Laxmikanth Test: Preamble - 1 - UPSC MCQ

Statement 1 is correct: The Preamble of the Constitution of India provides for the liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Citizens are not entitled to unhindered or absolute liberty, but they do have the right to enjoy their liberties within the framework of the Constitution. 

1. Equality: Providing equal status and opportunities to all citizens. - Correct.
The concept of equality in the Indian state indeed focuses on providing equal status and opportunities to all citizens.

2. Fraternity: Promoting policies and programs to address inequalities and support marginalized communities. - Incorrect.
This description aligns more closely with the objective of equality rather than fraternity.

3. Equality: Ensuring that discrimination based on caste, religion, gender, or economic status is eliminated. - Correct.
Eliminating discrimination based on caste, religion, gender, or economic status is a fundamental aspect of equality.

4. Fraternity: Creating a sense of unity among the diverse population while maintaining the dignity of each individual. - Correct.
The objective of fraternity is to create a sense of unity among the diverse population while ensuring the dignity of each individual is respected.

Thus, three pairs (1, 3, and 4) are correctly matched.

Correct Answer -Option B

• Statement 1 (Correct):
  In a parliamentary democracy, the people elect representatives who exercise supreme power on behalf of the people. The government is accountable to the legislature, and the prime minister and council of ministers derive their authority from the elected representatives.

• Statement 2 (Correct):
  Direct democracy involves the people directly exercising their supreme power, typically through mechanisms like Referendum (a direct vote on a specific issue) and Plebiscite (a vote by the people on important decisions). This is in contrast to representative democracy, where citizens elect officials to make decisions on their behalf.

• Statement 3 (Incorrect):
  A republic means the vesting of political sovereignty in the people, not in a single individual like a king. In a republic, the head of state is usually elected and is not a monarch, unlike in a monarchy where sovereignty is vested in a king or queen.

In this landmark case, the Supreme Court held that the Preamble is a key to understanding the minds of the makers of the Constitution. It considered the Preamble as an integral part of the Constitution, providing guidance in the interpretation of the Constitution's provisions. While the Preamble itself may not be enforceable in courts of law in the same way as fundamental rights or directive principles, its significance lies in its reflection of the basic structure and ideals of the Constitution.

• Statement-I: Correct. In the Berubari Union case (1960), the Supreme Court opined that the Preamble is not a part of the Constitution, viewing it as a guiding principle rather than a legal part.
• Statement-II: Correct. In the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973), the Supreme Court held that the Preamble is indeed an integral part of the Constitution, emphasizing its significance in understanding the Constitution.

Both statements are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I, they reflect changes in judicial interpretation over time. Thus, option C is correct.

• Statement-I is Correct : The Preamble of the Indian Constitution indeed reflects the philosophy and fundamental values such as justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity, which are core to the Constitution.
• Statement-II is Correct :The Preamble is amendable under Article 368, as demonstrated by the 42nd Amendment which added the words "Socialist," "Secular," and "Integrity."

Thus, both statements are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I. The amendability does not inherently explain the philosophical reflection. Thus, option B is correct.

1. Sovereign: India is an independent state with no authority above it.
This pair is correctly matched. The term 'sovereign' implies that India is neither a dependency nor a dominion of any other nation, but an independent state free to conduct its own affairs.

2. Socialist: Ensures a mixed economy where both public and private sectors co-exist.
This pair is correctly matched. The term 'socialist' was added by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, and it implies democratic socialism which supports a mixed economy where both public and private sectors operate side by side.

3. Secular: All religions in India have the same status and support from the state.
This pair is correctly matched. The term 'secular' means that all religions in India have the same status and support from the state, ensuring no discrimination based on religion.

4. Republic: Indicates that India is a monarchy.
This pair is incorrectly matched. The term 'republic' means that the head of state is elected and not a hereditary monarch, which indicates that India is not a monarchy but a republic.

Thus, three pairs are correctly matched.

Answer: Option C

Statement-I: The term "Secular" was not part of the original Preamble of the Indian Constitution. It was added later.
Statement-II: The term "Socialist" was indeed added to the Preamble by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976.
The 42nd Amendment introduced both "Secular" and "Socialist" to the Preamble.
Therefore, Correct Answer is Option D: Statement-I is incorrect, and Statement-II is correct.
 

The term "sovereign" in the Indian Constitution implies that India is independent and not under the authority of any other nation. It signifies that India is free to govern its internal and external affairs without external interference. This concept is crucial in understanding the autonomy and self-governance of India as a nation.

Statement 1 is correct: The term "Socialist" was indeed added to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976. This amendment aimed to emphasize the socialistic nature of the Indian state.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The term "Secular" was not included in the original Preamble adopted in 1949. It was also added by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976. Thus, the claim that it was included from the adoption of the Constitution in 1949 is incorrect.

Statement 3 is correct: Democratic socialism, as explained, involves a mixed economy where both public and private sectors co-exist. This approach aims to mitigate poverty and inequality while maintaining economic diversity.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option C: 1 and 3 Only.

• Statement-I (Correct): The objective of equality in the Indian state, as enshrined in the Constitution, aims to provide equal status and opportunities to all citizens, irrespective of their social, economic, or cultural background. This is reflected in Articles 14, 15, and 16 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantee equality before the law and prohibit discrimination.

• Statement-II (Correct): The objective of fraternity in the Indian state is to foster a sense of unity and brotherhood among India's diverse population, while ensuring the dignity of each individual. This concept is captured in the Preamble of the Constitution, which emphasizes fraternity as a key value to uphold national unity.

• Both statements correctly reflect the objectives of the Indian Constitution regarding equality and fraternity. However, while Statement-II complements Statement-I by describing a related but distinct constitutional goal, it does not serve to explain Statement-I directly.

Thus, Correct Answer is Option A :Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I

Statement-I: A democratic polity, as stipulated in the Preamble, is based on the doctrine of popular sovereignty, that is, possession of supreme power by the people.

This statement is correct. The Preamble to the Constitution of India declares that India is a democratic republic, which implies that the ultimate power rests with the people.

Statement-II: The objective of ensuring justice in Indian society is to create a fair, impartial, and equal system for all citizens.

This statement is also correct. One of the key objectives mentioned in the Preamble to the Indian Constitution is to secure justice for all its citizens, aiming for a fair, impartial, and equal system.

Now, we need to determine if Statement-II explains Statement-I:

While both statements are correct, Statement-II does not directly explain Statement-I. Statement-I talks about popular sovereignty (power of the people), while Statement-II discusses the objective of justice (fairness and equality). These are related concepts but they address different aspects of the democratic system.

Therefore, the correct option is: Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I

The primary objective of equality in the Indian state is to promote equal status and opportunities for all citizens, regardless of their social, economic, or cultural background. This objective aims to eliminate discrimination based on caste, religion, gender, or economic status, ensuring that all individuals have fair access to resources, education, and employment. By striving for equality, the Indian state works towards creating a more just and inclusive society where every citizen has the opportunity to succeed.

Statement 1 is correct. The objective of equality in the Indian state does indeed include eliminating discrimination based on caste, religion, gender, or economic status. This aligns with the policies and programs aimed at addressing inequalities and providing support to marginalized communities.

Statement 2 is correct. The goal of fraternity in the Indian state is to promote social cohesion and ensure the dignity and rights of individuals are respected. This objective emphasizes the importance of unity and brotherhood among diverse populations while maintaining individual dignity.

Statement 3 is incorrect. Ensuring equal access to resources, education, and employment for all citizens is part of the objective of equality, not fraternity. Fraternity focuses more on social cohesion and unity among citizens while maintaining respect for individual dignity.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

1. Incorrect - In the Berubari Union case (1960), the Supreme Court held that the Preamble is not a part of the Constitution. It was in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) that the Supreme Court held the Preamble as part of the Constitution.

2. Correct - The Preamble of the Indian Constitution has indeed been amended only once, in 1976, by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act.

3. Correct - The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976 added the words Socialist, Secular, and Integrity to the Preamble.

Thus, the correct statements are 2 and 3.

- Statement 1 is correct. The term "secular" was indeed added to the Indian Constitution by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976.

- Statement 2 is correct. Articles 25 to 28 of the Indian Constitution guarantee the fundamental right to freedom of religion.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. The term "secular" in the context of the Indian Constitution means that all religions in the country have the same status and support from the state, not the possession of supreme power by the people, which refers to a democratic polity.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

Key Points

• The American Constitution was the first to incorporate a Preamble.
  • So, the term and idea of the Preamble were borrowed from the Constitution of the United States of America.
  • The ideals of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity are borrowed from the French Constitution.
  • But, the language of the Preamble is borrowed from the Constitution of Australia.

In direct democracy, citizens have a direct say in decision-making processes, voting on laws and policies themselves. On the other hand, in indirect democracy, citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. This fundamental distinction shapes how power is wielded and decisions are made in democratic systems.

Statement 1 is correct. Direct democracy is characterized by the people exercising their supreme power directly through mechanisms such as Referendum, Initiative, Recall, and Plebiscite. This form of democracy is practiced in countries like Switzerland.

Statement 2 is correct. Indirect democracy, also known as representative democracy, involves elected representatives who exercise supreme power on behalf of the people. This type of democracy can be further divided into parliamentary and presidential systems.

Statement 3 is incorrect. In a republic, political sovereignty is not vested in a single individual like a king. Instead, it is vested in the people, and the head of state (such as the president) is elected, typically for a fixed period. The absence of a privileged class and the opening of public offices to all citizens are also key features of a republic.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

1. Berubari Union case (1960) - Preamble is part of the Constitution: Incorrect.
In the Berubari Union case (1960), the Supreme Court opined that the Preamble is not a part of the Constitution.

2. Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) - Preamble is not part of the Constitution: Incorrect.
In the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973), the Supreme Court held that the Preamble is a part of the Constitution.

3. LIC of India case (1995) - Preamble is an integral part of the Constitution: Correct.
In the LIC of India case (1995), the Supreme Court again held that the Preamble is an integral part of the Constitution.

4. 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act (1976) - Added three words to the Preamble: Correct.
The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act (1976) added the words "Socialist," "Secular," and "Integrity" to the Preamble.

Hence,  only two pairs (3 and 4) are correctly matched.