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ii. Members of the same caste group were supposed to form a social community that
practiced the same or similar occupation, married within the caste group and did not eat
with members from other caste groups.
iii. Caste system was based on exclusion of and discrimination against the ‘outcaste’ groups.

10. Why was a model of ‘secular state’ chosen for India? What Constitutional Provisions
make India a secular state? 5

Ans. There were many religions and religious groups in India. Communalism was and
continues to be one of the major challenges to democracy in our country. The makers of
our Constitution were aware of this challenge. So they chose the model of ‘secular state’ to
ensure peaceful co-existence.

A state that has no official religion and grants equal status to all religions is called a
secular state.
Constitutional provisions to make India a secular state are.
(i) No official or State Religion.
(ii) Freedom of religion is a fundamental right.- every person has to profess, practice and
propagate the religion, he or she believes in.
(iii) The Constitution prohibits discrimination on religious ground.
(iv)The Constitution allows the state to intervene in the matters of religion in order to
ensure equality within religious communities.
For example, it bans untouchability.
(v) There shall be no religious instruction in the government educational institutions.