The Preamble
Text
We, the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens: JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation; in our Constituent Assembly this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do hereby adopt, enact and give to ourselves this Constitution.
Source and nature
- Based on the Objectives Resolution drafted by Nehru and adopted in 1947.
- It is the introduction to the Constitution. It is not enforceable in court and is not a source of power or a limit on power.
- It tells us the source of authority ("We, the people"), the nature of the State, the objectives, and the date of adoption.
- K.M. Munshi called it the "horoscope of our Sovereign Democratic Republic". Ernest Barker called it the "key-note of the Constitution". Thakur Das Bhargava called it the "soul of the Constitution".
Key words
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sovereign | India is free from external control and decides its internal and foreign affairs itself. |
| Socialist | Added by the 42nd Amendment (1976). It means democratic socialism, which aims to end poverty, ignorance, disease and inequality of opportunity. |
| Secular | Added by the 42nd Amendment. The State has no religion and treats all religions equally (Arts 25 to 28). |
| Democratic | Government gets its authority from the people. Includes political, social and economic democracy. |
| Republic | The head of State (President) is elected and not hereditary. |
| Justice | Social, economic and political. |
| Liberty | Of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship. |
| Equality | Of status and of opportunity. |
| Fraternity | Assures the dignity of the individual and, after the 42nd Amendment, the "unity and integrity of the Nation". |
Is the Preamble part of the Constitution?
| Case | Year | Held |
|---|---|---|
| In re Berubari Union | 1960 | Preamble is not a part of the Constitution. |
| Kesavananda Bharati | 1973 | Preamble is part of the Constitution. It can be amended, but the basic features cannot be destroyed. |
| LIC of India case | 1995 | Preamble is an integral part of the Constitution. |
The Preamble has been amended only once, by the 42nd Amendment (1976), which added "socialist", "secular" and "integrity".
Read the full article: Preamble of the Indian Constitution: Meaning, Keywords, Amendments and Important Cases.
Keep practising
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Prepared for exam revision from the Constitution of India and standard sources. Office-holders and recent developments change, so check official sources before relying on them. Found a mistake? Tell us.