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English · हिन्दी · తెలుగు · தமிழ் · മലയാളം · मराठी · ಕನ್ನಡ

The Preamble

मराठीत स्पष्टीकरण

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What the Preamble says, where it came from, its only amendment, and what the Supreme Court has said about it.

Each idea is explained first in Marathi (मराठी), ending with the English and Hindi exam terms, followed by the same point in exam English. UPSC Prelims is in English or Hindi, so understand it in Marathi and revise it in English.

उद्देशिका म्हणजे संविधानाची प्रस्तावना. पुस्तकाच्या सुरुवातीची ओळख जशी ते पुस्तक कशाबद्दल आहे ते सांगते, तशी उद्देशिका एकाच वाक्यात चार गोष्टी सांगते: संविधानाला अधिकार कोणाकडून मिळतो, भारत कोणत्या प्रकारचे राज्य आहे, नागरिकांना काय मिळवून द्यायचे आहे, आणि ते कोणत्या तारखेला स्वीकारले गेले. (→ English: Preamble · हिन्दी: उद्देशिका)

In exam EnglishThe Preamble is the introduction to the Constitution. In one sentence it states four things: where the Constitution gets its authority, what kind of state India is, what the Constitution aims to achieve for citizens, and the date it was adopted.

उद्देशिकेची सुरुवात "आम्ही, भारताचे लोक" या शब्दांनी होते. याचा अर्थ संविधानाला अधिकार लोकांकडूनच मिळतो. ते कोणत्या राजाने किंवा ब्रिटिश संसदेने दिलेले नाही; लोकांनी आपल्या संविधान सभेमार्फत ते स्वतःला दिले. (→ English: Constituent Assembly · हिन्दी: संविधान सभा)

In exam EnglishIt opens with "We, the people of India". This means the Constitution draws its authority from the people. It was not handed down by a king or by the British Parliament; the people, through their Constituent Assembly, gave it to themselves.

भारत कोणत्या प्रकारचा देश आहे हे पाच शब्दांत सांगितले आहे. सार्वभौम: आपले निर्णय आपणच घेतो, दुसरा देश आदेश देऊ शकत नाही. समाजवादी: विषमता कमी करण्यासाठी शासन काम करते. धर्मनिरपेक्ष: शासनाचा स्वतःचा कोणताही धर्म नाही, ते सर्व धर्मांना समान वागणूक देते. लोकशाही: सरकार लोक निवडतात. गणराज्य: राष्ट्रप्रमुख (राष्ट्रपती) निवडले जातात, वंशपरंपरेने येत नाहीत. (→ English: Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic · हिन्दी: संपूर्ण प्रभुत्व-संपन्न, समाजवादी, पंथनिरपेक्ष, लोकतंत्रात्मक, गणराज्य)

In exam EnglishIt describes India as a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic. Sovereign: India decides its own internal and external affairs. Socialist: the state works to reduce inequality. Secular: the state has no religion of its own and treats all religions equally. Democratic: government is elected by the people. Republic: the head of state (the President) is elected, not hereditary.

त्यानंतर सर्व नागरिकांसाठी चार उद्दिष्टे सांगितली आहेत. न्याय तीन प्रकारचा: सामाजिक, आर्थिक आणि राजकीय. स्वातंत्र्य पाच बाबतीत: विचार, अभिव्यक्ती, विश्वास, श्रद्धा आणि उपासना. समता दोन बाबतीत: दर्जा आणि संधी. बंधुता म्हणजे सर्वांनी भावंडांसारखे राहणे; ती व्यक्तीची प्रतिष्ठा आणि राष्ट्राची एकता आणि एकात्मता सुनिश्चित करते. (→ English: Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity · हिन्दी: न्याय, स्वतंत्रता, समता, बंधुता)

In exam EnglishIt then lists four objectives for all citizens. Justice: social, economic and political. Liberty: of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship. Equality: of status and of opportunity. Fraternity: assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation.

उद्देशिकेचा आधार उद्दिष्टांचा ठराव आहे. जवाहरलाल नेहरूंनी तो 13 डिसेंबर 1946 रोजी संविधान सभेत मांडला आणि सभेने 22 जानेवारी 1947 रोजी तो स्वीकारला. उद्देशिकेसह संविधान 26 नोव्हेंबर 1949 रोजी स्वीकारले गेले; हा दिवस आता संविधान दिन म्हणून साजरा केला जातो. संविधानाचा बहुतांश भाग 26 जानेवारी 1950 पासून लागू झाला. (→ English: Objectives Resolution · हिन्दी: उद्देश्य प्रस्ताव)

In exam EnglishThe Preamble is based on the Objectives Resolution, which Jawaharlal Nehru moved in the Constituent Assembly on 13 December 1946 and which the Assembly adopted on 22 January 1947. The Constitution, with its Preamble, was adopted on 26 November 1949. That date is now observed as Constitution Day (Samvidhan Divas). Most of the Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950.

उद्देशिकेत आतापर्यंत फक्त एकदाच दुरुस्ती झाली आहे: 1976 मध्ये 42 व्या घटनादुरुस्तीने. या दुरुस्तीने 'समाजवादी' आणि 'धर्मनिरपेक्ष' हे दोन शब्द जोडले, आणि 'राष्ट्राची एकता' बदलून 'राष्ट्राची एकता आणि एकात्मता' केले. या शब्दांना आव्हान देणाऱ्या याचिका सर्वोच्च न्यायालयाने नोव्हेंबर 2024 मध्ये फेटाळल्या (डॉ. बलराम सिंह विरुद्ध भारत संघ). (→ English: 42nd Amendment · हिन्दी: 42वाँ संशोधन)

In exam EnglishThe Preamble has been amended only once, by the 42nd Amendment in 1976. It added the words "socialist" and "secular", and changed "unity of the Nation" to "unity and integrity of the Nation". In November 2024, the Supreme Court dismissed petitions challenging these additions (Dr. Balram Singh v. Union of India).

उद्देशिका संविधानाचा भाग आहे का? परीक्षेत वारंवार विचारला जाणारा प्रश्न. बेरुबारी खटला (1960): भाग नाही असे सर्वोच्च न्यायालयाने म्हटले. केशवानंद भारती खटला (1973): हे मत बदलले; उद्देशिका संविधानाचा भागच आहे, तिच्यात दुरुस्ती करता येते, पण मूलभूत संरचना नष्ट होईल अशी नाही. एलआयसी खटला (1995): भाग असल्याची पुन्हा पुष्टी केली. मात्र उद्देशिका न्यायालयात अंमलबजावणी न करता येणारी आहे; अस्पष्ट तरतुदींचा अर्थ लावण्यासाठीच तिचा वापर होतो. (→ English: basic structure, non-justiciable · हिन्दी: मूल ढांचा, न्यायालय द्वारा अप्रवर्तनीय)

In exam EnglishIs the Preamble part of the Constitution? In the Berubari Union case (1960), the Supreme Court said it was not. In Kesavananda Bharati (1973), the Court reversed this: the Preamble is part of the Constitution and can be amended, but not in a way that destroys the basic structure. The LIC of India case (1995) confirmed it is part of the Constitution. The Preamble is non-justiciable: a court cannot enforce it directly, but it is used to interpret unclear provisions.

Exam traps

Recap

Practice questions

Q1. Which of the following words were added to the Preamble by the 42nd Amendment, 1976?
1. Socialist
2. Secular
3. Integrity
4. Republic
Select the correct answer using the code below.

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 1, 2 and 3 only
  3. 2, 3 and 4 only
  4. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Show answer

Answer: B. 1, 2 and 3 only

The 42nd Amendment added 'socialist', 'secular' and 'integrity'. 'Republic' was in the original Preamble.

Q2. The Preamble promises liberty of which of the following?
1. Thought
2. Expression
3. Economic activity
4. Worship
Select the correct answer using the code below.

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 1, 2 and 4 only
  3. 2, 3 and 4 only
  4. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Show answer

Answer: B. 1, 2 and 4 only

Liberty in the Preamble is of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship. Economic liberty is not listed.

Q3. In which case did the Supreme Court hold that the Preamble is part of the Constitution and can be amended without altering the basic structure?

  1. In re Berubari Union (1960)
  2. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973)
  3. S. R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994)
  4. Dr. Balram Singh v. Union of India (2024)
Show answer

Answer: B. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973)

Kesavananda Bharati (1973) reversed the Berubari view and laid down the basic structure limit on amendments.

Q4. Consider the following statements about the Preamble:
1. It was adopted on 26 November 1949.
2. It can be enforced directly in a court of law.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer

Answer: A. 1 only

The Preamble was adopted on 26 November 1949. It is non-justiciable: courts use it to interpret provisions but do not enforce it directly.

Q5. The words "We, the people of India" in the Preamble indicate that:

  1. Only citizens of India can vote
  2. The Constitution draws its authority from the people
  3. India is a federation of states
  4. The Constituent Assembly was directly elected
Show answer

Answer: B. The Constitution draws its authority from the people

The opening words state the source of authority: the people of India. The Constituent Assembly was in fact indirectly elected by provincial assemblies.

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Sources