Nation-state is closely related with which of the following?

Nationalism

The correct answer is Option 3: Nationalism.

Option 1: Colonialism — Incorrect. Colonialism refers to the control and rule of one country over another. Although colonialism influenced the spread of modern political ideas, it is not the principle most closely associated with the nation-state.

Option 2: Capitalism — Incorrect. Capitalism is an economic system based on private ownership and profit. The rise of capitalism was associated with the emergence of nation-states, but the concept of nation-state is more directly linked with nationalism.

Option 3: Nationalism — Correct. Nation-states are closely associated with nationalism because nationalism is based on the idea that a group of people sharing a common identity have the right to govern themselves and exercise sovereign power.

Option 4: Secularism — Incorrect. Secularism refers to the separation of religion from the state and equal treatment of different religions. It is not directly related to the formation of nation-states.

NCERT: Nation states are closely associated with the rise of nationalism. The principle of nationalism assumes that any set of people have a right to be free and exercise sovereign power. It is an important part of the rise of democratic ideas.