Vocabulary Builder — Essay & Answer Writing
Sedition
noun
/ si-DISH-un /
Medium
Meaning
Conduct or speech that incites rebellion, discontent, or resistance against the authority of a lawfully constituted government
Origin / Etymology
Latin seditio — from sed- (apart) + itio (a going); literally 'a going apart', implying division and revolt; used in Roman law to describe acts against the state
Synonyms
Incitement
Subversion
Insurrection
Mutiny
Treachery
Antonyms
Loyalty
Allegiance
Compliance
Patriotism
Example Sentence
"The Supreme Court of India, in its 2022 judgment in S.G. Vombatkere vs Union of India, stayed all pending trials under Section 124A IPC (sedition), calling for a re-examination of its constitutional validity in a democratic society."
🎯 UPSC Usage
Critical for GS-2 (polity, fundamental rights, judiciary) answers on freedom of speech, dissent, and state power. Section 124A IPC (sedition) is a perennial UPSC topic — know the Kedar Nath Singh (1962) judgment that upheld it with restrictions, and the 2022 Supreme Court stay. Also relevant in GS-4 for ethical dimensions of using colonial-era laws against journalists and activists in a democracy.
Relevant Subjects