UPSC Secretary Shashi Ranjan Kumar’s remarks—linking Hindu civilisation’s decline to political subjugation and internal shortcomings—have revived a vital debate. This evidence-based analysis distinguishes between transient state contraction and enduring civilisational continuity across Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. It maps key turning points from the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire to British Colonial Rule, while highlighting…