is India a Secular State?
Answer: 
India is a Secular State. By inserting the word ‘Secular’ in the Preamble of the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment Act, India was declared as a Secular State.

Question 4. 
Write one characteristic of Secularism. 
Answer: 
In a secular state, there is no state religion 

Question 5. 
What is the meaning of Secular State? 
Answer: 
A Secular State is one that protects all religions equally and does not uphold any religion as the state religion.

Question 6. 
Which religion is the official religion of India? 
Answer: 
India has no official religion. 
 
Fill in the blank:

Question 7. 
India is ......... state.
Answer: 
Secular. 

Correct and Rewrite the Sentence:

Question 8. 
India is a Muslim Country.
Answer: 
India is a secular country. Complete the Sentence:

Question 9. 
Casteism is an obstacle in the way of .
Answer: 
Casteism is an obstacle in the way of secularism.

Question 10. 
Who said that, “Secularism does not mean that we shall not take into consideration the religious sentiments of the people. All that what a Secular State means is that Parliament shall not be competent to impose any particular religion on the rest of the people.” 
Answer: 
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

Multiple-Choice Questions

Choose the Correct Answers:
1. Secular State means:
(a) The State has a religion.
(b) The State is impartial in the matters of religion.
(c) The State is against religion.
(d) The State is irreligious.
Answer:
(b) The State is impartial in the matters of religion.

2. India is a:
(a) Secular State 
(b) Hindu State
(c) Muslim State 
(d) Sikh State.
Answer: 
(a) Secular State 

3. Which amendment of the Constitution added the word ‘Secular’ in the Preamble?
(a) 44th Amendment 
(b) 42nd Amendment
(c) 46th Amendment
(d) 50th Amendment.
Answer: 
(b) 42nd Amendment

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. 
What is the meaning of the word Secular? 
Answer: 
According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s dictionary the meaning of the word Secular is “Worldly or material, not religious or spiritual.” Encyclopedia Britannica says ‘Secular’ means having no concern with religions or spritual matters, anything which is distinct, opposed to or not connected with religion or ecclesiastical things, temporal as opposed to spiritual or ecclesiastical.”

 

Question 2. 
Write two definitions of‘Secular State’.
Answer: 
1. According to Donald E. Smith, “The Secular State is a State which guarantees individual and corporate freedom of religion; deals with the individual as a citizen irrespective of his religion, nor does it seek either to promote or interfere with religion.”

2. According to Venkataraman, ‘The State as such is neither religious, nor anti-religious but wholly detached from religious dogmas and activities and is thus neutral in religion.”

Question 3. 
What is Secularism? 
Answer: 
The dictionary meaning of Secularism is “Indifference or rejection or exclusion of religion and religious considerations”. Secularism rejects religion completely. It rather supports anti-religious feelings. Secularism implies a way of life and conduct guided purely by materialistic considerations. It holds that materialism alone benefits mankind while religious feelings retard it. But in its modern meaning Secularism means freedom of religion and non-interference policy of State in religious activity.

Question 4. 
What is the meaning of Secularism in India?
Answer: 
In India, Secularism does not mean the indifference of the State towards religion, rather it means giving respect to all religions by the State. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar has said in the Constituent Assembly, “Secularism does not mean that we shall not take into consideration the religious sentiments of the people. All that what a Secular State means is that Parliament shall not be competent to impose any particular religion on the rest of the people.”

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. 
Mention four forces that threaten the growth of Secular State in India.
Answer: Following are the main forces and factors which threaten the growth of Secular State in India:

1. Communalism: Communalism is the main hindrance in the growth of Secularism. Communalism now pervades the country.
2. Misuse of religion by Political Parties: Political Parties and politicians misuse religion for their political end. In fact, the politicisation of religion is done in India.
3. Casteism: Many fundamentalists use caste as the basis of gaining majority in the elections
4. Lack of Toleration: Lack of toleration among the people is a big hindrance in the path of Secularism. Due to lack of tolerance, constructive criticism assumes the form of communal riots.

Question 2. 
Write down any four Secular provisions made in the Indian Constitution.
Answer: 
The Constitution of India establishes India as a Secular State.

1. By the 42nd Amendment, the word ‘Secularism’ is included in the Preamble of the Constitution.
2. In India, there is no state religion.
3. Under the Indian Constitution all religions are treated alike.
4. The State cannot make any discrimination on the basis of religion.

Question 3. 
Write down the criticism of Indian Secularism. 
Answer: 
Indian Secularism has been criticised on the following grounds:
1. Indian Secularism is not absolute: Under the Indian Constitution, Right to freedom of religion is given to every person. But the Right to freedom of religion is not absolute. Article 25 permits the State to regulate economic, financial or other secular activities which may be associated with religious practice.

2. Rights of Minorities: Under the Indian Constitution, minorities are given certain rights. In the name of minority rights, State can unjustly interfere in Hindu religious affairs.

3. Meaning of Secularism not clear: In India, the real meaning of Secularism is not clear. People with different ideas try to colour the picture of Secularism in India. They try to impose their particular conceptions in regard to these matters with disastrous effects on own young nationhood.

4. Continuance of religious observances in official functions: Ministers usually take oath with some rituals of their religion. Inauguration of ships, institutions, etc., is done through vedic hymns or mantras; Brahmins are called to perform rituals. When President Dr. Rajendra Prasad, a devoted Hindu took part in so many religious functions, it was difficult for an average Muslim to believe that the Indian State was Secular. 

 

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1. 
Write down characteristic y, values of Indian secularism.
Answer: 
India is a Secular State. By inserting the word ‘Secular’ in the Preamble of the Constitution by 42nd Amendment, India has become a Secular State. Following are the features of Indian Secular State:
1. No State Religion: There is no State religion in India, that means that no religion has been attached importance by the State. No religion has been given special rights and no religion has been given any special help by the State. The State does not propagate any religion in any way. The State policy cannot be based on any religion.

2. State remains aloof from Religion:
The State has no religion of its own and at the same time, it has kept aloof from all the religious activities. The State is neither religious, nor irreligious and nor anti¬religious. It means that the State itself does not take interest in any religion. It does not even interfere in the religious affairs of the people. The State neither preaches nor opposes any religion.

3. All Religions are equal:
All religions are equal in the eyes of the State. No State enjoys special rights. Nobody is discriminated on the basis of religion. The people of all religions enjoy equal rights. No religion is given priority in case of Government services and nobody is debarred from Government service on religious basis. States are not reserved in the legislature in favour of any religious community. All the religions are equal and are governed by the same law of the land.

4. Freedom of Religion:
The Constitution grants religious freedom to all the people. Every individual can keep faith in any religion. He follows his religious customs, traditions and other principles. Each individual can freely worship his religious gods. The Government cannot in any way interfere in the religious affairs of the people. Any individual can give up his religion and embrace any other religion. Every person is free to keep faith or not in any religion. Religion is the personal affair of an individual and he has been left free in this matter.

5. Equal Rights and opportunities for spreading Religion:
All the religions enjoy equal rights and opportunities for spreading their religious principles. Each person can impress upon the utility of his religion and for this can even open religious institutions. Since the Government is above religious matters, no religious propaganda can be made in Government schools and colleges. The Government cannot discriminate against any religious institutions.

6. No Religious Education in Government Educational Institutions:
Article 28 provides that no religious education shall be provided in any educational institution wholly or partly maintained by the State.

7. No Taxes for Promotion of any Religion:
Article 27 provides that no person shall be compelled to pay any tax for the promotion or maintenance of any particular religious denomination.

8. Religious Toleration:
eople have given religious freedom but at the same time it is expected that they will extend religious toleration. People can propagate their religious principle but while doing so they should not criticise any other religion or disrespect should not be shown to any religion. The followers of one religion should not interfere in the religious matters of others. On the basis of above-mentioned facts, it can be very safely said that India is a Secular State where people have been granted religious freedom.

Question 2. 
Study the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that follow:
What makes Indian secularism distinctive? For a start it arose in the context of deep religious diversity that predated the advent of Western modern ideas and nationalism. There was already a culture of inter¬religious ‘tolerance’ in India. However, we must not forget that tolerance is compatible with religious domination. It may allow some space to everyone but such freedom is usually limited. Besides, tolerance allows you to put up with people whom you find deeply repugnant. This is a great virtue if a society is recovering from a major civil war but not in times of peace where people are struggling for equal dignity and respect.

1. Is India a secular state?
2. Is there inter-religious tolerance in India?
3. In which Article Right to Religion is mentioned?

Answer: 

1. Yes, India is a secular state.
2. Yes, there is an Inter-religious tolerance in India.
3. Right to Religion is mentioned in Articles 25 to 28.

Question 3. 
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
The dictionary meaning of Secularism is “Indifference or rejection or exclusion of religion and religious considerations”, Secularism rejects religion completely. It rather supports anti-religious feelings. Secularism implies a way of life and conduct guided purely by materialistic consideration. It holds that materialism alone benefits mankind while religious feelings retard it.

But in its modern meaning, Secularism means freedom of religion and a non-interference policy of state in religious activity. In this way, Secularism in its modern meaning is not anti-religious. It is this policy of non-interference by the State which gives equal proteciton to all the religions. Secularism is a doctrine that opposes all forms of inter-religious domination. Secularism challenges not merely inter-religious but also intra-religious domination. India is a secular state.

3.1. What is the dictionary meaning of secularism?
(a) Indifference or rejection or exclusion of religion and religious considerations
(b) Support of religion by state
(c) Criticism of religion by state
(d) None of these 
Answer: 
(a) Indifference or rejection or exclusion of religion and religious considerations

3.2. What things secularism rejects?
(a) Right 
(b) Religion
(c) Equality 
(d) Liberty
Answer: 
(b) Religion

3.3. What is the modern meaning of secularism?
(а) Criticism of religion
(b) Oppose of religion
(c) Freedom of religion and a non-interference policy of state in religious activity
(d) None of these 
Answer: 
(c) Freedom of religion and a non-interference policy of state in religious activity

 

3.4. Which among the following is a secular state?
(a) India 
(6) Pakistan
(c) Bangladesh 
(d) Iraq
Answer: 
(a) India 

HOTS QUESTIONS 

Question 1. 
Mention two features of an Indian Secular State.
Answer: 

1. There is no State religion in India. No religion has been given special rights and no religion has been given any special help by the State.
2. The Constitution grants religious freedom to all the people. Every individual can have faith in any religion.

Question 2. 
Write four merits of Secularism.
Answer: 

1. Secularism is more democratic.
2. It is more scientific and based on rationalism.
3. It is based on a broader outlook.
4. Secularism is more human.

 Question 3. 
Mention main features of Western view of Secularism.
Answer: 

1. Complete separation of State and religions.
2. No State interferes in religious affairs.
3. No religious interference in the State affairs.
4. State cannot aid any religious institution.

Question 4. 
Give in brief the view of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru on Secularism.
Answer: 
Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru was a great supporter of Secularism. He laid the foundation of Indian Secularism. He emphasised on equal protection to all religions. Secularism does not mean irreligious or hostility to any religion. 

SELF-EVALUATION TEST

1. Is India a Secular State? 
2. Which amendment of the Constitution added the word ‘Secular’ in the Preamble? 
3. Write one characteristic of Secularism. 
4. Fill in the blank:
India is a ............ state. 
5. What is the meaning of the word Secular?
6. Write two definitions of‘Secular State’. 
7. What is Secularism? 
8. What is the meaning of Secularism in India?
9. Mention four forces that threaten the growth of Secular State in India. 
10. Write down any four Secular provisions made in the Indian Constitution. 
11. Write down the criticism of Indian Secularism.
12. Study the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that follow: 
What makes Indian secularism distinctive? For a start it arose in the context of deep religious diversity that predated the advent of Western modern ideas and nationalism. There was already a culture of inter-religious ‘tolerance’ in India. However, we must not forget that tolerance is compatible with religious domination. It may allow some space to everyone but such freedom is usually limited. Besides, tolerance allows you to put up with people whom you find deeply repugnant. This is a great virtue if a society is recovering from a major civil war but not in times of peace where people are struggling for equal dignity and respect.

• Is India a secular state?
• Is there inter-religious tolerance in India?
• In which Article Right to Religion is mentioned? 

13. Some of the key characteristics of Western and Indian model of Secularism have got mixed up. Separate them and make a new table. 

Western Secularism	Indian Secularism
Strict non-interference of religion and State in each others affairs.	State-supported religious reforms allowed.
Equality between different religious groups is a key concern.	Equality between different sects of religion is emphasized.
Attention to minority rights.	Less attention to community-based rights.
Individual and his rights at the centre.	The rights of both individual and religious communities protected.

14. Write down characteristic value of Indian 16. What do you understand by secularism? Can it Secularism. 6 be equated with religious tolerance? 
15. ‘Indian Secularism focuses on more than the