Preamble Of The Indian Constitution: Definition, Background, Notes | UPSC

The Preamble to the Indian Constitution is an introductory statement that presents the Constitution’s principles and indicates the sources of its authority. It is mentioned at the beginning of the Constitution, before the main part, i.e., Part I. If you read the Preamble, you will get a glimpse of the philosophy and objectives of the Indian Constitution. The members of the Constituent Assembly wrote it on behalf of the people of India. It was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, and went into effect on January 26, 1950, which is celebrated as India’s Republic Day.

This topic of the “Preamble of Indian Constitution” is important from the perspective of the UPSC IAS Examination which falls under General Studies Paper 2 (Mains) and General Studies Paper 1 (Prelims) and particularly in the Polity section. In this article, we shall discuss the Preamble, Its Definition, Background, Objectives, Four Key Components, Importance, Interesting Facts, and More!

Polity Previous Year Questions Download Free PDF

Register for UPSC Online Classes at an affordable price through the UPSC CSE Coaching platform to boost your IAS preparation.

Download the Daily Current Affairs for UPSC here!

What is a Preamble?

A preamble is basically an introductory statement that explains the purpose and main ideas of a document. It's like a mini-summary at the beginning, giving you a heads-up on what to expect. Think of it as a trailer for a movie, letting you know what the story is about before you dive in.

Learn more about the Constituent Assembly Debates on the preamble!

• We, the people of India: It indicates the ultimate sovereignty of the people of India. Sovereignty means the independent authority of the State, not being subject to the control of any other State or external power.
• Sovereign: The term means that India has its own independent authority and it is not a dominion of any other external power. In the country, the legislature has the power to make laws which are subject to certain limitations.
• Socialist: The term means the achievement of socialist ends through democratic means. It holds faith in a mixed economy where both private and public sectors co-exist side by side.
• It was added in the Preamble by 42nd Amendment, 1976.
• Secular: The term means that all the religions in India get equal respect, protection and support from the state.
• It was incorporated in the Preamble by 42nd Constitutional Amendment, 1976.
• Democratic: The term implies that the Constitution of India has an established form of Constitution which gets its authority from the will of the people expressed in an election.
• Republic: The term indicates that the head of the state is elected by the people. In India, the President of India is the elected head of the state.
• Justice: All Indian citizens should be treated equally in terms of social, economic, and political justice.
• Liberty: refers to Indian nationals’ freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship activities.
• Equality: refers to equal opportunity and status equality.
• Fraternity: refers to the spirit of brotherhood, the dignity of the individual, and the unity and integrity of the nation.

Learn more about the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution!

Check out the test series for the UPSC IAS Exam here.

Background of the Preamble to the Constitution of India

The Objectives Resolution by Jawaharlal Nehru, which was approved by the Constituent Assembly on January 22, 1947, set forth the principles that are reflected in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.

• It was introduced in the Constituent Assembly by Jawaharlal Nehru and seconded by Purushottam Das Tandon. Following the discussion in the Constituent Assembly, the majority of the provisions of the Objectives Resolution were adopted as the Preamble.
• The Objectives Resolution listed “Fundamentals,” which were to serve as guidelines for the constitutional framework on which the Constituent Assembly had gathered.
• The resolution outlined some “fundamentals” for the future constitution of India, the most significant of which was that the country would be a “sovereign Indian republic.”
• Additionally, the concept of “republic” was used for the first time in the Constituent Assembly’s Objectives Resolution as a “Fundamental” for the Indian political structure.
• However, the word “democratic” was not mentioned in the Objectives Resolution.
• In this regard, Jawaharlal Nehru stated that the word “republic” mentioned in the Objectives Resolution implies democracy.
• He further clarified that the “Objectives Resolution” included both democratic and economic democracy in its “content.”

Learn more about the Landmark cases relating to the basic structure of the Constitution!

Key Components of the Preamble to the Constitution of India

Here are the key components of the Preamble to the Constitution of India, along with 1–2 line descriptions for each:

Sovereign

The term "sovereignty" means that India is an independent nation. It has the authority to govern itself without any external interference. It signifies that the power to make decisions and establish laws rests with the people of India.

Socialist

The term "socialist" signifies the commitment of the Indian government to strive for social and economic equality among its citizens. It aims to reduce the economic disparities within society. It ensures the welfare and well-being of all individuals.

Secular

The term "secular" means that India does not promote or favor any specific religion. The government treats all religions equally. It does not discriminate against any individual or community based on their religious beliefs. It ensures freedom of religion and maintains a neutral stance in matters of religion.

Democratic

The term "democratic" indicates that India follows a system of government where the power is vested in the hands of the people. It emphasizes the principles of equality, liberty, and fraternity. Citizens have the right to choose their representatives through free and fair elections. The government, thus formed, is accountable to the people.

Learn more about the Constitutional safeguards!

Importance of the Preamble to the Constitution of India

Here are some reasons why the Indian Constitution’s Preamble is important:

• It serves as an introduction to the statute and assists in understanding the legislative intent and policy.
• It outlines the main objectives that the government intends to achieve.
• It contains ideals that the Constitution aims to achieve.
• However, It does not grant any power; rather, it provides direction and purpose to the Constitution and outlines the overall objectives of the Constitution.
• It also establishes the broad objectives and socioeconomic goals to be attained through constitutional means.

Learn more about the Constitution of India!

Status of Preamble

The status of the Preamble to the Indian Constitution has been debated in several Supreme Court cases. Two notable cases that shed light on this issue are the Berubari Case and the Kesavananda Bharati Case.

Berubari Case (1960)

In the Berubari Case, a bench of eight judges considered the implementation of the Indo-Pakistan Agreement regarding the Berubari Union and the exchange of enclaves. During this case, the Court stated that the Preamble serves as a key to understanding the intentions of the Constitution's framers. However, it concluded that the Preamble is not an enforceable part of the Constitution.

Kesavananda Bharati Case (1973)

The Kesavananda Bharati Case marked a turning point in the interpretation of the Preamble. A bench of 13 judges was assembled to hear a writ petition, and the Court made two significant rulings:

• The Preamble is now considered an integral part of the Constitution.
• The Preamble is not the supreme power or source of restrictions. However, it plays a crucial role in interpreting statutes and provisions of the Constitution.

In the 1995 case of the Union Government Vs. LIC of India, the SC reaffirmed that the Preamble is an integral part of the Constitution. However, it is not directly enforceable in a court of justice in India.

Learn more about the Salient features of the Constitution!

Amendment of Preamble

So far, the preamble has only been amended once: in 1976, by the 42nd Constitution Amendment Act, which added three new words to the preamble, Such as

• Two words (Socialist and Secular) in the Nature of the Indian State.
• One word, “integrity,” is in the objectives of the Indian Constitution.

Learn more about the Major Amendments of the Constitution!

Conclusion

The Preamble of the Constitution is the window to what is inside the Indian Constitution. It is also referred to as the Indian Constitution’s spirit and backbone. Its ideals were laid out in Jawaharlal Nehru’s Objectives Resolution, which was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on January 22, 1947. The preamble to the Indian constitution is based on Objectives Resolution. The Constitution’s ideals are contained in it. However, it does not grant any power, but it does provide direction and purpose to the state. It has only been amended once, in 1976, by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, which included the words Socialist, Secular, and Integrity.

Learn more about the Making of the Constitution!

Download The Preamble Of Indian Constitution Key Takeaways PDF

After reading this article, we hope all your doubts about the Preamble of Indian Constitution notes have been addressed. The textbook provides comprehensive notes on civil services and various other competitive examinations. It has always ensured the quality of its products, such as content pages, live tests, GK and current affairs, mocks, and so on. Ace your UPSC preparation with the Testbook. Download the Testbook App now!