...

PREAMBLE OF INDIAN
CONSTITU ~ION

.
► Th~ 'Objective Resolution', Proposed by Pandit Nehru and passed by the constituent Assembly,
ultimately _bec_arne th~ Preamble to the constitution of India. ·
► , The ~onst1tution (42n Amendment ) Act, 1976 amended ·the preamble and added the words
'Socialist' Secular and Integrity to the Preamble. . . ,
nd
► The preamble after the 42 Amendment J\ct is as follows-

We, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a
SOVEREIGN,
SOCIALIST SECULAR DEl\fOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citiz~ns:
JUSTICE, social, economic and political:
LI~ERTY of tl~~:mght, expression, belief, faith and worship: ·.
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity, and to promote among the~ all:
FRATERN11_'Y assuring the dignity of individual and the unity and integrity of the
Nation:
IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty - sixth day of November, 1949, do HERE
BY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.

Main things/ features _o f Preamble- KEY WORDS IN THE PREAMBLE

► The Preamble of the constitution is said to 1. Sovereign
be 'Preface/ key to the constitution 1 The word 'sovereign' implies that India is .
► According to Preamble all the Power under -neither a dependency nor a dominion of any
constitution are vested in the People. other nation, but_an independent State. There
► Words in Preamble-" WE, THE PEOPLE OF is no authority above it, and it is free to conduct
·INDIA.. .·.. . ,,. 'Adopt, Enact & give to ourselves its own affairs (both internal and external).
this constitution' shows_ the supreme Being a .Sovereign State, Indian can either
sovereignty of the people of India. acquire a foreign territory or cede a part of its
territory in favour of a foreign state. ·
► The word 'Sovereign' emphasizes that there
is no authority outside India on which ,the 2. Socialist
country is in any way depends on . Even before the term was added by the-42 nd
► By the word 'Socialist', in the constitution
Amendment in 1976, the Constitution had a
means the achievement of 'Socialistic Socialist content in the form of certain Directive
Pattern ·of society' through Democratic Principles of State Policy. In other words~_what
means was hitherto implicit in the Constitution has Iiow
► Word secular represents the age old Indian been made explicit. Moreover, the Congress party
Principle of" Sarva Dharma Samabhava" itself adopted a resolution to establish a
► The preamble cannot be enforced in any court 'socialistic pattern of society' in its Avadi session
as per the decis ion ~ven irt the case .union as early as in 1955 and took measures
oflndian Vs Madan Gopal (1957), ~ accordingly.
 Pr_eamble of the Conatitutl on

· Notably , the Indian brand of Socialis m is a head called the Preside nt. He is
'Democ ratic Socialis in' and not a 'Commu nistic indirect ly for a fixed period of five Years e1ecte<i
Sociali sm' (also known as 'State Socialis m1 A Republi c also. means two more thht
Which involves the national ization of all means ves'ting of Political Sovereig nty in the Peo
of product ion and·distribu tion and the ~bolition not in a single individu al like a king· ~ e anc1
gr 0 ne

of private property . Democr atic soci~sm , on th~ the absence of any privilege d class a.:id e~onc1,
other hand, holds faith in a 'mixed econom y' all public offices being opened to every c·:~ce
where both Public and Private sectors co-exist · without any discrimi nation. 1
· ~en
side by side. As the Suprem e Court says, 6. J~tice
'Democ ratic Socialis m aims to end poverty , The term justice' in the Preambl e embr
ignoran ce, disease and inequali ty of opportu nity. three distinc t forms-S ocial, Econom
ic :ces
Indian Socialis m is a blend of Marxism and Political , secur~d
through ~ario~s provisio.n s:~
Gandhis m, leaning heavily towards Gandhi an Fundam ental nghts and
Directiv e Principle s.
S9cialis m'. Sodal Justice denotes the equal treatmen t
-3. Secular of all citizens _w ithout any social distincti o
The term 'secular ' too was .added by the 42nd based on caste, colour, race, religion,
sex ands~
Constitu tional Amendm ent Act of 1976. However , on. It means absence of privilege
s being extended
as .the Suprem e Court said in 1974, althoug h ·to any particul ar section
of the· society, and
the words 'Secular State' were not expressi vely improve ment in the conditio ns
of backwar d
mention ed in the Constitu tion there can be no classes (SCs, STs and OBCs) and
women.
doubt that Constit ution-m akers wanted to Econom ~c justice denote s the non-
establis h s~ch a State and ac~ordin gly Articles discrimi nation between people
on the basis of
25 to 28 (guaran teeing the fundam ental right to economi c factors. It involves
the eliminat ion of
freedom of religion) have been included in the glaring inequal
Constit ution. ities in wealth, income and
. property . A combina
tion of Social justice and
The Indian Constit ution embodi es the Econom ic justice
denotes what is known as
?ositive concept of seculari sm · ie, all religions 'Distribu
tive justice'.
1n our country (irrespe ctive of their ·strength )
Politica l justice implies that all citizens
have the same status and support from the
state 1°. should have -equal political rights, equal access
4. ·Democ ratic to all political offices and equal voice in the
governm ent.
A' . o'emocr atic polity, as stipulat ed in the
preamb le, is based on the doctrine of popular · The ideal of justice-S ocial, Econom ic and
Politica l-has been taken from the Russ.ian
·Sovere ignty, that is, possess ion of suprem e ·
- power by the people. , Revol9ti ori (1917). ·
. · 7. Liberty
The Indian Consti tution provide s· for
The term 'liberty' means the absence of ·
· represe ntative Parliam entary Democr acy under
restrain ts on the activitie s of individu als, ~d
which th,e Execut ive is re.s ponsibl e to the
at the same time, providin g opportu nities for the
Legisla tive ·for all its policies and actions . develop
ment of individu al personal ities.
Univers al adult franchi se, periodic election s, The Preambl e secures to~ citizens o(India
rule of law, indepen dence of ·Jud_iciary, and liberty of thought
, expressiorl., belief, faith and
absence of discrim ination on certain grounds are worship , through their
Fundam ental Rights,
the manifes tations of the democr atic .charact er enforcea ble in court of law, in
case of violation . ·
oft 1e Indian polity: · 8: Equalit y
· The term 'Democr acy' is used in the p3ue . ble The term. 'equality ' means the absence ·of
in the broader sense embrac ing not only , )!t . al ,special privilege s to any section of the society
democr acy but also Social and Ecoi.:·'' ic and the provisio n of adequat e opportu nities for
democr acy. all individu als without any discrimi nation.
5. R~publ ic The Preambl e secures to all citizens ofindia
A Democr atic Polity epn be cla,ssilie d into two equality ~f status and opportu nity. This provision
catego ries-M onarch y and Republ ic. In a embrac es three dimensi on of equality -Civic,
I •
Monarc hy, the head of the state (usually king or PQlitical and Econom ic. _
queen) enjoys a heredita ry position , that is, he The followin g provisio ns of the chapter on
comes into office throug h success ion, eg, Fundam ental Rights ensure civic equality :
Britain. In a Republi c, on the other hand, the (a) Eqµality befo~e the law (Article 14).
head · of the State is always elected directly or "' (b) ~ohibit ion of ~iscrimi nation on grounds
indirect ly for a fixed period, eg, U_S A. of religion , raGe., caste, sex or place of
-T herefor e, the ter~ 'Repub lic' in our birth (Article 15).
Preamb le indicate s that India has an ele.c ted
 •
~ oftbe eoutitlldoD

(c) · Equality of oppornmity in matters of public 9. hate.-nlty

employment (Article 1'6}. , Fraternity means a • - ofbrotherhood. The
(d) Abolition of untouchability ·(Article 17). Constitution promotes this feeling of fraternity by
, , The J,;>irectiv.e ~c~ple~ 9f State Policy.(Article the •system of •lnele cltlzeaahlp. Also, the
39) s~es to m~n and women equal right tQ--an Fundamental Duties (Article 51:.A) say that it shall
ade,g.ua,te _m eans of livelihood and eq,ua;l pay for be the duty of every citizen of common brotherhood
amongst all th~ people of India transcending
equal work. religious, linguistic, regional ol sectional
diversities .

. '
Preamble of the Comtltutio n

Exer cise

11. India is conside red as a 'Republi c' tnainl

1. India is a republic because - . "j
because :
(1) it is democra tic country (l) the head of the State is elect_e d.
(2) It is a parliame ntary democra cy (2 ) it gained indepen dence on 15th August
(3 ) the head of the state is · elected for a
1947
. definite period (3) it has its own writt~n constitu tion
(4) All of these (4 ) it -is having a- Parham,entary forrn of
Govern ment.
2. In India. legal ,sovereig nty is vested with
12. What was the exact consti~ tionai _position I
(1) the Presiden t of the· Indian Republ ic when the j
(2) the Judiciar y Constitu ti<>n was brought into force ·with
(3) the Cabinet effect from 26th ·J anuary, 1950?
(4) the Constitu tion
(1) A Democr atic Republi c
3. What is meant when the Constitu tion de-
(2) A Sovereig n Democr atic Republi c
dares India a "Secular State" ?
(3) A Soverei gn Secular Democr atic
(1) Religious worshlp is not allowed
Republi c _·
(2) Religions are patronis ed by the State
(4) A .Soverei gn Secular Socialis t
(3) The state regards religions as a p~vate
Democr atic Republi c
affairs_of the citizen and does not dis-
13. The term 'secula r' was added in the
criminat e on this basis
Preambl e to· the Indian Constitu tion by
(4) None of these
(1) 41st Amendm ent
4. Which one of the following is not an ele-
(2) 42nd Amendm ent
ment of the State ?
(3) 43rd Amendm ent
(1) Populati on (2) Land (4) 44th Amendm ent
(3) Army _(4) Governm ent 14. Of the followin g words in the Preambl e of
5. The concept of Sovereig n Parliame nt origi- the Constitu tion of India, which was not
~
nated in : inserted through the Constit ution .(Forty
(1) England (2) India Second Amendm ent) Act, 1976?
(3) France (4) Japan (1) Socialis t (2) Secular
6. - The mind and ideals of the framers of Con- (3) Dignity (4) Integrity
stitution are reflected in the 15. Which is the source of politica l power in
(1) Preambl e India?
(2) Fundam ental Duties (1) The Constitu tion
(3) Furidam ental Rights · (2) The Parliam ent
(4) Directive Principle s of"'State Policy
7. Which of the following is an essentia l ele- ·
ment of the state?
(3) The Parliam ent and the State
.Legisla tives
(4) We, the . People
!
·
(1) Sovereig nty (2) Governm ent . 16. Which one of the following is not mention ed
(3) Territor y ·_(4) All these in the Preambl e to the Constitu tion of
8. Which is the most importan t system ·iri De- India ?
mocrac y? (1) Justice
(1) Social (2) Fraterni ty
(2) Political
(3) Econom ic (4) Governm ental (3) Adult franchis e
9. Where do we find the ideals of Indian democ- (4)· ~quality of position
racy in the Constitu tio,n ? 17. Which of the · following expressi ons does n:ot
. (l)The Preambl e figure iri the Preambl e to .the Indian Con-
stitution ? ·
(2) Part III
(1) Sovereig n Democra tic Republic
(3)Part IV (2) Socialis t
(4) Part I (3) Secular ·
10. What is popular sovereig nty? (4) Federal
(1) Sovereig nty of peoples represen tative 18. The Preamb le of our Constitu tion reads
(2) Sovereig nty of the legal head India as
(1) Soverei gn, Democr atic·, Socialis t,
(3) Sovereig nty of the head of state
Secular Republic
(4) Sovereig nty of the people
 Preamltle.olthe ~
(2) Socialist, J?emocratic, Secular Republic (1) Political equality
(3) Democratic, ~overeign, · Secular
• Sdcialist Republic . ' (2) Economic equality
(3) Social equality
(4) Sovereign,_ Socialist, Se_ c ular, Democrat-
ic Republic (4) Natural equ~ity
State 29. _ _ are essential for ·liberty:
19- The . idea ~f · 'Directive Principles ' of (1) Restrictions (2) Rights
Policy' was borrowed by the framers of the
Indian Constitution from the Constitution (3) Privileges (4) Laws
of 30. Fill up : 'Right _ _ _ duties.'
(1) South. Africa . ( 1) obstructs (2) instructs
(2) the R~public of Germany (3) implies (4) opposes
(3) _the Republi~ of Ireland 31. How liberty can be limited ?
(4) Canada (1) By Rule (2) By Law
20. The Preamble to our _C onstitution makes (3) By Authority (4) By Equality
no mention of 32. Most important safeguard of liberty is
(1) Justice · ( 1) bold and imp~al judiciary
(2) Fraternity (2) well-knit party system
(3) Equality of ~tatus (3) decentralisation of powc:r
(4) Adult franchise (4) declaration of rights
21. A Secular State is one which 33. Which one of the following kinds of equality
( 1) has no religion of its own . is not compatible with the liberal notion of
(2) is irreligic;,us equality?
(3) is anti-religion (1) Legal Equality
(4) takes into consideration the religious (2) Political Equality
sentiments of the people (3) Social Equality
\

22. Who proposed the Preamble before the draft- (4) Economic Equality
ing committee of the Constitution ? 34. Political liberty implies
(1) Jawaharlal Nehru (!)people's control over the government
(2) B.R. Ambedkar (2) free political activities of the people
(3) B.N. Rao (3) co-operation between politics and democ-
racy ' .
(4) Mahatma Gandhi
23. The essential feature of democracy is giv- (4) voters can malce and unmake their gov~
ing prominence to the ernment
(l)Executive(2) Judiciary 35·. The Preamble of the Indian Constitution
(3) Citizen (4} Civil . Society . was for the first time amended by the
24. India is a secular state because in our coun- (1) 24th Amendment
try: (2) 42nd Amendment
(1) state has no religion (3). 44th Amendment .
(2) religion has been abolished (4) None of the above
(3) state patronises a -particular religion 36. Where is the objective of "social justice"
(4) None of these articulated in the Constitution of India ?
(1) Article 14 (2) Article 15
25. The success of democracy depends upon the
(3) Article 16 (4) Preamble
(1) Right to criticise
3 7. India has been described under Article-_I o(
(2) Right to association the Constitution. as a
(3) Right to personal liberty (1) Federation
(4) Right to property .
(2) Federation, with a strong unitary bias
26. According to . Preamble, the ultimate power
(3) Confederation
lies in the hands of : ·
(4) Union· of States
(1) Parliament . (2) Constitution
38. Fabianism is ciosely related to:
(~) President (4) People
(1) Fascism
27. Writs are issued by (2) Scientific socialism
(1) Supreme Court ,
(3) Democratic socialism
· (2) High Courts
(4) Liberalism
(3) The President
(4) Supreme Court and High Courts 39. The concept of political sovereignty was
advocated by
28. Communism has given importance to
(1) Plato (2) John Locke
Preamble of tlw Com tlta tloa . rac y f I lo~ e you !" ?
(3) Ro uss eau (4) Au stin· . (2) Ca rpe nte r
(l)G .B.. Sh aw
siz ~s
40 . Plu ral Th eor y of Sov ere ign ty em pha (3) Lo rd Bry ce . (4) Ap pa ~r ai
the . imp ort anc e of -
(2) Rel igio n . 44 . Co mp are d wit h Soc iety , the sco pe of Statc
(1) Sta te act ivi_ty ia . .
--(3) Ind ivi dua ls (4). Ass oci atio n·,
the wo rds (1) Wi der
: 41 . ·F rom wh ich his tori cal ·wo rk we re
~Sa tya me va Jay ate " app ear ing un der the (2) Na rro w
nat ion al em ble m. tak en ? (3) Ju st equ al
(1) Bh aga wa d Git a (4) No com par iso n . bet we en Ute two
(2) Rig ·Ve da .
(3) Ra ma yan a .
(4) M~ nda ka Up arii s~a d
42 . Who said , "A good cltizen ma kes a goo
d·Sta te
and a bad citi:zen ma kes a bad Sta te" ?
( 1) Phlto · (2) Ro uss eau
(3) Ari sto tle (4) Las ki .
43 • Wh o sai d tha t "Oh l Dis res pec tab
le dem oc-

0
 -

1· ,
2. Pr eam ble of the
. . . . .
Co 11s titu tio n . .

2 3 ,, 4 .5 6 7 8 9 .: _1 0 11 12·. 13 14 15
,3 ·. 4 .,.3 3 1 1. 4 -2
2 l 4 1' 2 ·_ 3 4
16 17 · ·, 1s _ 19 20 21 --· . 22 23
·, 4 - 24 25 26-, 27 28 29 30
3 4 3 4 ... 1 1 3 .1 3 -
4 4 2 2 3
..31 --.-- · 32 . .· 33 -
34. 3S 36 . 37
'·

38 39 40 41 - · 42 .43 .
2 l -4 2 2 · .4 ,
44
4 3 . -3 4, 4 3 1 1
 ANSWER & EXPLAlirATIONS
2. Pre~mble of the Constitution
1. (3) Iridia is a republic because India elec~s
its supreme head. It is called a i:-epubhc
.because of the applicable definition of a
republic: ' a form of government in which
representatives are entitled to act on behalf
of the people whom they represent.
2. (4) Legal sovereignty represents the lawyer's
·conception of sovereignty. It is as_sociated
·with the supreme law-malting authority in
the state. The body· which has the power to
issue final commands in -the form of laws is
the legal soyereign in a state. This power
may be vested . in one person or a body of
persons. It may be a king ·or ,dictator or
. pprliament. Legal sovereignty 'is organized
and re-organized by constitutional law.
3. (3) Secularism is the principle of separation
of government institutions, and the persons
mandated tc;, represent the State, from
religious institutions · and religious
dignitaries. India is a secular country as per
the declaration in ·the Preamble to the
Indian Constitution. . ·It prohibits
di~crimination against me.mbers ·of a
particular religion, race, caste, sex or place
of birth . .Every person: has the right to
preach, practice and propagate any religion
they choose . The government must not
favour or discriminate against ·any religion. ·
It m ·u st treat, all religions with equal
respect. All . citizens, irrespective. of their
religious beliefs 'a re ·equal in front of law.
4. (3) The state has . four essentiai : elements.
These ~e: (1) population, (2) territory (land),
(3) government, (4) sovereignty (or
.independence). , The first two elements
constitute the physical o·r material basis of
the·state while· the last two form its political
and spiritual basis. · rn modern times
relations among nations have grown and
many international ·organizations and
institution·s have come into being.
Therefore some ·scholars have argued that .
international recognition be an essential
elemeht of stite.
5. (l) _T he ~oncept of Parliamentary sovere~gnty
. holds · that the legi~lative body may change
or repeal any previous legislation, and so
.. th~t it is n~t bound PY wmtten law (in some
cases, even a constitution) or by precedent.
It is a principle of the UK constitution. h:
makes Parliament the supreme legal
authority in the UK,. whi9h can Gr-e~te or
:end any law.. ·G.enerally, ·the courts . capnot
overrule its le'gislation and rio ·. Parliament . ..
can pass laws that future ·P arli~m-e nt~ ·
cannot· change.-
6; (1) The mi11d. and ideals of the framers of
the Constitution are reflected in the
Preamble.
7 . (4 ) The state has _four essential elements•
popul3:tion, territory, government anci
sovereignty._ Abs~n~e of any of these
elements derues to 1t the status of statehOOd
s. (2) Democr':1-':Y is ':1- . form of government i~
which all eligible citizens have an equal sa
in the decisions that affect their live y
Democracy allow~ eligib_le citizens :~
participate equally ·1n creati«;>n of laws and _
enables _the free ~nd. equal practice of
political self-detenmna~1on. So the political
aspect · can be considered to the most
important. .
9. (1) The Preamble to the Constitu~on of India
is 'Declaration of Independence' statement
& a brief introductory that sets out the
guiding principles & purpose of the document
as well as Indian democracy. It describes the ·
state as a "sovereign democratic :r:epublic".
The first part of the preamble "We, the people
of India" and, its last part "give. to ourselves
thi& Constitution" clearly indicate the
·democratic spirit.
10. (4) Popular sovereignty is . the principle that
the · authority of the government is created
and sustained ·by. the consent of its people,
through 'their elected_representatives (Rule
by the People)~ who-. are the source of all po-
litical ·power. It is_also known as sovereign-
ty_of the people.
lJ. (1) A republic is a form of government in
.which the country is considered a _"public_
matter" (Latin: .r ~s public~), not the private
concern or property of the rulers, and where
offices of states ~re subsequently directly-
or indirectly elected or appointed -rather
than inherited. · In modern times, a co~on
simplified d 'efi1'.1it_ion of a republic is a
government where the head ·of state is not
a monarc~. In ~odeni republics such a$ ~e
United States and India the executive 1s
legitimized both by_ a · co~stitutioil and b~
popular suffrage. · Montesquieu included both
democracies, where -all the people :have a
. share in rule, and aristocracies or
oligarchies, . where ohly some of the people
rule, as republican forms of government ·
12. (2) 1'he Constitution was enacted by the
Cons·tituent Assembly on 26- · November,
1949, and came into effect on 16- JanuaJY,
. 1950·: As originally. enacted the preamble
· . describeq. . the .$tate as ·a "sovereign
· democratic repubJic". ·In 1976 the FortYd
second Amendment changed this to re~
"sovereign socialist secular democratic
republic". -
13. (2) The Com~tttution declares I_n dia to be a

• sovereign, · socialist, secular, democratic
republic, assur_ing its citizens _o f justice,
equality, and l~b~rty, and endeavours to
promote fr~tem1ty among them. The words
"socialist" and "secular" were added to the
definition in 1976 by t_h e 42nd constitutional
amendment. The word 'secular', though was
specifically add~d in t?e_ Preamble in the
year 1976, yet the ongmal spirit of the
constitu~ion was completely secular in
nature. Its insertion into the Preamble has
ensured that' s~cularism has now become
a source from which the constitutional
provisions o_ri secularis_m draw their
authority and 1t has now become the central
object w~ich the Constitution seeks to
e,stablish. It is also . one of . the basic
structures of our Constitution and no
compromise can be made 01:1 this by any
government. ., .
l4, (3) The Forty-second Amendment of the
Constit_uti9n ·of India, enacted in 1976, .
attempted ·to reduce the power of the Indian
Suprem«? Court · and High Courts to
pronounce up9n .· the constitutional validity
of laws. It also declared In~a to be a socialist
and secular republic, and as securing
fraternity assuring the_ unity "and_integrity'
of the Nation, by adding these words to the
Preamb.l e · of the Constitution· of India. · 21. (1) A secular state is a concept of
15. (4) India is a democratic country. Peopie of
India elect their represei;itative through
' direct franchise. and representatives elect
the government to make or amenc:l rules &
· regulations aq.d to carry out. day to day
functioning of governance . One basic
principle of democracy is t}?.at people are the
source -of aUpolitical power. In a democracy,
- r people p ile themselves through institutions
of self-govern_a nce.
16. (3) The preamble to the Constitution of India
· js a brief int: od'ictory statem_en~ that . sets
out the ~iding purpose and pn?c1ples of ~e
document: The Preamble mentions Justice, ·
social, ·economic and political; Ll~ERTY, of
thought, expression, belief, faith ap.d
worshi p ; ' EQUALITY of status · -~nd of
· opportunity; and FRATERNITY assunng t_h e
dignity · of the individuai aild ·the· unity and
inte·g n ty · of the Nation. .. . , .
17. (4) As _originally enacte<l: the., prearo~le
described . the state as a sovereign
democrati~, republic". ~n ) 976_ ~he Forty-
second Amendment changed this to read
"sovereign socialist se~~lar de~?c ratic
republic" · . : :
1~. (4) The preamb!e to th·e Cons~tutiop. of {ndia
is a brie( introductory statemeqt t~at sets
• out ~e g,.,u.ding purpose and princ;iples_?f the
document . As originallf tma~ted t_he
preamble described the state as a sovereign
democratic republic". In 19-76 ~he Forty-
second Amendment changed this to read
. AJfSftR a. &XPLAIIATIOlfS
. "sovereign socialist secular democratic
republic".
19. (3) The concept of Directive Principles of
State Policy was borrowed from the Irish
. Constitution. Article 45 of the ·Irish
Constitution outlines a number of broad
principles of social-and economic policy. Its
provisions are, however; intended solely "for
the general guidance of the Oireachtas", and
"shall not be cognizable by any Court under
any of the provisions of this Constitution."
20. (4) The preamble to the Constitution of India
is a brief introductory statement that sets
out the guiding purpose and principles of the
document .. It says: "WE, THE PEOPLE OF
INDIA, having solemnly resolved ~o
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
arid 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 AD.OPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO
OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION."
secularism, whereby a state or country
purports to be officially neutral in matters
of religion, ~upporting neither religion nor
irreligion. A secular· ~tate also claims to
treat all its citizens equally regardless of
religion, and claims to avoid preferential
treatment ·for a citizen from a pa.r ticular
religion/non-religion over other religions/
non-religion. Sepular states . do not have a
st~te religion · or equivalent, although the
absence · of a state religion does not
guarantee that a state .is secular
22. (1) When the Consti~ent Assembly started
the work of drafting the Constitution, Pt.
Jawaharlal Nehru proposed the 'Objectives
Resolution' on December 13 , 1946. The
'Resolution' highlighted the objectives and
· laid down the 'national goals'. The 'Objective
Resolution, passed ·by the Constituent -
. . As~embly on ·January 22., 1947, ultimately
became the Pr~amble te> the Constitution
of India.
2 _3 . (3) The essential feature of democracy is
giving prominence to the citizen. One qf the
key features of democracr is that by the
people, from the people and to the people.
People occupy the centre stage here.
24. (1) India is a secular country as .per the
'"declaration in the Preamole to the, Indian
Consti-tution . It prohibits discrimi.n ation
_a gainst members of a particular religion,
AKSWBR ·• ltXPI.ARATIONS
race, caste, sex or place of birth. Every
person has the right to preach, practice and
propagate any religion they choose. Besides,
there is no state religion. · ·
25. (3) Right to personal liberty is the bedrock
of any democratic set up .. In Iridia, the right
to life and personal liberty is available to all
people and so · is the right to freedom of
religion. Time and . again, the Supreme
Court has reiterated· that the word liberty
is a very comprehensive word.
26. (4) According to the Preamble, the ultimate
power lies in the hands of people of India.
27. (4) .F ive writs - Habeas Corpus, Mandamus,
Prohibition, Quo Warranto and Certiorari -
are issued by the Supreme Court and High
Co~irts.
28 . . (2) Communism -i.s a revqlutionary socialist
movement to create a classless and stateless
social order structured upon common
ownership of the m~ans of production, as
well as a social, political and economic
ideology that aims at the establishment of
this social order. It espouses the goals of
co.m·mon ownership of land and ~otal
· economic and political equality among
citizens . · republic".
29. (2) Liberty is the value of individuals to have
agency (control ovc_r their own actions). The
conceptions of liberty typically consist of the
freedom of individuals from _ outside
compulsion or coercion . So the active
exercise of freedom and rights as essential
to liberty.
30. ~3) Rights imply certain duties. For exam-
ple, if one has the right ~o -follow one's own
religion, it is- one's dufy' to allow others to
follow their own. Rights and duties are equal-
ly import~t an_d that is vy-hy our Constitu-
. tion has laid .down certain' duties for the cit-
izens along with rights.
31. (2) Liberty is one of the human rights which,
in the words of John Locke, consists of be-
ing free fr.om any superior power on Earth.
However, it is non-absolute and can be lim-
ited· by law or restricted in certain circum-
stances where there is a need to take into
account the rights of other -individual~ or'
wider society. The trutji is modern ·1aws j:>er:.
mit only l~ted forms of liberty. · · late in the 19th century and continuing up
. 32. (1) 'Liberty is the quality indiyid1.Jals have to
control their- own actions. Sociologists define
the active exercise of freedom · and rights as
esse~tial to liberty. There must be an inde-
pendent and impartial judiciary for the pro-
tection ' and preservation and individual lib-
erty, The juc!iciary must be in"depende~t of ·
executive and legis~ative contr<?l.
33. (4) The liberal no_tions of ~quality is linked
to legal and political equality which were in-
voked in the 18th and 19th centu .. .
bring rule o f l aw, c1.tiz.
etc, considered essential for de_m~acy_
·-ever when demands for equality in Oth ~-
:ts,
. ensh"1p, voting ties
ti t 0 , ,
'
mensions, namely . soci"al and econolllic er .1,
raised in the 19th century by the wo'
Lord Acton, Alex de Toc_q ueville and \;rs,
;ere
'<l-
vehemently opp~sed ~em. Laissez fair: ;rs .
found incompatible with economic redis ~
bution and ~~ found opposed to econo!1"
equality (Political Theory by H. Abbas & c
Kumar, p. 348). ~-
34. (2) Political liberty . is the state or conditi
of those who are invested with the right on
fectually to s h are 1n ·rr . and conductef-
ammg
ing the government under which they -
politically organized. In other words ~e
. th . I lt
m~ans free d om 1n e exercise of ~olitica}
activities.
35. (2) The preamble to the Constitution of India
is a brief introductory. statement that sets
· out the guiding purpose and principles of the
document. As- originally enacted the
preamble d _e scribed thE? state as a "sovereign
democratic republic". In 1976 the Forty.
second Amendment changed this to read
"sovereign socialist secular democratic
·
36. (4) In concept social justice is •very well
articulated in the - Constitution of India
(1950)·. The Preamble of our Constitution use
the term 'social justice - social, economic
and political, the equality of status and
opportunity is provided by the Constitution
makers for futuristic development of the
·country.
37. (4) Article 1 of the Constitution d,eclares that
India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of
States; the sates and the territories thereof
shall be as specified in the First Schedule;
and the territory of· India shall comprise the
territories of the States, · the Union
territories ·specified in the First Schedule;
and such other territories as may be _
acquirecl . .
38. (3) The Fabian . Society is a · British socialist
organization whose purpose is to advan~e
the principles of democratic socialism via
. gradua'list and. reformist, rather than
. revolutionary, means. It is .best known _for
its · initial ground-breaking· work beginnUlg
to World War I. The society laid manY of th~
foundations of the.. Labour Party an
subse~uently ·affected· the po~cie~ of sta~:
emerging from the decolon1zat1on of t
British Empire, ~specially India. . )
39. (3) In Jean-J~cques Rousseau's (1_712- 1778 be
definition of popular sovereign.~~• ate
considers the people to be . the legi~. 0
save.r eign. He condemned~ the disti~C ioof
between the · origin and t_he exercise
 ANSWER & EXPLANA TIONS
soverei gnty, a distin_ction upon which an adaptat ion of the Lion Capital of Asoka
constitu tional monarc hy or represe ntative which was ex:ected around 250 BC at
democr acy is founde d. In his "Du Contia t Sarnath , near ·varana ai in Uttar Pradesh .
Social, o~ Princip es. du drofr politiqu e," he
42. _(3) The state is a human institut ion. The
deals with sovere ignty and its rights.
popula tion is, therefo re, an essenti al
Sovere ignty, or the genera l will, is
inalien able, for the will cannot be elemen_t of the state . Howev er, the
transm itted; it is indivis ible, since it is populat ion can constitu te a state only when -
essenti ally genera l; it is infallib le and ,it is united by the cong.it ions of
interde penden ce, consci ous-ne ss of
always right, determ ined and limited in its
commo n interest and general regard for a
power by the commo n interes t; it acts
through laws. Law is the decisio n of the set of commo n rules of behavi our and
general will in regard to some obj-ect of institut ions. In addition to the size of the
commo n interes t, but though the general popula tion the quality of the popula tion
will is always right and desires only good, inhabit ing. the ~tate is also equally
its judgme nt is not always enlighte ned, and importa nt. Aristotl e maintai ned that a good
consequ ently does not always see wherein citizen makes a good state and a bad citizen
the ·c ommon good lies; hence the necessi ty makes a bad state.
of the legislat or. ·
43 . . ( 1) These were the famous words of George
40, . (4) The pluralis t theory of soverei gnty is a Bernard Shaw who was an Irish playwri ght
reactio n to monist ic or legal theory of ,and. a co-foun der of the London School of
soverei gnty. To monist ic theory state is Econom ics. Shaw asserted that each social
· suprem e associa tion and all other class strove to serve its own ends, and that
associa tions ar_e the creatio n of state and the upper and middle classes won in the
their existen ce depend s · on the will of the struggle while the working class lost. He
soverei gn power . The plurali st theo_ry condem ned the democr atic system of his
rejects this and tries to establis h that there time,_ saying that worker s, ruthle.s sly
is no single source of authori ty _that is all exploite d ·by greedy employe rs,· lived•_.in.abject
compet ent and _compre hensive . Pluralis ts poverty and were too ignoran t and apathet ic ·
believe that state enjoys a privileg ed to vote intellige ntly. . .
position becaus e of its wider jurisdic tion,. l though t the state was
44. (1) In the classica
which covers all the individ u,als and
associa tions within its bounda ry. The identifi ed with politica l society and civil
pluralis t also rejects ·the distinct ion between society as ·a form 'of politica l commu nity,
.state and govern ment. An expone nt of . while,th e modern thought distin~ shed the
pluralis t theory Robert M.Macl ver propoun ds nation state as, a politica l society from civil
that state is one of the -severa l human society as a form . of econom ic society .
associa tions, althoug h it exercise s unique Compar ed to society, the role of state is
function s. Importa nt feature of the .state is much wider and is increasi ng with parallel ·
suprem acy of law. complex ities of the modern world. The s~ate
41._ (4) ~atyam eva Jayate (Truth al~ne today has to carry out several functio ns
Triump hs) is a mantra from the ancient _ which were non-exi stent a century ago.
Indian scriptu re Mund,a ka Upanis had.
Up~n indepen dence of Indi9:, it "'.as_ a~o?ted
as the nationa l motto of India. It is mscnbe d
in Devana gari ·script at the ·base of the ·
nationa l emblem . The emblem and words
'Satyam eva Jayate' are inscrib ed on o~e
side of all Indian currenc y. The emblem is