Questions with Answers

Evaluation 

I Choose the correct answer

1. 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 belong-ing any religion

d. None of these

[Answer: c) An attitude of tolerance and peaceful co-existence on the part of citizen belonging any religion]

2. India is a land of _______

a. multi - religious faith

b. multi - cultural beliefs

c. Both (1) & (2)

d. None of these

[Answer: c) Both (a) & (b) ]

3. The Preamble of the Constitution was amended in__________.

a. 1951

 b. 1976

c. 1974

d. 1967

[Answer: b) 1976]

4. 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

[Answer: d) Preamble of the Constitution]

5. Right to freedom of religion is related to

a. Judiciary

b. Parliament

c. Directive principles of State Policy

d. Fundamental rights

[Answer: d) Fundamental rights]

6. 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

[Answer: a) Religious instruction]

7. 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.

[Answer: c) does not give importance to a particular religion]

II Fill in the blanks

1. Religion does not teach us animosity.

2. Secularism is a part of democracy which grants equal rights to people.

3. Atheism is a lack of belief in god and gods.

4. The basic aim of our constitution is to promote unity and integrity of the nation.

5. Article 15 prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion, caste, sex or place of birth.

III Match the following

1. Atheism - coined the word secularism

2. Children - social reformer

3. Din-i-Illahi - lack of belief in god

4. Constitution - future citizen

5. Holyoake - Divine faith

6. Rajaram Mohan Roy – 1950

Answer:

1. Atheism — lack of belief in god

2. Children — future citizen

3. Din-i-Illahi — Divine faith

4. Constitution — 1950

5. Holyoake — coined the word secularism

6. Rajaram Mohan Roy — social reformer

IV State true or false

1. There is state religion in India [Answer: False]

Correct statement: There is no state religion in India

2. The term secularism has been derived from the Greek word. [Answer: False]

Correct statement: The term secularism is derived from the Latin word

3. The Mughal emperor Akbar followed the policy of religious toleration. [Answer: True]

4. Jainism originated in China. [Answer: False]

Correct statement: Jainism originated in ancient India

5. Government of India declares holidays for all religious festivals. [Answer: True]

V  Consider the following statements and tick (✓) the appropriate answer

1. 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

[Answer: (d) i, ii & iv only]

2. 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.

[Answer: b) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.]

3. 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.

[Answer: a) A is correct and R is the correct explanation of A.]

4. Find out the wrong pair.

a. Din-i-Illahi - A book

b. Khajuraho - Hindu temple

c. Ashoka - Rock Edict

d. Iqbal – Poet

[Answer: a) Din-i-Illahi - A book]

VI Answer the following in one or two sentences

1. Name some of the Indians who contributed to spread of secularism.

Answer:

(i) Rajaram Mohan Roy

(ii) Sir Syed Ahmad Khan

(iii) Rabindranath Tagore

(iv) Mahatma Gandhi and

 (v) B.R. Ambedkar

2. What does secularism mean?

Answer:

(i) Secularism means an attitude of tolerance towards other religions and peaceful co-existence of citizens belonging to different faiths.

(ii) It is a policy of neutrality and equality by the states towards all religious communities

3. State the objectives of secularism.

Objectives of Secularism:

(i) One religious group does not dominate another.

(ii) Some members don’t dominate other members of the same religious community.

(iii) The state does not enforce any specific religion nor take away the religious freedom of individuals.

4. Why is it important to separate religion from the state?

Answer: It is important to separate religion from state because, a secular state is one in which the state does not officially promote any one religion as state religion.

5. What are the characteristic features of a secular state?

Answer:

(i) Principle of Liberty: The state permits the practice of any religion

(ii) Principle of Equality: The state does not give preference to any religion over another.

(iii) Principle of Neutrality: The state remains neutral in religious matter.

6. Mention any three Constitutional provisions related to secularism.

Answer:

(i) Article 15: Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, caste, sex, or place of birth etc.

(ii) Article 16: Equality of opportunity in public employment.

(iii ) Article 29(2) : A ban on discrimination in state-aided educational institution.

VII Answer the following in detail

1. Why we need secular education?

(i) To remove narrow mindedness and makes dynamic and enlightened view.

(ii) To develop moral and humanistic outlook.

(iii) To train the youth to be good citizen.

(iv) To strengthen democratic values like liberty, equality and fraternity and co-operative living.

(v) To give wider vision towards life.

(vi) To develop an attitude of appreciation and understanding of others point of view.

(vii) To develop the spirit of love, tolerance, co-operation, equality and sympathy.

(viii) To synthesis materialism and spiritualism.

2. Secularism is necessary for a country like India. Justify.

Answer:

India is a secular country because :

(i) The word secular has been included into the preamble to the constitution (through 42nd Amendment) .

(ii) It has no state religion.

(iii) It remains neutral in religious matters.

(iv) Freedom to religion is offered to all citizens.

(v) There is no discrimination on the basis of religion.

VIII Hots

1. Will the Government intervene if some religious group says that their religion allows them to practice human sacrifice?

Answer: The government will definitely intervene if some religious group says that their religion allows them to practice in infanticide, Ample reason can be given in support of the answer. No religion teaches us to kill any living being, kindness is the root of all religions. Even the law of our country also declares that killing a human being is illegal. It is also against human rights.

IX Project and Activity

1. Look at the holidays of your school calendar. How many of them pertain to different religions? List them based on religions. What does it indicate?

2. How can you develop religious tolerance?