Preamble to the Indian Constitution
Text of the Preamble
WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure 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 nation;
IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION
The Ingredients of the Preamble
The Preamble of the Indian constitution contains the following ingredients:
- Sources of authority of the Indian Constitution,
- Nature of Indian State
- Objectives of the Constitution
- Date of adoption of the Constitution
Important Keywords in the Preamble
- Soverign
- Secular
- Republic
- Liberty
- Fraternity
- Socialist
- Democratic
- Justice Equality
Sovereign
- India – Neither a dependency nor a dominion
- 1949 membership of commonwealth of nations
- British crown as the head
- Membership of UNO
- Acquire foreign territory or cede part of its territory
Socialist
- Added by 42nd Amendment in 1976
- Before Present in Directive Principles of State Policy
- 1955, Congress party “Socialist pattern of society’ – Avadi Session
- Democratic Socialism
- Mixed economy – Public and Private Sector
- Communistic Socialism
- Production and Distribution; No private Property
- Indian Socialism – blend of Marxism and Gandhism
Secular
- Added by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976
- 1974, the supreme court said ‘secular state not expressedly mentioned in the constitution
- Article 25 to 28 – fundamental rights to freedom of religion
- All religions have same status and support
Democratic
- Two types
- Direct (Adopted from Switzerland)
- supreme power – people
- 4 devices: Referendum, Initiative, Recall and Plebiscite
- Indirect (India)
- supreme power: Representatives elected by people
- Two kinds – Parliamentary & Presidential
- Direct (Adopted from Switzerland)
- Dr. Ambedkar (Nov 25, 1949)
- Political democracy cannot last unless social democracy
- Social democracy: liberty, equality and fraternity
Republic
Democratic Polity into two categories
- Monarchy
- Head – King/Queen (Britain)
- Republic
- Elected Head Directly/indirectly (USA, India)
- Political Sovereignty with people, not in single individual
- Public offices open to all citizens without discrimination
Justice
- Secured in Fundamental rights and Directive Principles
- Three forms
- Social Justice – All citizens are equal irrespective of caste, creed, race, religion, sex etc.
- Economic Justice – Non-Discrimination between people on basis of wealth, income, property
- Political Justice – Equal Political rights; equal access to all political offices.
Liberty
- Absence of Restraints
- Providing Opportunities for Development
- Liberty of thought, expression, faith, worship, and belief.
Liberty, equality and fraternity taken from Fresh revolution (1789-1799)
Equality
- Absence of special privileges to any section of society, Without any discrimination
- Equality of Status and Opportunity
- Civic Equality
- Equality before the law (Article 14)
- Prohibition of Discrimination (Article 15)
- Equality of Opportunity – Public Employment (Article 16)
- Abolition of untouchability and titles (Articles 17 & 18)
- Political equality
- Lok Sabha and State assemblies election – Adult Suffrage (Article 326)
- Economic Equality
- Men and Women – Equal
- Equal Pay for equal work
Fraternity
- Brotherhood
- Single Citizenship
- Artice 51A – Promotes Harmony and Brotherhood
- Assures two things
- Dignity of the individual
- Unity and Integrity of the nation