Which of the following is NOT correct?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 2

The correct answer is Option (2) → In Indian Context, Secularism goes hand in hand with Communalism

Option (1) There is separation of religious and political authority in Western Secularism — True. In the western context the main sense of secularism is the separation of church and state; the separation of religious and political authority was a turning point in the social history of the west.

Option (2) In Indian Context, Secularism goes hand in hand with Communalism — False. In everyday Indian usage, secular is the opposite of communal. Communalism is aggressive chauvinism based on religious identity, while a secular person or state does not favour any religion, so the two cannot go hand in hand.

Option (3) Secular Indian state respect all religion — True. In the state-religion relationship, Indian secularism implies equal respect for all religions; the state declares public holidays for the festivals of all religions.

Option (4) A Secular state does not favour any religion — True. A secular person or state is one that does not favour any particular religion over others.

NCERT (2025-26): “Secularism … Secularism is among the most complex terms in social and political theory. In the western context the main sense of these terms has to do with the separation of church and state. The separation of religious and political authority marked a major turning point in the social history of the west.…”

“The Indian meanings of secular and secularism include the western sense but also involve others. The most common use of secular in everyday language is as the opposite of communal. So, a secular person or state is one that does not favour any particular religion over others. Secularism in this sense is the opposite of religious chauvinism and it need not necessarily imply hostility to religion as such. In terms of the state-religion relationship, this sense of secularism implies equal respect for all religions, rather than separation or distancing. For example, the secular Indian state declares public holidays to mark the festivals of all religions.…”