Secularism refers to the separation of religion from the State. The Indian Constitution mandates that the Indian State be secular, and only a secular State can realize its objectives to ensure that one religious community does not dominate another, that some members do not dominate other members of the same religious community, and that the State does not enforce any particular religion nor take away the religious freedom of individuals. Indian secularism differs from secularism in other western countries such as the United States of America, where religion and the State are strictly separated. In Indian secularism, the State can intervene in religious affairs. The importance of separating religion from the State in democratic societies is that it helps a country to function democratically, protects people from any type of religious violence, and protects the freedom of individuals to exit from their religion and embrace another religion. India is a country filled with a diverse range of religious views, and as a democracy, secularism becomes a vital feature for the country and its residents.