BharatNotes Pluralism
noun (uncountable)Usage in a UPSC answer
The Supreme Court's nine-judge bench ruling in S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994) explicitly embedded pluralism as a feature of the Constitution's basic structure, holding that secularism and federalism together protect India's multicultural and multi-religious social fabric from majoritarian subversion.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
plural (adjective/noun), pluralist (noun/adjective), pluralistic (adjective), pluralistically (adverb), plurality (noun)
Root
Latin pluralis = relating to more than one (plus/pluris = more); -ism = doctrine/system
Etymology
From Latin pluralis, through English plural. The philosophical term pluralism was introduced in European metaphysics in the 18th century (contrasted with monism and dualism). Its political sense — legitimacy of diverse groups competing for power — was elaborated by American political scientist Robert Dahl (polyarchy theory, 1956) and is central to liberal democratic theory. In Indian constitutional discourse, Nehru and Ambedkar championed a pluralist vision against monolithic nation-state models.
Memory Hook
PLUR-alism: from plus (more). Pluralism = the doctrine of more — more cultures, more voices, more power centres. Think of a plural noun: more than one entity with equal grammatical standing. Pluralism gives every group equal civic standing.
Seen in UPSC Question Papers
- Mains 2022 · GS1 · 15 marks — Indian Society
- Mains 2020 · GS1 · 15 marks — Indian Society
Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Pluralism” — proof this word earns its place on your list.
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