Preamble to the Constitution of India

The preamble to the Constitution of India is a brief introductory statement that sets

out the guiding purpose and principles of the document..

That the preamble is not an integral part of the Indian constitution was first decided
upon by the Supreme Court of India in the BeruBari case; [1] therefore it is not
enforceable in a court of law. However, the Supreme Court of India has, in
the Kesavananda case, recognised that the preamble may be used to interpret
ambiguous areas of the constitution where differing interpretations present themselves.
In the 1995 case of Union Government Vs LIC of India also the Supreme Court has
once again held that the Preamble is an integral part of the Constitution.

As originally enacted the preamble described the state as a

"sovereign democratic republic". In 1976 the Forty-second Amendment changed this to
read "sovereign socialist secular democratic republic".[2]

“ 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:

(NOTE: the original 1950 constitution stated "SOVEREIGN

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC" and the words "SOCIALIST SECULAR"
were added via the 42nd amendment during the Emergency in 1976)
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;
(NOTE: the original 1950 constitution stated "unity of the Nation" and the
words "and integrity" were added via the 42nd amendment during the
Emergency in 1976)
IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of
November, 1949, DO HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO
OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION. ”
Sovereign The word sovereign means supreme or independence. India is internally
and externally sovereign - externally free from the control of any foreign power and
internally, it has a free government which is directly elected by the people and makes
laws that govern the people. She allies in peace and war. The Popular sovereignty is
also one of the basic structures of constitution of India. Hence, Citizens of India also
enjoy sovereign power to elect their representatives in elections held for parliament,
state legislature and local bodies as well. People have supreme right to make decisions
on internal as well as external matters. No external power can dictate the government of
India.All the people are free in a limit to do their work in their own opinion.

Socialist The word socialist was added to the Preamble by the Forty-second

Amendment during the Emergency in 1976.[2] It implies social and economic equality.
Social equality in this context means the absence of discrimination on the grounds only
of caste, colour, creed, sex, religion, or language. Under social equality, everyone has
equal status and opportunities. Economic equality in this context means that
the government will endeavor to make the distribution of wealth more equal and provide
a decent standard of living for all. This is in effect emphasized a commitment towards
the formation of a welfare state. India has adopted a socialistic and mixed economy and
the government has framed many laws to achieve the aim.

Secular The word secular was added to the Preamble by the Forty-second Amendment
during the Emergency in 1976. [2] Citizens have complete freedom to follow any religion,
and there is no official religion. The Government treats all religious beliefs and practices
with equal respect and honor.

Democratic
The first part of the preamble “We, the people of India” and, its last part “give to
ourselves this Constitution” clearly indicate the democratic spirit involved even in the
Constitution. India is a democracy. The people of India elect their governments at all
levels (Union, State and local) by a system of universal adult franchise; popularly known
as "one man one vote". Every citizen of India, who is 18 [3] years of age and above and
not otherwise debarred by law, is entitled to vote. Every citizen enjoys this right without
any discrimination on the Basis of caste, creed, colour,sex, religion or education.
Republic As opposed to a monarchy, in which the head of state is appointed on
hereditary basis for a lifetime or until he abdicates from the throne, a
democratic republic is an entity in which the head of state is elected, directly or
indirectly, for a fixed tenure. The President of India is elected by an electoral college for
a term of five years. The post of the President Of India is not hereditary. Every single
citizen of India is eligible to become the President of the country. The leaders of the
state and local bodies are also elected by the people in similar manner.
Justice, Liberty and Equality The struggle for freedom was not only against the
British rule but their struggle should also usher in an era of restoring the dignity of men
and women, removal of poverty and end to all types of exploitation. Such strong
motivations and cherished ideals had prompted the framers to lay emphasis on the
provisions of Justice, Liberty and Equality to all the citizens of India.
Justice
Justice promises to give people what they are entitled to in terms of basic rights to food,
clothing, housing, participation in the decision-making and living with dignity as human
beings. The Preamble covers all these dimensions of justice – social, economic and
political. Besides, the granting of political justice in the form of universal adult franchise
or the representative form of democracy.
Liberty
The Preamble also mentions about liberty of thought and expression. These freedoms
have been guaranteed in the Constitution through the Fundamental Rights. Though
freedom from want has not been guaranteed in the Fundamental Rights, certain
directives to the State have been mentioned in the Directive Principles.
Equality
Equality is considered to be the essence of modern democratic ideology. The
Constitution makers placed the ideals of equality in a place of pride in the Preamble. All
kinds of inequality based on the concept of rulers and the ruled or on the basis of caste
and gender, were to be eliminated. All citizens of India should be treated equally and
extended equal protection of law without any discrimination based on caste, creed,
birth, religion, sex etc. Similarly equality of opportunities implies that regardless of the
socio-economic situations into which one is born, he/she will have the same chance as
everybody else to develop his/her talents and choose means of livelihood.

Fraternity, Dignity, Unity and Integrity

In the background of India’s multi-lingual, multi-cultural and multi- religious society and
keeping in view the partition of the country, the framers of the Constitution were very
much concerned about the unity and integrity of our newly independent country. There
was a need for harmonious co-existence among various religions, linguistic, cultural and
economic groups. Inclusion of phrases like ‘dignity of individuals’, ‘fraternity among
people’ and ‘unity and integrity of the nation’ in the Preamble highlight such a need.