In recent decades, secularism has faced challenges, including communal violence, judicial disputes like the Shah Bano case and Sabarimala verdict, and the rise of identity-based politics, with debates around the Uniform Civil Code highlighting ongoing tensions. Despite these challenges, secularism remains a fundamental pillar of India’s democratic identity. Additionally, balancing the freedom of religion with…
“Secularism does not mean that we are against religion. It means that we are against any religion being the basis for our politics.” – Jawaharlal Nehru Secularism is a socio-political principle that advocates the separation of religion from the affairs of the state and ensures that individuals have the freedom to practice their faith without…
“India’s unity lies not in uniformity but in its diversity; regionalism must be an instrument of growth, not a wedge of division.” – Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Regionalism is a socio-political phenomenon wherein individuals and communities prioritize their regional identity over national identity. It stems from a sense of belonging to a specific geographical, cultural…
“A nation divided by religion or community can never reach its full potential. Communalism is the greatest barrier to national progress’’ – Subhas…
Poverty in India has deep historical roots, influenced by colonial policies, post-independence economic strategies, and social inequalities. Historical Analysis of Poverty in India The history of poverty in India can be categorized into three key periods: Colonial Era (1757–1947): British colonial rule significantly contributed to India’s widespread poverty through the following key factors – Post-Independence…
Poverty and human development are deeply interconnected, with poverty often being a major barrier to human development. Human development refers to the process of improving the well-being of individuals, with a focus on enhancing their capabilities, education, healthcare and quality of life. How Poverty Affects Human Development? Developmental Issues Related to Poverty Developmental issues related…
“Poverty is the condition where an individual or group lacks the basic resources and income to meet their essential needs for a minimum standard of living.” Poverty is a global challenge affecting billions of people. It is manifested as deprivation of basic needs such as food, clean water, shelter, education and healthcare which deprives a…
A sexual minority is a group whose sexual identity, orientation or practices differ from the majority of the surrounding society. Primarily used to refer to lesbian, gay, bisexual, or non-heterosexual individuals, it can also refer to transgender, non-binary (including third gender) or intersex individuals. LGBTQIA+ Community The term LGBT stands for Lesbian, Gay, bisexual, and Transgender….
According to Census 2011, approximately 2.21% of India’s population—around 2.68 crore people—live with some form of disability. These include impairments related to seeing, hearing, speech, movement, mental illness, and multiple disabilities. Definition of a Person with Disability (PwD) Animpairment is a problem in body function or structure; An activity limitation is a difficulty encountered by an individual in…
Tribes constitute about 8% of India’s population and are often located in remote, forested, or hilly areas, largely remaining outside the mainstream socio-economic framework. Colonization, industrialization, and mainstream development have marginalised them. Recognizing that modern India has deep tribal roots calls for respect, protection, and empowerment of these communities in the national framework. To address…