The relationship between increasing education, economic development, and the secularization of Indian society is complex, multi-faceted, and not a straightforward linear progression. While modernization theories often posit that education and economic development lead to a decline in religious influence and a rise in secular values, the Indian experience presents a more nuanced picture, showing both secularizing tendencies and persistent, sometimes even intensified, communal identities.

Arguments for a More Secular Society (Positive Impact):

1. Promotion of Rationality and Critical Thinking: Education, particularly modern scientific education, encourages critical thinking, rationality, and a questioning attitude towards traditional beliefs and superstitions. This can potentially reduce blind faith and dogmatism, fostering a more secular outlook.

2. Exposure to Diverse Ideas and Cultures: Increased education and economic development often lead to greater mobility, urbanization, and exposure to diverse cultures and ideas. This can foster tolerance, understanding, and a more inclusive worldview, reducing religious parochialism.

3. Reduced Dependence on Religious Institutions: Economic development can reduce material insecurity and dependence on traditional religious institutions for social welfare or identity. As individuals become more self-reliant, their reliance on religious leaders or community dictates might diminish.

4. Individual Autonomy: Education and economic opportunities can empower individuals, especially women, to make choices independent of traditional religious or community pressures, leading to greater individual autonomy and a weakening of rigid religious norms.

5. Urbanization and Anonymity: Urbanization, a byproduct of economic development, often leads to a more anonymous social environment where religious identity might become less salient in daily interactions compared to close-knit rural communities.

Arguments Against a Linear Progression (Challenges and Counter-trends):

1. Persistence and Reassertion of Religious Identity: Education and economic development do not necessarily diminish religious identity; they can sometimes lead to a reassertion or repackaging of religious identity. In the face of modernization's dislocations or perceived threats to cultural values, people may cling more strongly to their religious identities.

2. Communalism and Political Mobilization: Economic disparities, even in developed contexts, can be exploited along religious lines by political actors. Educated and economically well-off individuals are not immune to communal ideologies; in fact, they can sometimes be active proponents or victims of such narratives, especially when religious nationalism is on the rise.

3. Urban Segregation: While cities bring diverse groups together, they can also lead to residential segregation along religious lines, limiting genuine inter-religious interaction and sometimes fostering 'ghettoization' of communities.

4. Instrumental Use of Religion: Political leaders and groups may strategically use religious symbols, sentiments, and institutions to mobilize support, even in an increasingly educated and economically developed society. This instrumentalization of religion can undermine secular principles.

5. Global Influences: The global rise of religious fundamentalism and identity politics can also influence Indian society, irrespective of internal development levels, reinforcing religious identities.

6. Selective Modernization: People may adopt modern economic and educational practices while retaining traditional religious beliefs and practices, leading to a form of 'selective modernization' rather than complete secularization.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, while education and economic development provide the potential for a more secular society by fostering rationality, tolerance, and individual autonomy, they are not sufficient conditions to guarantee it. The Indian experience demonstrates that these factors interact with deeply entrenched social structures, political dynamics, and cultural identities in complex ways. Indian society exhibits both secularizing tendencies (e.g., increasing inter-religious marriages, decline in some traditional religious practices) and strong communal undercurrents, often fueled by political opportunism. Therefore, it is more accurate to state that the process of secularization in India is contested and uneven, rather than a straightforward outcome of increased education and economic development.