Distinguish between religiousness/religiosity and communalism giving one example of how the former has got transformed into the latter in independent India.

Theme

T62 Communalism, sect & radicalisation

What UPSC asks in this theme

Questions ask about causes of communalism (power struggle, relative deprivation), religiosity turning into communalism, sect's salience, post-liberal identity politics, and radicalism from the neighbourhood.

What to cover

• Causes of communalism
• Religiosity vs communalism
• Sect vs caste and religion
• Radicalisation and its internal security link

Writing the answer

• Use examples carefully and neutrally

These notes are for the whole theme, built from all 5 of its PYQs. UPSC does not publish model answers.