UPSC Mains 2019 GS2 Q5 — Comparison of Constitutions

• The conceptual difference between Laïcité (negative secularism) and the Indian Sarva Dharma Sambhava (positive secularism).
• The inherent friction in the French model regarding public display of religious symbols and identity.
• Specific Indian constitutional mechanisms (Articles 25-28) that allow for state intervention in religious practices for social reform.
• The utility of the Indian 'principled distance' model in managing multiculturalism and minority rights in a modern diverse state.

• Treating it as a general comparison rather than focusing on what France specifically can 'learn' from India.
• Failing to mention the specific French context of 'Laïcité' and the 1905 law, making the answer too abstract.
• Neglecting the challenges of the Indian model (communalism) while only praising its theory.
• Spending too many words on the history of the Indian Constitution instead of its contemporary applicability to French social unrest.

Dedicate 30 words to defining the two models of secularism. Allocate 80 words to the core lessons (principled distance, protection of religious identity, and state-led reform). Use the final 40 words to conclude on how the Indian model fosters inclusive citizenship in a globalized world.