In which situation will the religious neutrality of the state be questioned?

State promotes one religion and suppresses another

Direct answer: B is correct. Religious neutrality means that the state does not unfairly favour one religion or use state power to suppress another. It should protect the freedom of people with different beliefs while applying law fairly. If the state promotes one religion and suppresses another, its conduct becomes unequal and its secular or neutral character is questioned. Option B describes exactly this problem. Option A supports neutrality because equal protection treats different religious communities fairly. Option C concerns private citizens practising their faith; that alone does not show state bias. Option D describes a court protecting religious freedom, which supports constitutional neutrality rather than undermining it. The important distinction is between citizens’ religious practice and the state’s official conduct. A secular state does not require people to abandon religion; it must avoid religious discrimination in governance. Memory cue: neutrality means equal respect by the state, not state preference for one faith.

This is a Class 9 Civics question. Chapter: Democratic Rights. Topic: Right to Freedom of Religion.