India is called a secular state because it does not have a state religion and guarantees all its citizens the freedom to profess, practice, and propagate the religion of their choice. The Indian Constitution ensures state neutrality in religious matters, providing equal respect and treatment to all religions without favoring any one of them. This commitment to secularism is enshrined in fundamental rights such as the freedom of religion and was explicitly stated in the Preamble to the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment Act.

Reasons for India being a secular state

• India is a diverse country with multiple religions like Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, and others, and secularism helps maintain harmony and unity among this heterogeneous population.
• The Constitution of India guarantees religious freedom through Articles 25 to 28, ensuring individuals' right to worship or not, and prohibiting discrimination based on religion.
• The state maintains neutrality, meaning it neither supports nor opposes any religion officially, and religious matters do not influence the functioning of the government.
• The Supreme Court of India affirmed secularism as a constitutional mandate, reinforcing that religion has no place in state matters and that discriminatory actions based on religion are unconstitutional.
• While the Indian model of secularism allows some state intervention in religious affairs to ensure equality (like administration of certain religious institutions), it fundamentally prohibits the state from having an official religion or favoring any religion financially with tax money.

Constitutional basis

• The word "Secular" was added to the Constitution’s Preamble in 1976 (42nd Amendment).
• Articles 25-28 guarantee religious freedoms, equality before law, and prohibit religious discrimination.
• The Directive Principles (Article 44) mention the goal of a uniform civil code, reflecting an intent to uphold secular laws across communities.

This distinctive Indian version of secularism balances religious freedom with the need for state neutrality and social harmony in a religiously plural society, making India a secular state.