Features of Indian Secularism:
Equal Respect for All Religions:
The State maintains a principled distance from all religions and ensures equal treatment.
Article 25-28 guarantee freedom of religion.
Positive Intervention by the State:
The State can intervene to reform religious practices, e.g., abolishing untouchability or regulating temple entry.
No Official Religion:
India has no state religion. The government does not favor any one faith.
Freedom of Religion:
Citizens have the right to profess, practice, and propagate religion, subject to public order, morality, and health.
Religious Pluralism:
The Indian model accommodates diversity, recognizing and protecting minority rights.
Legal Pluralism:
India allows for personal laws based on religion (e.g., Hindu, Muslim, Christian personal laws), which is unlike the uniform civil law model in Western countries.

Indian secularism is uniquely defined by its commitment to maintaining a principled distance from all religions while ensuring equal respect and treatment for every faith. Unlike Western secularism, which typically follows a strict separation of church and state (e.g., in France or the U.S.), Indian secularism allows the state to intervene in religious affairs when necessary to uphold social justice, equality, and reform—such as abolishing untouchability or regulating religious institutions.

It is based on the ideals of pluralism, tolerance, and non-discrimination, recognizing India's multi-religious society. The state neither promotes nor opposes any religion, and citizens are guaranteed freedom of religion under Articles 25 to 28 of the Constitution. In contrast, Western secularism often implies the exclusion of religion from public life, whereas Indian secularism embraces religious diversity while ensuring that religious practices do not override constitutional values. This makes Indian secularism more inclusive and flexible, aimed at harmonizing rather than isolating religion from the state.