Why in NEWS

A fresh debate has emerged over the inclusion of the terms “Socialist” and “Secular” in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution, which were added during the Emergency via the 42nd Amendment Act (1976). Critics argue that these additions were made without wide democratic consultation and may not reflect India’s civilisational ethos.

Key Concepts and Definitions

Term	Explanation
Preamble	Introductory part of the Constitution outlining its ideals and objectives.
Secularism	State’s equal respect for all religions and its principled distance from them.
Socialism	State’s commitment to reduce inequalities and ensure distributive justice.
42nd Amendment	Constitutional change during Emergency that added “Socialist” and “Secular”.
Basic Structure	Supreme Court doctrine preventing Parliament from altering core features.

The News in Simple Terms

• The original Preamble (1950) described India as a Sovereign Democratic Republic.
• The 42nd Amendment (1976) added the words “Socialist” and “Secular”, and “Integrity” to emphasize social and religious equity and national unity.
• Critics now challenge the legitimacy and relevance of these insertions, raising issues of ideological imposition and lack of constituent assembly mandate.

Understanding Secularism in India

Feature	Indian Secularism
Principled Distance	State remains neutral but may engage with religion for reform.
Non-Interference	Respects religious freedom unless it violates constitutional rights.
Selective Intervention	Intervenes when religion contradicts constitutional values (e.g., gender equality).

Pre-1976 Secular Foundations in the Constitution

• Article 14, 15, 16 – Equality and no religious discrimination
• Articles 25–28 – Freedom of religion
• Article 44 – Directive Principle advocating Uniform Civil Code

Key Dilemmas in Adding ‘Secular’ Explicitly

Issue	Concern
Ideological Imposition	Ambedkar felt Constitution shouldn’t impose fixed ideologies.
Symbolic Over Substance	Nehru believed secularism must be lived, not declared.
Alienation Risk	Fear that word “secular” could be seen as anti-religion.
Legislative Flexibility	Could restrict reforms in religious practices.

Arguments in Favour vs Against the Inclusion

In Favour	Against
Already reflected in Articles 14–28, DPSPs	Not part of the original intent of the framers
Judicial support – Kesavananda Bharati, S.R. Bommai, Minerva Mills	Added during Emergency under controversial circumstances
Affirms modern democratic values of equality and social justice	Considered alien to Indian civilisational context and organic pluralism
2024 SC verdict upheld validity in Dr. Balram Singh v. Union of India	Undermines the sanctity of the original Preamble

In a Nutshell

Memory Code: S3 – Socialist, Secular, SC-backed

• S1: Socialist – Justice via equity
• S2: Secular – Respect for all faiths
• S3: Supreme Court – Basic structure doctrine supports both

Prelims Practice Questions

1. Which Amendment Act inserted the words “Socialist” and “Secular” into the Preamble?
   A. 44th Amendment
   B. 24th Amendment
   C. 42nd Amendment
   D. 52nd Amendment
2. Which Article deals with abolition of untouchability that reflects secular values?
   A. Article 14
   B. Article 17
   C. Article 19
   D. Article 21
3. Which of the following is NOT a feature of Indian secularism?
   A. Principled distance
   B. Anti-religious stance
   C. Non-interference
   D. Selective intervention

Mains Practice Questions

1. Evaluate the constitutional legitimacy and contemporary relevance of the terms ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ in the Preamble of India. (GS-2, Polity)
2. Compare Indian secularism with Western models. How does the Indian model reflect its unique civilisational values? (GS -2 )

Answer Key with Explanations

Qn	Ans	Explanation
1	C	42nd Amendment Act (1976) added ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ during Emergency.
2	B	Article 17 abolishes untouchability, reinforcing the secular ideal.
3	B	Indian secularism is not anti-religion but promotes religious harmony.