At a college seminar on identity and the nation, Meera notes that a call for national unity runs through Indian state policy from one decade to the next. She wonders which of the two textbook models of how nation-states treat community identities India actually follows. Arjun suggests they first check how the Constitution treats religion and language in public life. Their teacher adds that they should also look at what comparative surveys of long-standing democracies have found about India, a country of many religions, languages and regions.
What have the comparative surveys the teacher refers to shown about India?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → It has been very cohesive, despite its cultural diversity
Option (1) It has been less cohesive than wealthier democracies, owing to its diversity — Incorrect. The surveys found the reverse. India's record on identification, trust and support is particularly impressive when compared with other long-standing and wealthier democracies.
Option (2) It has been cohesive mainly in States formed around one language — Incorrect. The surveys speak of India as a whole, a country of many languages and regions. Its cohesion holds across all of them and rests on a constitutional design that responded to distinct group claims.
Option (3) It has been very cohesive, despite its cultural diversity — Correct. Comparative surveys of long-standing democracies show that India has been very cohesive despite its cultural diversity. Its citizens are deeply committed to the country and to democracy.
Option (4) It has become cohesive by keeping religion and language out of public life — Incorrect. India does not keep religion and language out of public life. Its constitutional design recognised distinct group claims, and this helped the country hold together despite its diversity.
NCERT (2026-27): “Cultural Diversity and India as a Nation-state … “… As evident from India’s performance on indicators of identification, trust and support, its citizens are deeply committed to the country and to democracy, despite the country’s diverse and highly stratified society. This performance is particularly impressive when compared with that of other long-standing—and wealthier— democracies. …” |