South Central Secularism, Religion and the Indian State in 2025 | South Central 53
Dec 5, 2025
The discussion navigates India's secularism and the gap between Constitutional values and political realities. Guests highlight the impact of post-2015 laws on minority rights and critique media practices that have normalized majoritarian narratives. There’s an exploration of the role of women's agency in policy rhetoric and how Christians face unique challenges. Plus, the panel weighs in on youth political engagement in the age of information overload and projects potential trends heading into 2026.
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Legal Tools Shape Majoritarian Power
- The BJP has systematically used law and policy since 2015 to constrict minority rights and social space.
- This trend continued in 2025 with new state laws targeting marriage, food, and religious practice.
Institutions Mirror Religious Rebranding
- The PMO's religio-cultural rebranding signals governance framed as devotion rather than constitutional duty.
- Institutions increasingly genuflect to Hindutva cues, eroding formal neutrality.
Ecosystem That Normalizes Majoritarianism
- Media, education and digital platforms together produce a commonsensical majoritarian narrative.
- That ecosystem normalizes exclusionary signals and weakens pluralist anchors.
