Constitutional Values of India

Constitution means a set of fundamental principles, basic rules and established

precedents (standards or instances). It identifies, defines and regulates various aspects of the
State and the structure, powers and functions of the major institutions under the three organs
of the Government - the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. It also provides for rights
and freedoms of citizens and spells out the relationships between individual citizen and the
State and government.

A Constitution may be written or unwritten, but it contains fundamental laws of the land. It is
the supreme and ultimate authority. Any decision or action which is not in accordance with it
will be unconstitutional and unlawful.

A Constitution also lays down limits on the power of the government to avoid abuse of
authority. Moreover, it is not a static but a living document, because it needs to be amended
as and when required to keep it updated. Its flexibility enables it to change according to
changing aspirations of the people, the needs of the time and the changes taking place in
society.

The Indian Constitution

Indian Constitution is the longest of all the written constitutions. It was prepared by a
representative body, known as the Constituent Assembly. Most of its members were deeply
involved in the freedom struggle. They are respectfully called the founding fathers of the
Constitution. The process of constitution-making was greatly influenced by the following
factors:

1. Aspirations generated during the long drawn freedom struggle

2. The constitutional and political changes that took place during the British rule
3. The ideas and thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi, popularly known as Gandhism
4. The socio-cultural ethos of the country
5. The experiences of the functioning of Constitutions in other democratic countries of
the world

The Constitution came into effect on 26 January, 1950 and since then this day is celebrated
as the Republic Day every year.

The Constituent Assembly began to prepare the Constitution on 9 December, 1946. Dr.
Rajendra Prasad was elected as its President on 11 December, 1946. Dr. Baba Saheb
Bhimrao Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee. The Constituent
Assembly met for 166 days, spread over a period of 2 years, 11 months and 18 days. The
making of the Constitution was completed on 26 November, 1949 when the Constituent
Assembly adopted the Draft Constitution of India.

The Constitution of India defines all aspects of the Indian political system including its basic
objectives. It has provisions regarding

1. The territories that India will comprise

2. Citizenship
 3. Fundamental rights
4. Directive principles of state policy and fundamental duties
5. The structure and functioning of governments at union, state and local levels
6. Several other aspects of the political system

It defines India as a sovereign, democratic, socialist and secular republic. It has provisions
for bringing about social change and defining the relationship between individual citizen and
the state.

Constitutional Values

The Constitution of any country serves several purposes. It lays down certain ideals that form
the basis of the kind of country that citizens aspire to live in. A country is usually made up of
different communities of people who share certain beliefs, but may not necessarily agree on
all issues. A Constitution helps serve as a set of principles, rules and procedures on which
there is a consensus. These form the basis according to which the people want the country to
be governed and the society to move on.

This includes not only an agreement on the type of government but also on certain ideals that
the country should uphold. The Indian Constitution has certain core constitutional
values that constitute its spirit and are expressed in various articles and provisions. A value is
that which is very essential or worth having and observing for the existence of human society
as an entity. The Indian Constitution contains all such values, the values that are the
universal, human and democratic of the modern age.

The constitutional values are reflected in the entire Constitution of India, but
its Preamble embodies ‘the fundamental values and the philosophy on which the
Constitution is based’. The Preamble to any Constitution is a brief introductory statement that
conveys the guiding principles of the document.

The Preamble to the Indian Constitution also does so. The values expressed in the Preamble
are expressed as objectives of the Constitution. These are: sovereignty, socialism, secularism,
democracy, republican character of Indian State, justice, liberty, equality, fraternity, human
dignity and the unity and integrity of the Nation.

1. Sovereignty

The Preamble declares India "a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic". Being
sovereign means having complete political freedom and being the supreme authority. It
implies that India is internally all powerful and externally free. It is free to determine for
itself without any external interference (either by any country or individual) and nobody
is there within to challenge its authority.

This feature of sovereignty gives the dignity of existence as a nation in the international
community. Though the Constitution does not specify where the sovereign authority lies but
a mention of ‘We the People of India’ in the Preamble clearly indicates that sovereignty rests
with the people of India. This means that the constitutional authorities and organs of
government derive their power only from the people.

2. Socialism
The social and economic inequalities have been inherent in the Indian traditional society.
Which is why, socialism has been made a constitutional value aimed at promoting social
change and transformation to end all forms of inequalities. Indian Constitution directs the
governments and the people to ensure a planned and coordinated social development in all
fields.

It directs to prevent concentration of wealth and power in a few hands. The Constitution
has specific provisions that deal with inequalities in the Chapters on Fundamental Rights and
Directive Principles of State Policy.

3. Secularism

India is a home to almost all major religions in the world. Secularism implies that the country
is not guided by any one religion or any religious considerations. However, the Indian state
is not against religions. It allows all its citizens to profess, preach and practise any religion
they follow. At the same time, it ensures that the state does not have any religion of its own.
Constitution strictly prohibits any discrimination on the ground of religion.

4. Democracy

The Preamble reflects democracy as a value. As a form of government it derives its authority
from the will of the people. The people elect the rulers of the country and the elected
representatives remain accountable to the people. The people of India elect them to be part of
the government at different levels by a system of universal adult franchise, popularly known
as ‘one man one vote’.

Democracy contributes to stability, continuous progress in the society and it secures peaceful
political change. It allows dissent and encourages tolerance. And more importantly, it is
based on the principles of rule of law, inalienable rights of citizens, independence of
judiciary, free and fair elections and freedom of the press.

5. Republic

India is not only a democratic nation but it is also a republic. The most important symbol of
being a republic is the office of the Head of the State, i.e. the President who is elected and
who is not selected on the basis of heredity, as is found in a system with monarchy. This
value strengthens and substantiates democracy where every citizen of India is equally eligible
to be elected as the Head of the State. Political equality is the chief message of this provision.

6. Justice

Living in a democratic system alone does not ensure justice to citizens in all its totality. There
are a number of cases where not only the social and economic justice but also the
political justice is denied. Which is why, the constitution-makers have included
social, economic and political justice as constitutional values.

By doing so, they have stressed that the political freedom granted to Indian citizens has to
be instrumental in the creation of a new social order, based on socio-economic justice. Justice
must be availed to every citizen. This ideal of a just and egalitarian society remains as one of
the foremost values of the Indian Constitution.

7. Liberty

The Preamble prescribes liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship as one of the
core values. These have to be assured to every member of all the communities. It has been
done so, because the ideals of democracy can not be attained without the presence of certain
minimal rights which are essential for a free and civilised existence of individuals.

8. Equality

Equality is as significant constitutional value as any other. The Constitution ensures equality
of status and opportunity to every citizen for the development of the best in him or her. As a
human being everybody has a dignified self and to ensure its full enjoyment, inequality in any
form present in our country and society has been prohibited. Equality reflected specifically in
the Preamble is therefore held as an important value.

9. Fraternity

There is also a commitment made in the Preamble to promote the value of fraternity that
stands for the spirit of common brotherhood among all the people of India. In the absence
of fraternity, a plural society like India stands divided. Therefore, to give meaning to all the
ideals like justice, liberty and equality, the Preamble lays great emphasis on fraternity.

Fraternity can be realised not only by abolishing untouchability among different sects of
the community, but also by abolishing all communal or sectarian or even local discriminatory
feelings which stand in the way of unity of India.

10. Dignity of the individual

Promotion of fraternity is essential to realise the dignity of the individual. It is essential to

secure the dignity of every individual without which democracy can not function. It
ensures equal participation of every individual in all the processes of democratic
governance.

11. Unity and Integrity of the Nation

Fraternity also promotes one of the critical values, i.e. unity and integrity of the nation.
To maintain the independence of the country intact, the unity and integrity of the nation is
very essential. Therefore, the stress has been given on fostering unity among all the
inhabitants of the country. The Constitution expects from all the citizens of India to uphold
and protect the unity and integrity of India as a matter of duty.

12. International Peace and a Just International Order

The value of international peace and a just international order, though not included in the
Preamble is reflected in other provisions of the Constitution. The Indian Constitution
directs the state (a) to promote international peace and security, (b) maintain just
and honourable relations between nations, (c) foster respect for international law and treaty
obligations, and (d) encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration.

To uphold and observe these values is in the interest of India. The peace and just international
order will definitely contribute to the development of India.

13. Fundamental Duties

The Constitution prescribes some duties to be performed by the citizens. It is true that these
duties are not enforceable in the court of law like the fundamental rights are, but these duties
are to be performed by citizens. Fundamental duties have still greater importance because
these reflect certain basic values like patriotism, nationalism, humanism,
environmentalism, harmonious living, gender equality, scientific temper and inquiry, and
individual and collective excellence.

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