The preamble is a part of the Constitution(Berubari Union case) and can be amended without affecting the basic structure(Kesavananda barthi case).
Important Words:
- Sovereign
- Socialist
- Secular
- Democratic
- Republic
- Justice
- Liberty
- Equality
- Fraternity
Brief explanations of the above words:
- Sovereign: India is a sovereign state, that means it is internally supreme and externally independent.
- Socialist: Added to the constitution through 42nd Constitutional Amendment in 1976. Socialist here means achievement of socialistic goals through democratic and non-violent ways.
- Secular: Also added to the constitution through 42nd Constitutional Amendment in 1976. Secular means there is no difference of religion i.e. all religions are equally respected and moreover there is no state religion.
- Democratic: People of India elect their government by a system of the universal adult franchise.
- Republic: Head of the state is an elected person and not a monarch.
- Justice: Social, Economic, and Political justice to all without discrimination on any basis.
- Liberty: Freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship but within constitutional limits.
- Equality: No section enjoys special privileges and everyone will be offered equal status and opportunity.
- Fraternity: Assuring the dignity of an individual and the unity and integrity of the nation.
In the Berubari Union case(1960),e Supreme Court held that preamble is not an integral part of the constitution so it is not enforceable in the court of law. However, in Kesavananda Bharti case(1973), Supreme Court overruled the previous judgment and declared that Preamble is an integral part of the constitution and hence it can be used to interpret some sections of the constitution where different interpretations offer themselves.
The preamble also states that the constitution was adopted and enacted on the 26th Day of November 1949 by the Constituent Assembly.
Next article: Constitution Part I
Next article: Constitution Part I