Laxmikanth Test: Preamble - 2 - UPSC MCQ

1. The Preamble was not designed by Prem Behari Narain Raizada. It was designed by Beohar Rammanohar Sinha, a famed artist from Jabalpur. Prem Behari Narain Raizada was responsible for writing the original copies of the Constitution by hand. Hence, Statement 1 is incorrect.

2. The term 'Socialist' was included in the Preamble through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1976, not the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act. Therefore, Statement 2 is incorrect.

3. The Preamble indeed declares that the Union of India has five basic characteristics: Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, and Republic. This is a correct depiction of the Preamble. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.

Thus, the correct answer is Option C

1. The source of the Preamble is correctly matched. The Preamble of the Indian Constitution is based on the historic Objective Resolution moved by J.L. Nehru on 13th December 1946 and adopted by the Constituent Assembly on January 22, 1947.

2. The designer of the Preamble is incorrectly matched. The Preamble was designed by Beohar Rammanohar Sinha, not Prem Behari Narain Raizada. Beohar Rammanohar Sinha was a famed artist from Jabalpur who designed the Preamble.

3. The date of adoption of the Constitution is correctly matched. The Constitution of India was adopted on 26 November 1949.

4. The writer of the original copies of the Constitution is incorrectly matched. The original copies of the Constitution were written by hand by Prem Behari Narain Raizada, not Beohar Rammanohar Sinha. Prem Behari Narain Raizada was the calligrapher who hand-wrote the Constitution.

Thus, pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched, making the correct answer "Only two pairs."

The Preamble to the Constitution of India is a brief introductory statement that sets out guidelines, which guide the people of the nation, and to present the principles of the Constitution, and to indicate the source from which the document derives its authority, and meaning.

The Objective Resolution, presented by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1946, included the following points:

• Power and authority of independent India to be derived from its people.
• Safeguards for minorities, depressed classes, backward and tribal areas.
• India attains its rightful and honourable place in the world.

It did not include the explicit statement "India shall be a sovereign socialist republic." The term "socialist" was added to the Preamble of the Constitution much later, through the 42nd Amendment in 1976. Hence, 1, 2 and 4 only correct.

Let's evaluate the statements:

• Statement-I: "Sovereignty in the Indian context implies that the state has the power to legislate on any subject and is not subject to the control of any other state or external power."

  • This statement is correct. Sovereignty means that India has full authority to make laws and conduct affairs independently, without external interference.

• Statement-II: "The term 'Republic' in the Indian context signifies that the President of India is elected by the people, and all offices, including that of the President, are open to all citizens."

  • This statement is partially correct but not entirely accurate. The term "Republic" means that the head of state is elected and not a hereditary monarch. However, while all Indian citizens are eligible for the office of the President, it is important to note that the President is elected by an electoral college rather than directly by the people.

Since Statement-I is correct, and Statement-II is mostly accurate but does not fully explain Statement-I, the correct answer is:

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I

Explanation:

In the Indian context, the term "Republic" signifies that the head of the state, the President of India, is elected through an indirect process by an electoral college. The electoral college consists of the elected members of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of States and Union Territories. This system ensures that the position of the President is not determined by inheritance or monarchy, which is a key feature of a republic.

• Option a (The President is appointed by the Prime Minister) is incorrect because the President is not appointed by the Prime Minister. The President is elected, not appointed.
• Option b (Only citizens can participate in elections) is true but doesn't specifically address the concept of a "Republic" in the context of the head of state.
• Option d (The Prime Minister is the head of the state) is incorrect because the Prime Minister is the head of the government, not the head of the state. The President is the head of the state in India.

1. Justice - Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship

This is incorrectly matched. Justice in the Preamble refers to social, economic, and political justice, not liberty of thought, etc.

2. Liberty - Social, economic and political

This is incorrectly matched. Liberty in the Preamble refers to thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship.

3. Equality - Status and opportunity

This is correctly matched. The Preamble mentions "Equality of status and of opportunity."

4. Fraternity - Assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation

This is correctly matched. The Preamble includes "Fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation."

Thus, only one pair (Pair 3 and Pair 4) are correctly matched.

1. The Preamble of the Indian Constitution guarantees social, economic, and political justice to all citizens: This statement is correct. The Preamble explicitly mentions that the Constitution aims to secure "Justice, social, economic and political" for all its citizens.

2. The term "Secular" was included in the original text of the Preamble adopted in 1949: This statement is incorrect. The term "Secular" was not part of the original Preamble. It was added by the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976.

3. The Preamble aims to promote fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation: This statement is correct. The Preamble indeed emphasizes promoting fraternity to assure the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation.

Thus, the correct statements are 1 and 3 only. Hence, the correct answer is Option C

Correct Answer :- a

Explanation : 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;

1. The Supreme Court in the Berubari Union Case, 1960, did not hold that the Preamble is a part of the Constitution; in fact, it held the opposite. Therefore, Statement 1 is incorrect.

2. The Kesavananda Bharati Case, 1973, indeed established that the Preamble is part of the Constitution and is subject to amendment under Article 368. Therefore, Statement 2 is correct.

3. The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 added the words "Socialist," "Secular," and "Integrity" to the Preamble, but not "Democratic," which was already present. Therefore, Statement 3 is incorrect.

Hence, the correct answer is Option D: 2 Only.

In the Kesavananda Bharati Case of 1973, the Supreme Court ruled that the Preamble is indeed a part of the Constitution and is subject to amendment under Article 368. However, the Court also specified that the 'basic features' outlined in the Preamble are beyond the amending power of the Parliament. This landmark case established that while the Preamble can be amended, certain fundamental aspects of it remain unalterable, ensuring the core principles and values of the Constitution are preserved.

Statement-I correctly mentions the position of the Supreme Court in the Gopalan vs. State of Madras Case in 1950 regarding the enforceability of the Preamble. It is a factual statement based on historical legal proceedings.
However, Statement-II is incorrect. The S.R Bommai Case of 1994 did not specifically introduce new applications of the Preamble as suggested in the statement. Instead, the S.R Bommai Case primarily dealt with issues related to the misuse of Article 356 of the Indian Constitution and the imposition of President's Rule in states. It did not significantly impact the interpretation or applications of the Preamble.
Therefore, the correct answer is option C Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect.

On November 26, 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India formally adopted the Constitution of India. It came into force on January 26, 1950. Constitution Day aims to bring awareness about the importance of the Constitution and Dr B R Ambedkar.

On 13 December 1946, Jawaharlal Nehru presented the Objective Resolution before the Constituent Assembly. It contained the core principles which would later be adopted in the Preamble. It was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 22 January 1947.

Statement-I is correct because the Preamble indeed encapsulates the foundational values and principles of the Indian Constitution. It serves as a guiding light and reflects the philosophy of the Constitution. However, Statement-II is incorrect. The Preamble of the Indian Constitution is not legally enforceable in a court of law, as established by the Supreme Court in the Berubari Union case (1960). Additionally, the Preamble is not subject to regular amendments through the constitutional amendment process, as it is considered a part of the basic structure of the Constitution, which cannot be altered in a way that changes its fundamental features.