---
title: "Secularism as Basic Structure: Indian Doctrine"
description: "Secularism as basic structure ensures India's state neutrality towards all religions is unamendable, crucial for UPSC candidates and constitutional law studies."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/secularism-as-basic-structure"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Secularism as basic structure is the Indian constitutional doctrine that holds the state's equidistance from all religions to be an unamendable feature of the Constitution.
- Is the word 'secular' part of the original Constitution of India?
- Which case established secularism as a basic feature of the Constitution?
- How does Indian secularism differ from the French or American model?
- Can Parliament amend the Constitution to remove its secular character?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

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Example

In S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994), a nine-judge Supreme Court bench upheld the dismissal of three state governments following the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition, ruling that secularism is an unamendable basic feature of the Constitution.

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