Nature of the Indian State
India is declared to be a Sovereign, Secular, Socialist Democratic, and Republic in the preamble of the Indian Constitution:
Sovereign
According to the Preamble of the Constitution, India is “sovereign” in the sense that it is not subject to the influence of any other force and that it has its own independent authority. To put it simply, sovereignty is the ability of a state to exercise autonomous power.
Secular
In 1976, the 42nd Amendment was amended to include the term “secular.” The Preamble of the Indian Constitution defines secularism as the belief that all religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam, Jainism, and Christianity, are equal in this state. India is not a state where one religion predominates.
Socialist
The preamble of the Indian Constitution has socialist substance in the form of several Directive Principles of State Policy. The term “socialist” was added later, in the 42nd Amendment of 1976. In this case, the word socialist refers to democratic socialism in the Preamble of the Constitution, which is understood to be the progressive, democratic, and nonviolent attainment of socialist objectives. It maintains its belief in the mixed economy, which incorporates both the public and private sectors.
Democratic
The 42nd Amendment, which was enacted in 1976, clarifies that every Indian citizen has the right to vote and choose the governments that they like. All Indian nationals who are eighteen years of age or older are eligible to vote. This also includes social and economic democracy.
Republic
The term “Republic” is associated with democratic systems, where citizens have the right to participate in decision-making processes, either directly or through elected representatives. It’s meaning public power is not a proprietary right and that leaders are subject to change every five years through elections.
Also Check: Amendment in Indian Constitution
Preamble of the Indian Constitution – Facts for UPSC
The Preamble of the Indian Constitution is a brief introduction that sets down the fundamental goals and ideas of the document itself as well as identifying the people as the source of the document’s authority and meaning. The Indian Constituent Assembly enacted it on November 26, 1949, and it went into force on January 26, 1950. It is stated at the very beginning of the Constitution, prior to Part I, which is its primary body.
In this article, we will look into the Preamble, its definition, background, objectives, four main components, importance, and more.
Table of Content
- Preamble to the Constitution of India
- Constitution Day India
- Historical Background of the Preamble to the Constitution of India
- Components of the Preamble to the Constitution of India
- Source of Authority of Constitution of India
- Nature of the Indian State
- Keywords in the Preamble
- Objectives of the Preamble of the Constitution of India
- Importance of the Preamble of the Indian Constitution
- Facts about the Preamble of the Indian Constitution