Prelims · 6 Indian Society · 6.6 Religion and secularism

6.6.4 Religion and the State in practice: essential practices doctrine, conversion laws, Places of Worship Act and Sabarimala

Courts decide how far the State may regulate religion by asking whether a practice is "essential" to the faith; the same tension runs through temple-entry cases like Sabarimala, State anti-conversion laws, the freeze on places of worship as of 15 August 1947 and the 2025 overhaul of waqf law.

  • APPSC Group 2 · Prelims
  • Standard level
  • 12 min read
  • Full course

Key terms

  • essential religious practices
  • Shirur Mutt
  • Durgah Committee Ajmer
  • Sabarimala
  • Indian Young Lawyers Association
  • Indu Malhotra
  • Kantaru Rajeevaru
  • hijab
  • Aishat Shifa
  • Haji Ali
  • conversion laws
  • Orissa Freedom of Religion Act 1967
  • Rev. Stainislaus
  • Places of Worship Act 1991
  • 15 August 1947
  • Waqf Amendment Act 2025
  • UMEED
  • Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950
  • Balakrishnan Commission
  • AP Endowments Act 1987
  • Pannalal Bansilal Pitti

What this note covers

  1. Core factsFoundation
  2. ExplainedStandard
  3. DeeperAdvanced
  4. AP angleStandard
  5. Mains writingMains writing
  6. Common trapsFoundation
  7. Quick revisionFoundation

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