Are tolerance, assimilation and pluralism the key elements in the making of an Indian form of secularism? Justify your answer.

Theme

T61 Secularism: Indian vs Western models

What UPSC asks in this theme

Cross-paper: GS1 asks how Indian secularism differs from Western models; GS2 compares with the US and France. Prepare one comparative frame for both.

What to cover

• Indian secularism: principled distance, equal respect, state intervention in religion
• Western/US: wall of separation; France: laïcité
• Debates: tolerance, assimilation, pluralism

Writing the answer

• A comparison table (India vs US vs France) answers both papers

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