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Communalism, Regionalism & Secularism

GS-I: Society, History & Geography

Useful for: UPSC Civil Services

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Overview

Communalism and regionalism challenge national unity; Indian secularism seeks equal respect and principled distance between State and religions.

Key points

Colonial policies such as separate electorates (1909) deepened communal divisions.
Communalism uses religion for political mobilisation and can lead to violence.
Regionalism can express legitimate aspirations (development, language) or become divisive ("sons of the soil").
Indian secularism is described as "principled distance" (Rajeev Bhargava) rather than strict separation.
"Secular" was added to the Preamble by the 42nd Amendment (1976); S. R. Bommai (1994) held secularism to be a basic feature.
Creation of new states has often responded to regional aspirations.

Practice MCQs

From the perspective of definition and scope, which one of the following statements about Communalism, Regionalism & Secularism is correct?
1. Communalism, Regionalism & Secularism is unrelated to institutions, processes or real-world applications.
2. Communalism, Regionalism & Secularism has no exceptions or limitations in exam analysis.
3. Communalism politicises religious identity and should be distinguished from religion or ordinary cultural affiliation.
4. Every expression of regional identity is necessarily anti-national.
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Answer: (c) Communalism politicises religious identity and should be distinguished from religion or ordinary cultural affiliation.. Communalism politicises religious identity and should be distinguished from religion or ordinary cultural affiliation.
Consider the following statements on Communalism, Regionalism & Secularism, focusing on definition and scope: 1. Communalism politicises religious identity and should be distinguished from religion or ordinary cultural affiliation. 2. Answers should connect social tensions with institutions, representation, development, media and rule of law without monocausal claims. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
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Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2. Both statements are correct.

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