If you are looking for TN Board Class 8 Civics Unit 3 Understanding Secularism, then you are at the right place.
Choose the correct answer
Secularism means
- a) State is against to all religions
- b) State accepts only one religion
- c) An attitude of tolerance and peaceful co-existence on the part of citizen belonging any religion
- d) None of these
India is a land of _______
- a) Multi – religious faith
- b) Multi – cultural beliefs
- c) Both (1) & (2)
- d) None of these
The Preamble of the Constitution was amended in__________.
- a) 1951
- b) 1976
- c) 1974
- d) 1967
Which one of the following describes India as a secular state?
- a) Fundamental Rights
- b) Fundamental Duty
- c) Directive Principles of State Policy
- d) Preamble of the Constitution
Right to freedom of religion is related to
- a) Judiciary
- b) Parliament
- c) Directive principles of State Policy
- d) Fundamental rights
According to Article 28, which type of education is restricted in state aided educational institutions?
- a) Religious instruction
- b) Moral education
- c) Physical education
- d) None above these
The country will be considered as a secular country, if it _______
- a) Gives importance to a particular religion
- b) Bans religious instructions in the state – aided educational institutions.
- c) Does not give importance to a particular religion
- d) Bans the propagation of any religious belief.
II Fill in the blanks
- Religion does not teach us ___________.[animosity]
- Secularism is a part of democracy which grants _________________.[equal rights]
- _____________ is a lack of belief in god and gods.[Atheism ]
- The basic aim of our constitution is to promote _______and ______.[unity and integrity]
- Article 15 prohibits _____________on the grounds of religion, caste, sex or place of birth.[discrimination ]
III Match the following
- Atheism – Coined the word secularism
- Children – Social reformer
- Din-i-Illahi – Lack of belief in god
- Constitution – Future citizen
- Holyoake – Divine faith
- Rajaram Mohan Roy – 1950
ans
- Atheism – Lack of belief in god
- Children – Future citizen
- Din-i-Illahi – Divine faith
- Constitution – 1950
- Holyoake – Coined the word secularism
- Rajaram Mohan Roy – Social reformer
IV State true or false
- There is state religion in India [ False]
- The term secularism has been derived from the Greek word.[False]
- The Mughal emperor Akbar followed the policy of religious toleration.[True]
- Jainism originated in China.[false]
- Government of India declares holidays for all religious festivals.[False]
V Consider the following statements and tick (✓) the appropriate answer
i) Secularism is invaluable for a society like India which is characterized by religious diversity.
ii) The word secularism was not mentioned in the Constitution when it was adopted in 1950.
iii) Article 26 deals with payment of taxes for the promotion of any particular religion.
iv) Akbar’s tomb situated at Sikandara near Agra.
- a) i, ii only
- b) ii, iii only
- c) iv only
- d) i, ii and iv only
Ans – d) i, ii and iv only
Assertion (A): A foreigner can practice his own religious faith in India.
Reason (R): The freedom of religion is guaranteed by the constitution not only for Indians but also for the aliens also.
- a) A is true but R is false.
- b) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
- c) A is false but R is true.
- d) Both A and R are true. R is not the correct explanation of A.
ans – b) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
Assertion (A): Secularism is invaluable in India.
Reason (R): India is a multi- religious and multi- cultural country.
- a) A is correct and R is the correct explanation of A.
- b) A is correct and R is not the correct explanation of A.
- c) A is wrong and R is correct.
- d) Both are wrong.
ans- a) A is correct and R is the correct explanation of A.
Find out the wrong pair.
- a) Din-i-Illahi – A book
- b) Khajuraho – Hindu temple
- c) Ashoka – Rock Edict
- d) Iqbal – Poet
Ans-
a) Din-i-Illahi – A book
VI Answer the following in one or two sentences
- Name some of the Indians who contributed to spread of secularism.
Indians who contributed to the spread of secularism include Rajaram Mohan Roy, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, and B.R. Ambedkar.
- What does secularism mean?
Secularism means an attitude of tolerance towards other religions and the peaceful co-existence of citizens belonging to different faiths.
- State the objectives of secularism.
The objectives of secularism include ensuring that one religious group does not dominate another, preventing members from dominating others within the same religious community, and safeguarding against the enforcement of a specific religion by the state or infringement on individual religious freedoms.
- Why is it important to separate religion from the state?
It ensures equal treatment of all religious communities, prevents discrimination, and promotes harmony and peace in a diverse society.
- What are the characteristic features of a secular state?
The characteristic features of a secular state are:
- Liberty: The state permits the practice of any religion.
- Equality: The state does not give preference to any religion over another.
- Neutrality: The state remains neutral in religious matters.
- Equal Rights: Every citizen has the right to freedom of conscience and the right to profess, practice, and propagate any faith.
- Non-Discrimination: The state does not discriminate against any person based on their religious beliefs.
- No Official Religion: The state does not officially promote any one religion as the country’s official religion.
- Mention any three Constitutional provisions related to secularism.
Three Constitutional provisions related to secularism are
- Article 15 (prohibition of discrimination based on religion, caste, etc.),
- Article 25(1) (guaranteeing the freedom of conscience and the right to practice religion), and
- Article 28 (restriction on religious instruction in state-aided educational institutions).
