Which one among the following is NOT a character of a secular State?

A secular state is defined by its refusal of theocracy [2] and the separation of religion from state power [3]. In the Indian context, secularism involves a 'principled distance' where the state maintains neutrality but intervenes to promote religious harmony and prevent conflict [2]. While secularism is often considered essential for a country to function democratically [3], the reverse—that a state must be democratic to be secular—is not a defining characteristic of secularism itself. Historically and theoretically, secularism refers to the relationship between religion and the state, not the specific form of government. For instance, non-democratic or authoritarian regimes can also be secular if they strictly separate religion from governance and refuse theocratic rule. Therefore, democracy is a separate political value that often complements secularism but is not a prerequisite for a state to be classified as secular [3].

Sources

1. [1] Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 10: THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE CONSTITUTION > Secularism > p. 229
2. [2] https://ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/keps108.pdf
3. [3] https://ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/hess302.pdf