The Evolving Idea of India: From Pluralism to Religious Majoritarianism

This article examines the shift in India's political landscape under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from pluralism to religious majoritarianism. Since the BJP's rise to power in 2014, India has witnessed a transformation in its national identity, moving away from the secular, inclusive vision of its founders toward a Hindu-centric narrative driven by the ideology of Hindutva. The paper articulates challenges to India’s democracy through analysing key policies, such as the revocation of Article 370, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and the construction of the Ram Mandir, which reflect the BJP's agenda to marginalize religious minorities, particularly Muslims. The research argues that these developments indicate a shift towards religious majoritarianism, undermining India's pluralistic values and constitutional ideals. Although, the country continues to uphold its democratic structure.