1.

​ Introduction
The term ‘Preamble’ refers to the introduction or preface to the Constitution. It contains the summary or
essence of the Constitution. The Preamble to the Indian Constitution is based on the ‘Objectives Resolution’,
moved by Pandit Nehru December 13, 1946, and adopted by the Constituent Assembly January 22, 1947.

2.​ 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 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;
IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT
AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.

3.​ Ingredients of the Preamble

i. Source of authority of the Constitution: The Preamble states that the Constitution derives its authority
from the people of India.
ii. Nature of Indian State: It declares India to be a sovereign, socialist, secular democratic & republican polity.
iii. Objectives of the Constitution: It specifies justice, liberty, equality and fraternity as the objectives.
iv. Date of adoption of the Constitution: It stipulates November 26, 1949, as the date.

4.​ Key Words in the Preamble

i. Sovereign
The word ‘sovereign’ implies that India is neither a dependency nor a dominion of any other nation, but an
independent state. There is no authority above it, and it is free to conduct its own affairs, both internal and
external. It is empowered to give orders to any individual and association within its jurisdiction and all of them
are bound to obey its commands. To establish or not establish diplomatic relations with other states, to make
trade contracts, to take sides in wars and to conclude peace treaties depends upon its discretion.

ii. Socialist
Even before the term was added by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, the Constitution had a socialist content in
the form of certain Directive Principles of State Policy such as Article 38, 39, 39A, 41, 42 , 43, 43A, 47.
Moreover, the Congress party itself adopted a resolution to establish a ‘socialistic pattern of society’ in its
Avadi session in 1955. Notably, the Indian brand of socialism is a ‘democratic socialism’ which holds faith in a
‘mixed economy’ where both public and private sectors co-exist side by side.

iii. Secular
The term ‘secular’ too was added by the 42nd Amendment Act. Although the words ‘secular state’ were not
expressly mentioned in the Constitution, there can be no doubt that Constitution makers wanted to establish
such a state as Articles 25 to 28 (guaranteeing the fundamental right to freedom of religion) have been
included in the constitution. The Indian Constitution embodies the positive concept of secularism i.e., all
religions in our country (irrespective of their strength) have the same status and support from the state.

iv. Democratic
A democratic polity, as stated in the Preamble, is based on popular sovereignty, where supreme power lies
with the people. Democracy can be direct, where people exercise power directly (as in Switzerland), or
indirect, where elected representatives govern on behalf of the people. Indirect democracy, or representative
democracy, is either parliamentary or presidential. The Indian Constitution establishes a representative
parliamentary democracy where the executive is accountable to the legislature. Its democratic nature is
reflected in universal adult franchise, regular elections, rule of law, judicial independence, and
non-discrimination. Here, 'democratic' encompasses political, social, and economic democracy.
v. Republic
The term ‘republic’ in our Preamble indicates that India has an elected head called the president. He is elected
indirectly for a fixed period of five years. A republic also means two more things: one, vesting of political
sovereignty in the people and not in a single individual like a king; second, the absence of any privileged class
and hence all public offices being opened to every citizen without any discrimination.

vi. Justice
The ideal of justice has been taken from the Russian Revolution of 1917. It embraces three distinct forms:
●​ Social justice denotes the equal treatment of all citizens without any social distinction based on caste,
colour, race, religion, sex and so on. It also means improvement in the conditions of backward classes
(SCs, STs and OBCs) and women.
●​ Economic justice denotes the non-discrimination between people on the basis of economic factors. It
involves the elimination of glaring inequalities in wealth, income and property.
●​ Political justice implies that all citizens should have equal political rights, equal access to all political
offices and equal voice in the government.

vii. Liberty
The term ‘liberty’ means the absence of restraints on the activities of individuals, and at the same time,
providing opportunities for the development of individual personalities. The Preamble secures to all citizens of
India liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship, through their Fundamental Rights, enforceable in
court of law, in case of violation. Liberty as elaborated in the Preamble is very essential for the successful
functioning of the Indian democratic system. However, liberty does not mean ‘license’ to do what one likes, and
has to be enjoyed within the limitations mentioned in the Constitution itself.

viii. Equality
The term ‘equality’ means the absence of special privileges to any section of the society. The Preamble
secures to all citizens of India equality of status & opportunity. This provision embraces three dimensions of
equality–
●​ Civic: eg, Article 14 (Equality before the law), Article 15 (Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of
religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth), Article 16 (Equality of opportunity in matters of public
employment ), Article 17 (Abolition of untouchability) and Article 18 (Abolition of titles).
●​ Political: eg, Article 325 (no person is to be declared ineligible for inclusion in electoral rolls on
grounds of religion, race, caste or sex) and Article 326 (elections to the Lok Sabha and the state
assemblies to be on the basis of adult suffrage).
●​ Economic: eg, Article 39 (The Directive Principles of State Policy secures to men and women equal
right to an adequate means of livelihood and equal pay for equal work).

ix. Fraternity
Fraternity means a sense of brotherhood. The Constitution promotes the feeling of fraternity by the system of
single citizenship. Also, the Fundamental Duties (Article 51-A) say that it shall be the duty of every citizen of
India to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending
religious, linguistic, regional or sectional diversities. The Preamble declares that fraternity has to assure two
things: the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation.

5.​ Conclusion
The Preamble embodies the basic philosophy and fundamental values–political, moral and religious–on which
the Constitution is based. It contains the grand and noble vision of the Constituent Assembly, and reflects the
dreams and aspirations of the founding fathers of the Constitution. M. Hidayatullah, a former Chief Justice of
India, observed, ‘It is the soul of our Constitution, which lays down the pattern of our political society. It
contains a solemn resolve, which nothing but a revolution can alter.”