The Preamble and the start of the Constitution
The Constitution's opening declaration, which grew out of the Objectives Resolution of the Constituent Assembly.
What the paper can ask
- The Preamble is based on the Objectives Resolution, moved in the Constituent Assembly before the Constitution was drafted.
- The calligraphy of the original Constitution is by Prem Behari Narain Raizada and the art on the Preamble page is by Beohar Rammanohar Sinha.
- The Preamble was later changed once, by an amendment passed in 1976.
Latest
Timeline: Objectives Resolution moved 13 December 1946 and accepted 22 January 1947; Constitution adopted 26 November 1949; in force 26 January 1950. The Berubari case (1960) said the Preamble is not part of the Constitution; Kesavananda Bharati (1973) reversed this. The 1976 amendment added 'socialist' and 'secular' and changed 'unity of the Nation' to 'unity and integrity of the Nation'.
Why exams ask
Setters ask the date of the Objectives Resolution, the two Constitution dates, whether the Preamble is part of the Constitution, and what the 1976 amendment changed.
The full story
The Preamble begins with 'We, the people of India' and states the aims of the Constitution: to constitute India into a republic and to secure justice, liberty, equality and fraternity for all citizens. It grew out of the Objectives Resolution moved in the Constituent Assembly. The Constitution was adopted on one date and brought into force on a later date.
Test yourself
1.The Constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950. That date was chosen because
Correct. The Assembly adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949 but brought it into force on 26 January 1950, the day the Congress had observed as Independence Day since 1930.
Not quite. The Assembly adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949 but brought it into force on 26 January 1950, the day the Congress had observed as Independence Day since 1930. It goes into your error book.
2.Which of the following words were inserted in the Preamble by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976?
Correct. The 42nd Amendment (1976) substituted 'Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic' for 'Sovereign Democratic Republic' and 'unity and integrity' for 'unity'.
Not quite. The 42nd Amendment (1976) substituted 'Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic' for 'Sovereign Democratic Republic' and 'unity and integrity' for 'unity'. It goes into your error book.
3.Consider the following statements about the Preamble: 1. The Supreme Court in Kesavananda Bharati (1973) held that the Preamble is part of the Constitution. 2. The Preamble has been amended only once, by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976. Which of the statements is/are correct?
Correct. In Berubari (1960) the Court said the Preamble was not part of the Constitution; Kesavananda Bharati (1973) reversed this. The only amendment to the Preamble is the 42nd of 1976.
Not quite. In Berubari (1960) the Court said the Preamble was not part of the Constitution; Kesavananda Bharati (1973) reversed this. The only amendment to the Preamble is the 42nd of 1976. It goes into your error book.