Understanding Secularism
1.The term 'secularism' is derived from which Latin word?
a) Sacerdos
b) Saeculum
c) Scriptura
d) Sanctus
Answer: b) Saeculum
2.Who coined the term 'secularism'?
a) Thomas Hobbes
b) John Locke
c) George Jacob Holyoake
d) Karl Marx
Answer: c) George Jacob Holyoake
3.George Jacob Holyoake was a:
a) Philosopher
b) Newspaper editor
c) Politician
d) Scientist
Answer: b) Newspaper editor
4.The Latin word 'saeculum' means:
a) Holy
b) Eternity
c) An age or the spirit of an age
d) Divine
Answer: c) An age or the spirit of an age
5.Emperor Ashoka ruled the Mauryan Empire during the:
A. 1st century BCE
B. 2nd century BCE
C. 3rd century BCE
D. 4th century BCE
Answer: C. 3rd century BCE
6.Which of Ashoka's Rock Edicts appeals for tolerance and respect towards all religious sects?
a) 10th Rock Edict
b) 11th Rock Edict
c) 12th Rock Edict
d) 13th Rock Edict
Answer: c) 12th Rock Edict
7.Who was the first emperor to declare no prosecution of religious sects?
a) Chandragupta Maurya
b) Akbar
c) Ashoka
d) Alexander
Answer: c) Ashoka
8.Which Mughal emperor is known for his policy of religious toleration?
a) Shah Jahan
b) Aurangzeb
c) Akbar
d) Babur
Answer: c) Akbar
9.What was the name of the faith propagated by Akbar that aimed at religious harmony?
a) Islam
b) Din-i-Illahi
c) Hinduism
d) Christianity
Answer: b) Din-i-Illahi
10.What does Sulh-e-Kul mean?
a) Divine Faith
b) Peace and harmony among religions
c) The Great Unity
d) The Eternal Law
Answer: b) Peace and harmony among religions
11.When was 'secular' added to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution?
a) 1950
b) 1965
c) 1976
d) 1982
Answer: c) 1976
12.Which amendment added 'secular' to the Preamble?
a) 40th
b) 41st
c) 42nd
d) 43rd
Answer: c) 42nd
13.In which year was the Indian Constitution adopted?
a) 1947
b) 1950
c) 1952
d) 1960
Answer: b) 1950
14.In which year did the Supreme Court make the ruling in Ratilal Panchand v. State of Bombay?
a) 1950
b) 1952
c) 1954
d) 1956
Answer: c) 1954
15.The Preamble of the Constitution was amended in …………..
(a) 1951
(b) 1976
(c) 1974
(d) 1967
Answer: (b) 1976
16.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
17.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
18.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
19.Religion does not teach us:
a) Unity
b) Equality
c) Animosity
d) Compassion
Answer: c) Animosity
20.Secularism is a part of democracy which grants:
a) Power to the majority
b) Special privileges to certain religions
c) Equal rights to people
d) Limited freedom of speech
Answer: c) Equal rights to people
21._____________ is a lack of belief in god and gods.
a) Theism
b) Atheism
c) Agnosticism
d) Polytheism
Answer: b) Atheism
22.The basic aim of our constitution is to promote and:
a) Economic growth
b) Military strength
c) Unity and integrity of the nation
d) Cultural heritage
Answer: c) Unity and integrity of the nation
23.Article 15 prohibits _____________ on the grounds of religion, caste, sex, or place of birth.
a) Equality
b) Discrimination
c) Justice
d) Freedom
Answer: b) Discrimination
24.…………….. is a land of multi-religious faith.
(a) Japan
(b) China
(c) India
(d) England
Answer:(c) India
25.…………….. of religion is related to fundamental rights.
(a) Right to freedom
(b) Right to equality
(c) Right to liberty
(d) Right to ideology
Answer:(a) Right to freedom
26.Secularism is ……………. in India.
(a) Valuable
(b) Invaluable
(c) Both ‘a’ and ‘b’
(d) None of these
Answer:(b) Invaluable
27.The Mughal emperor ……………. followed the policy of religious toleration.
(a) Babar
(b) Shah Alam
(c) Akbar
(d) Shahjahan
Answer:(c) Akbar
28.The term secularism has been driven from the ……………. word.
(a) Greek
(b) British
(c) Tamil
(d) Latin
Answer:(d) Latin
29.The word ‘speculum’ meaning ……………..
(a) ‘an age’
(b) the spirit of an age
(c) both ‘a’ and ‘b’
(d) none of these
Answer:(c) both ‘a’ and ‘b’
30.……………. is the principle of separation-of state and religion.
(a) Secularism
(b) Socialism
(c) Liberalisation
(d) All of these
Answer:(a) Secularism
31.Atheism – lack of belief in god
32.Children – future citizen
33.Din-i-Illahi – Divine faith
34.Constitution – 1950
35.Holvoake – coined the word .secularism
36.Raiaram Mohan Rov – social reformer
