Notes: Preamble of the Constitution | Political Science & International Relations: Mains Optional - UPSC PDF Download

 Page 1


Preamble and its 
features and idea of 
secularism
Page 2


Preamble and its 
features and idea of 
secularism
• “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”.
Page 3


Preamble and its 
features and idea of 
secularism
• “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”.
• The Preamble is often referred to as the soul of the Indian Constitution, affording a 
key to its letter and spirit. Delineating the core concerns of the polity in independent 
India, the Preamble seeks to express a solemn resolve that becomes the guiding light 
for the posterity in the country. The Preamble was based on the Objectives 
Resolution prepared by Jawaharlal Nehru. The O.R. may be summarised as 
containing the following features:
1. India is an independent, sovereign, republic
2. India shall be a Union of erstwhile British Indian territories, Indian states and other 
parts which are willing to be a part of the Union
3. Territories forming the Union will be autonomous units and exercise all powers 
and functions except those assigned to the Union
4. All powers and authority of sovereign and independent India and its Constitutions 
hall flow from the people
5. All people of India shall be guaranteed and secured social, economic and political 
justice ; equality of status and opportunities and equality before law and 
fundamental freedoms of speech, expression, vocation, association and action 
subject to law and public morality
6. The minorities, backward and tribal areas, depressed and backward classes shall 
be provided with adequate safeguards
7. The law would make full and willing contribution to the promotion of world peace 
and welfare of mankind
Page 4


Preamble and its 
features and idea of 
secularism
• “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”.
• The Preamble is often referred to as the soul of the Indian Constitution, affording a 
key to its letter and spirit. Delineating the core concerns of the polity in independent 
India, the Preamble seeks to express a solemn resolve that becomes the guiding light 
for the posterity in the country. The Preamble was based on the Objectives 
Resolution prepared by Jawaharlal Nehru. The O.R. may be summarised as 
containing the following features:
1. India is an independent, sovereign, republic
2. India shall be a Union of erstwhile British Indian territories, Indian states and other 
parts which are willing to be a part of the Union
3. Territories forming the Union will be autonomous units and exercise all powers 
and functions except those assigned to the Union
4. All powers and authority of sovereign and independent India and its Constitutions 
hall flow from the people
5. All people of India shall be guaranteed and secured social, economic and political 
justice ; equality of status and opportunities and equality before law and 
fundamental freedoms of speech, expression, vocation, association and action 
subject to law and public morality
6. The minorities, backward and tribal areas, depressed and backward classes shall 
be provided with adequate safeguards
7. The law would make full and willing contribution to the promotion of world peace 
and welfare of mankind
Purpose of Preamble:
• The American Constitution was the first to begin with a Preamble. Many countries, 
including India, followed this practice. The term ‘Preamble’ refers to the introduction 
or preface to the Constitution. It contains the summary or essence of the 
Constitution. The Preamble, unambiguously exemplifies the broad contours of the 
Indian political life and serves a number of useful purposes, for, the expressions used 
in it connote certain fundamental aspects of the polity from which there is no escape 
for the various stakeholders in the political life of the nation.
§ Through the use of the phrase, ‘We, the people of India’, the Preamble establishes 
the sovereignty of the people, reducing all other units of governance in the country 
to a secondary position, robbing from them any possibility of usurping the powers of 
other units as well as organs of government. At the same time, it also implies that the 
powers which are given to the government in India, are sourced not from the states 
or any section of society or the former rulers of the Indian states but from the 
people at large. 
Page 5


Preamble and its 
features and idea of 
secularism
• “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”.
• The Preamble is often referred to as the soul of the Indian Constitution, affording a 
key to its letter and spirit. Delineating the core concerns of the polity in independent 
India, the Preamble seeks to express a solemn resolve that becomes the guiding light 
for the posterity in the country. The Preamble was based on the Objectives 
Resolution prepared by Jawaharlal Nehru. The O.R. may be summarised as 
containing the following features:
1. India is an independent, sovereign, republic
2. India shall be a Union of erstwhile British Indian territories, Indian states and other 
parts which are willing to be a part of the Union
3. Territories forming the Union will be autonomous units and exercise all powers 
and functions except those assigned to the Union
4. All powers and authority of sovereign and independent India and its Constitutions 
hall flow from the people
5. All people of India shall be guaranteed and secured social, economic and political 
justice ; equality of status and opportunities and equality before law and 
fundamental freedoms of speech, expression, vocation, association and action 
subject to law and public morality
6. The minorities, backward and tribal areas, depressed and backward classes shall 
be provided with adequate safeguards
7. The law would make full and willing contribution to the promotion of world peace 
and welfare of mankind
Purpose of Preamble:
• The American Constitution was the first to begin with a Preamble. Many countries, 
including India, followed this practice. The term ‘Preamble’ refers to the introduction 
or preface to the Constitution. It contains the summary or essence of the 
Constitution. The Preamble, unambiguously exemplifies the broad contours of the 
Indian political life and serves a number of useful purposes, for, the expressions used 
in it connote certain fundamental aspects of the polity from which there is no escape 
for the various stakeholders in the political life of the nation.
§ Through the use of the phrase, ‘We, the people of India’, the Preamble establishes 
the sovereignty of the people, reducing all other units of governance in the country 
to a secondary position, robbing from them any possibility of usurping the powers of 
other units as well as organs of government. At the same time, it also implies that the 
powers which are given to the government in India, are sourced not from the states 
or any section of society or the former rulers of the Indian states but from the 
people at large. 
§ Second, the Preamble puts in black and white the nature of polity in the country
which must conform to the hard-earned ideals of sovereign, socialist, secular,
democratic republic.
§ Third, the Preamble presents a wish list outlining the aspirations of the people
which they expect the Government of India to secure for them. Spelt out in terms
of justice, equality, and fraternity, these ideals act as the benchmark to guide the
policies and programmes of the government in future to cast India into the mould
of a welfare state.
§ Last, the utility of the Preamble is discerned in its serving as a beacon light to the
higher courts in the country that are called upon to discharge the grand duty of
interpreting the Constitution. At the times of interpreting a controversial law or
constitutional provisions, where the meaning of the law in point is not clear or
ambiguity or uncertainty prevails in the minds of the constitutional lawyers or the
judges, the only reference point left to the court is the language of the Preamble
through which they persevere to mark out real intention of the framers of the
Constitution.