'Preamble of the Constitution' Complete Polity UPSC Notes

Preamble of the Constitution

🔹 What is a Preamble?

• It is like the introduction or preface to the Constitution.

• It tells us the purpose, philosophy, and objectives of the Constitution.

• Inspired by the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution.

🧠 Think of it as the "identity card" or "summary" of the Indian Constitution.

• The American Constitution was the first to include a Preamble, inspiring many countries, including India, to adopt this practice.
• A Preamble serves as the introduction or preface to the Constitution, summarizing its essence.
• Eminent jurist N.A. Palkhivala referred to the Preamble as the "identity card of the Constitution."
• The Preamble of the Indian Constitution is based on the ‘Objectives Resolution’, drafted by Pandit Nehru and adopted by the Constituent Assembly.
• It was amended in 1976 by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, adding three words:
• Socialist
• Secular
• Integrity

📜 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 to all its citizens:

• Justice (Social, Economic, Political)

• Liberty (of thought, expression, belief, faith, worship)

• Equality (of status and opportunity)

• Fraternity (to assure dignity of the individual and unity & integrity of the Nation)

🗓️ Adopted on 26th November 1949
🛠️ Came into force on 26th January 1950

✒️ Important Names Linked with Preamble

• Nani Palkhivala called it: “Identity card of the Constitution”

• K.M. Munshi called it: “Political horoscope of the Constitution”

• Artist Beohar Rammanohar Sinha designed the original calligraphic version (disciple of Nandlal Bose)

4 Components/ Ingredients of the Preamble

Component	Explanation
Source of Constitution	"We the People..." → Power comes from the people of India.
Nature of Indian State	Declares India as Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic.
Objectives of Constitution	Ensures Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.
Adoption Date	Constitution adopted on 26th November 1949.

Key Words in the Preamble

🟥 1. Sovereign

• India is independent—not controlled by any other country.

• It can make its own internal and external decisions.

Examples:

• Internal: Making its own laws.

• External: Signing treaties like the Paris Agreement.

Types of Sovereignty:

• Internal: Government’s power within the country.

• External: Recognition by other countries in the world.

Despite being a member of the Commonwealth of Nations (with the British Crown as its symbolic head) and the United Nations, India’s sovereignty remains unaffected. As a sovereign state, India 

📚 UPSC Extra:

• Concept came after Treaty of Westphalia (1648) → gave rise to the idea of sovereign states.

• During colonial times, countries lost sovereignty to imperial powers.

• Now, sovereignty also includes right to self-determination.

🌍 Sovereignty and Globalisation

📉 Globalisation Weakening Sovereignty

• Due to international rules and pressure, countries can't act fully independently.

• ✅ Examples:

  1. Political Restrictions

  • Countries must follow international laws like:

    • Geneva Convention (how to treat prisoners of war)

    • Paris Agreement (climate rules)

  • So, a government can’t take any step freely in war or environment issues.

  2. Economic Control Weakens

  • Example: EURO — many European countries use one common currency.

  • So, they can’t control their own currency policy anymore (like setting interest rates).

  3. Social Pressure

  • Social media (like Facebook, Twitter) spreads global awareness.

  • If injustice happens in a country, global criticism comes quickly.

  • Example: Rohingya issue – the world criticized Myanmar’s govt through social media, forcing action.

📈 How Globalisation Strengthens Sovereignty

➡️ Globalisation also makes countries more responsible and accountable, which strengthens good governance.

✅ Examples:

1. Responsibility to Protect (R2P)

• If a government is harming its own people or not protecting them,
  → the international community (like UN) can step in.
  ✅ Example: UN’s intervention in Rwanda, Syria, etc.

2. Pressure for Better Values

• Countries are now pressured to follow:

  • Human rights

  • Environmental laws

  • Minority rights

• This makes countries behave responsibly = more moral authority = stronger legitimacy.

🧠 Important Thinkers to Mention (Optional in Mains)

Thinker	View
Granville Austin	Sovereignty is supreme & unquestionable.
Rajni Kothari	Globalisation is Janus-faced (dual-sided) – both helpful and harmful.
George Kyris	Sovereignty is abstract; meaning changes based on politics.
Anthony Giddens	Globalisation = Compression of time & space + human interconnectedness.

🟥 2. SOCIALIST in the Preamble

🟩 What is Socialism?

Simple Definition:
Socialism is a system where the government tries to reduce the gap between rich and poor, and ensures basic needs like education, health, and jobs are taken care of — especially for the poor and vulnerable.

📌 What Does “Socialist” Mean in the Preamble?

• The word “Socialist” was added in the 42nd Amendment (1976).

• It means India supports a society where there is no extreme inequality—rich and poor must both have dignity and opportunity.

• It does NOT mean full government control like in communism. Instead, India follows:

✅ Democratic Socialism – Mix of government + private sector (mixed economy)

🇮🇳 What is Indian Socialism?

• A blend of Marxism (social equality) and Gandhism (village economy, self-reliance).

• Focuses on:

  • Removal of poverty

  • Fighting disease

  • Ending inequality

  • Promoting equal opportunity

📝 Even before "socialist" was added in 1976, Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) already had socialist goals.

🏛️ Democratic Socialism vs State Socialism

Feature	Democratic Socialism	State Socialism
Ownership	Public + Private mix	Full government ownership
Politics	Liberal democracy	One-party rule
Example	India (Post-1991)	USSR, Mao's China
Freedom	Maintains individual rights	Often restricts freedom

🧠 Fabian Socialism (Inspired Nehru)

• 🧑‍🏫 Idea: Spread socialism through education and gradual reform, not revolution.

• 🏛️ Nehru was influenced by Fabianism.

• Focused on building a peaceful socialist society step-by-step using law, education, and institutions.

📉 SOCIALISM UNDER PRESSURE

After 1991 reforms (LPG – Liberalisation, Privatisation, Globalisation):

• India moved closer to capitalism.

• Welfare policies reduced; private sector got bigger role.

• Some critics say India’s socialist values got diluted.

💉 “Free Vaccine” Debate – A Case of Socialism in Action

👉 FOR Free Vaccines (Socialist View):

• The poor should not suffer due to lack of money.

• Welfare state duty: Provide healthcare as a right.

• Thinker John Rawls: Society must support the "unlucky"/ Theory of Justice: Support the “least fortunate” in society.

• Health logic: If poor are not vaccinated, the rich also are at risk.

👉 AGAINST Free Vaccines (Neoliberal View):

• Too much spending = government goes into debt.

• Thinker Hayek: Welfare is a mirage, leads to laziness and inefficiency.

✅ Final Thought: If we value human dignity and rights, then free vaccines for all is justified, even if it’s expensive.

Democratic socialism: The government helps make sure everyone has what they need, like healthcare and education, but people still have the freedom to own businesses and make their own choices.

Communistic socialism: The government controls almost everything, including businesses and property, and makes most of the decisions for the people.

India follows democratic socialism, meaning it supports social welfare while maintaining democratic values and individual freedoms.

🟥 3. Secularism in India

✅ What is Indian Secularism?

• India does not reject religion, nor does it promote any one religion.

• Instead, India respects all religions equally.

• This idea is called “positive secularism” — all religions are treated fairly, and the state doesn’t prefer any religion.

✍️ Keyword Added in 1976: The word “secular” was added to the Preamble through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment.

⚖️ Comparison of Secularism Types

Type	Meaning
Theocratic State	Declares one official religion (e.g., Pakistan, Sri Lanka)
Atheistic State	Rejects all religions (e.g., Soviet-era USSR)
India’s Secular State	Respects and supports all religions without bias

🧠 Why is Secularism Important for India?

• India is religiously and linguistically diverse – many faiths, many languages.

• Without secularism, majority groups could dominate, leading to violence or even genocide.

• Gandhiji promoted “Sarva Dharma Sambhava” (equal respect for all religions).

• Rajeev Bhargava calls India’s model a “Principled Secularism” — not Western-style separation, but Indian-style harmony.

📜 Constitutional Support

Article	What It Ensures
Preamble	Declares India as a "Secular" nation
Articles 25–28	Guarantee freedom of religion
Article 32	Allows Supreme Court to protect these rights

 Is India Deviating from Socialism?

🧾 Background:

• India followed a Socialist model after independence, especially under Nehru.

• Public sector led the economy; private sector had a small role.

🔁 What Changed After 1991?

• After the New Economic Policy (1991) — India moved toward Liberalisation, Privatisation, and Globalisation (LPG).

• This marks a shift from Socialism to Neoliberalism (more private sector control).

📉 Example Policies:

• National Monetisation Pipeline (Govt sells or leases assets)

• Strategic Disinvestment (Govt exits public sector companies)

📢 Is Socialism Gone?

• Not completely. Some policies still show socialist values:

  • Free vaccines during COVID

  • Free ration schemes

• These show that welfare thinking is still alive in government.

🧩 Conclusion:

India has moved toward a neoliberal economic model, but still keeps some socialist policies alive for public welfare.

✍️ Final Line for Answer Writing:

“India practices principled secularism and has adopted a mixed approach to socialism and neoliberalism—balancing welfare with market-driven reforms.”

🟥 4. Democratic

• The Preamble declares India as a democratic polity, meaning supreme power lies with the people.
• India follows an indirect (representative) democracy, where elected representatives govern on behalf of the people.
• The Indian system is a parliamentary democracy, where the executive is accountable to the legislature. [In India, the government (executive) must answer to the elected representatives (legislature). This means the government has to explain its actions and decisions to the people who were elected by the citizens. If the elected representatives are not happy with the government's performance, they can remove it from power.]

🔸 Types of Democracy:

Type	Description	Example
Direct	People exercise power directly (without intermediaries).	Switzerland
Indirect	People elect representatives to govern on their behalf.	India, USA

🔹 Devices of Direct Democracy (Used in Switzerland):

1. Referendum – People vote directly on a law.

2. Initiative – Citizens propose new laws.

3. Recall – Voters remove an elected official before term ends.

4. Plebiscite – Government seeks public opinion on major issues (e.g., territory).

• Features of Indian democracy include:
  • Universal adult franchise
  • Periodic elections
  • Rule of law
  • Judicial independence
  • No discrimination based on certain grounds.
• The term ‘democratic’ in the Preamble covers political, social, and economic democracy, emphasizing liberty, equality, and fraternity. [The term "democratic" in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution means that India aims to achieve democracy in political, social, and economic areas. This includes ensuring that everyone has the right to participate in politics, promoting social equality and justice, and striving for fair distribution of wealth and resources. These principles are based on the values of freedom, equal rights, and unity.]
• Dr. Ambedkar highlighted that:
  • Liberty, equality, and fraternity form a trinity[3 pillars]—interdependent and essential for true democracy.
  • Without equality, liberty leads to the dominance of a few; without liberty, equality stifles individual growth.
• The Supreme Court (1997) reinforced the vision of an egalitarian society ensuring social, economic, and political justice under the Indian Constitution.

Example 1: Without Equality, Liberty Leads to a Few Being in Charge

Imagine a country where everyone is free to start a business, but only a few people have the resources and opportunities to succeed. This was the case during the Industrial Revolution in 19th-century Europe, where factory owners became very rich, but most workers lived in poor conditions. The freedom to do business was there, but the lack of equality meant only a few people benefited, and the rest were left behind.

Example 2: Without Liberty, Equality Stops People from Growing

In some countries, the government tries to make everyone equal by controlling everything. For example, in the Soviet Union under Stalin, the government made sure everyone had the same amount of money, but they also stopped people from being free to make their own choices. Because of this, people couldn’t think freely, come up with new ideas, or work towards their dreams. The lack of liberty made it hard for individuals to grow or improve their lives.

🟥 5. Republic

• A republic means the head of the state is elected, not hereditary.
  • In India, the President is elected indirectly for a fixed term of five years.
• It also signifies:
  1. Political sovereignty lies with the people, not an individual like a king.
  2. No privileged class—all public offices are open to all citizens without discrimination.

🟥 6. Justice

• The term ‘justice’ includes three forms:
  1. Social justice: Equal treatment of all citizens, removing distinctions based on caste, religion, gender, etc., and uplifting backward classes (SCs, STs, OBCs) and women.
  2. Economic justice: Eliminating inequalities in wealth, income, and property, ensuring no discrimination based on economic status.
  3. Political justice: Equal political rights, equal access to public offices, and equal participation in governance.
• Together, social and economic justice form ‘distributive justice’.
• The concept of justice in the Preamble is inspired by the Russian Revolution (1917).

🟥 7. Liberty

• Liberty means freedom from restraints and providing opportunities for individual development.
• The Preamble guarantees liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship through Fundamental Rights, which are enforceable by law.
• Liberty is not absolute; it must be exercised within the limits set by the Constitution.
• The ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity were inspired by the French Revolution (1789–1799).

🟥 8. Equality

• Equality means the absence of special privileges and ensuring equal opportunities for all without discrimination.
• The Preamble secures equality of status and opportunity, encompassing civic, political, and economic equality.
• Civic equality is ensured through Fundamental Rights like:
  • Article 14: Equality before the law.
  • Article 15: Prohibition of discrimination.
  • Article 16: Equal opportunity in public employment.
  • Article 17: Abolition of untouchability.
  • Article 18: Abolition of titles.
• Political equality is guaranteed by:
  • Article 325: No ineligibility for electoral rolls based on religion, race, caste, or sex.
  • Article 326: Elections based on adult suffrage.
• Economic equality is promoted through Article 39 (Directive Principles), ensuring equal livelihood and pay for men and women.

🟥 9. Fraternity

• Fraternity means a sense of brotherhood, promoted by single citizenship and Fundamental Duties (Article 51-A), which encourage harmony and unity.
• Fraternity ensures:
  1. Dignity of the individual: Recognizes the sacredness of every individual’s personality, supported by Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, and Fundamental Duties.
  2. Unity and integrity of the nation: The word ‘integrity’ was added by the 42nd Amendment (1976).
• The ‘dignity of the individual’ also includes protecting women’s dignity and renouncing derogatory practices (Article 51-A).
• Unity and integrity include both psychological and territorial integration:
• Article 1 defines India as a Union of States, meaning states cannot secede.
• It counters divisive issues like communalism, regionalism, casteism, and secessionism.

🔺 Trinity – Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity

• According to Ernest Barker, an English political scientist, liberty, equality, and fraternity are interdependent and must go together.

🔹 Liberty without Equality

• Liberty without equality can become a tool of exploitation.

  • Example: During early capitalism in the West, workers were exploited in the name of economic freedom.

🔹 Equality without Fraternity

• Equality without fraternity ignores compassion and social bonding.

  • Those who are socially or naturally disadvantaged should get extra support.

  • Though this may look unequal, it upholds the spirit of brotherhood and justice.

🔹 Togetherness of All Three

• These three ideals must coexist to ensure a society that is:

  • Free (Liberty)

  • Fair (Equality)

  • Compassionate and united (Fraternity)

📝 Conclusion: A true democratic and just society can only be built when all three ideals work together, not in isolation.

🧾 Note:

• The 42nd Constitutional Amendment added the term “integrity” to the Preamble.

• The phrase “dignity of the individual” signifies that every person’s worth and personality are respected, beyond just material welfare.

• The idea of “national unity and integrity” includes both:

  • Territorial unity (one India)

  • Emotional unity (sense of belonging across diversity)

Significance of the Preamble

The Preamble reflects the core values and principles of the Indian Constitution, outlining the political, moral, and religious foundation on which it is built. It represents the vision and aspirations of the Constituent Assembly and the dreams of its framers.

• Sir Alladi Krishnaswami Iyer, a member of the Constituent Assembly, described the Preamble as expressing what the Assembly had thought or dreamt for India.
• K.M. Munshi, a drafting committee member, referred to it as the ‘horoscope’ of India’s sovereign democratic republic, suggesting it defines the nation's destiny.
• Pandit Thakur Das Bhargava called the Preamble the "soul" of the Constitution, emphasizing its importance as a key to understanding the Constitution and its true value.
• Sir Ernest Barker, a respected political scientist, described the Preamble as the ‘key-note’ of the Constitution, capturing its essence, and even quoted it in his book, Principles of Social and Political Theory (1951).
• M. Hidayatullah, former Chief Justice of India, compared the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence of the USA, stating that while similar, it is more than just a declaration—it is the soul of the Constitution and represents a solemn resolve that could only be altered by revolution.

Thus, the Preamble holds immense significance in encapsulating the ideals and foundational principles that guide India’s Constitution.

Preamble as Part of the Constitution

There has been debate regarding whether the Preamble is a formal part of the Constitution.

• Berubari Union Case (1960): The Supreme Court acknowledged that the Preamble reflects the general purposes of the Constitution and can guide the interpretation of ambiguous terms in the Constitution. However, it did not consider the Preamble as a part of the Constitution.

• Kesavananda Bharati Case (1973): The Supreme Court overturned the earlier ruling and declared the Preamble an integral part of the Constitution. It emphasized the importance of interpreting the Constitution in light of the grand vision expressed in the Preamble.

• LIC of India Case (1995): The Supreme Court reaffirmed that the Preamble is indeed a part of the Constitution.

Although the Preamble was inserted last to ensure its conformity with the Constitution, it was adopted by the Constituent Assembly after the rest of the Constitution was finalized. The President of the Constituent Assembly confirmed that the Preamble stands as part of the Constitution, and this view is now accepted by the Supreme Court.

However, there are two important points:

1. The Preamble is not a source of power for the legislature, nor does it limit the legislature's powers.
2. The Preamble is non-justiciable, meaning its provisions cannot be enforced in courts.

Amenability of the Preamble

The question of whether the Preamble can be amended under Article 368 arose in the Kesavananda Bharati Case (1973). The petitioner argued that the Preamble could not be amended because it was not considered a part of the Constitution at that time. The argument also stated that the power of amendment should not be used to destroy or alter the basic elements or fundamental features of the Constitution, which are expressed in the Preamble.

However, the Supreme Court ruled that the Preamble is part of the Constitution. The Court admitted that its earlier view in the Berubari Union Case (1960) was incorrect. The Court also held that while the Preamble can be amended, the basic features of the Constitution outlined in the Preamble cannot be changed through an amendment under Article 368.

The Preamble has been amended only once, in 1976, by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, which added the words Socialist, Secular, and Integrity to the Preamble. This amendment was upheld as valid by the Supreme Court. 

UPSC Mains PYQ's:

UPSC Mains 2016: Discuss each adjective attached to the word ‘Republic’ in the ‘Preamble’. Are they defendable in the present circumstances?

UPSC Mains 2019: What can France learn from the Indian Constitution’s approach to secularism?