Points to Remember:
- The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976, significantly altered the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.
- The amendment added key words reflecting the socio-political changes and aspirations of the nation.
- Understanding the original Preamble and the changes introduced is crucial.
Introduction:
The Preamble to the Constitution of India serves as a concise introduction, outlining the fundamental values and objectives of the Indian state. Originally, the Preamble declared India to be a “Sovereign Democratic Republic”. The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976, enacted during the Emergency, introduced significant changes to the Preamble, reflecting the government’s socialist and secular ideals. This amendment aimed to explicitly incorporate the guiding principles that had been implicitly understood or evolving in practice. The question asks us to identify the specific words added to the Preamble through this amendment.
Body:
The Original Preamble: The original Preamble, adopted on 26th November 1949, declared India a “Sovereign, Socialist and Secular Democratic Republic”. Note that the words “Socialist” and “Secular” were not originally present.
The 42nd Amendment and its Impact: The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, significantly altered the Preamble. It added the words “Socialist” and “Secular” before “Democratic Republic”. This addition aimed to reflect the government’s commitment to socialist principles (social justice, economic equality) and secularism (religious neutrality). The word “Sovereign” remained unchanged.
Analysis of Options:
Let’s analyze the given options:
- (A) Sovereign, Democratic, Republic: This is incorrect as it omits the words “Socialist” and “Secular” added by the 42nd Amendment.
- (B) Sovereign, Socialist, Secular: This is incorrect as it omits “Democratic Republic”. While these words were added, they were not the only additions.
- (C) Sovereign, Socialist, Democratic: This is incorrect as it omits “Secular” which was also added by the 42nd Amendment.
- (D) Sovereign, Secular, Republic: This is incorrect as it omits “Socialist” and incorrectly places “Secular” before “Democratic”.
Therefore, none of the provided options accurately represent the words added to the Preamble by the 42nd Amendment Act. The correct additions were “Socialist” and “Secular”, resulting in the Preamble reading: “We, the People of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN, SOCIALIST, SECULAR, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC…”
Conclusion:
The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976 significantly altered the Preamble of the Indian Constitution by adding the words “Socialist” and “Secular”. This amendment reflected the evolving socio-political landscape and the government’s commitment to social justice, economic equality, and religious neutrality. While none of the provided options correctly reflect the complete additions, understanding the amendment’s impact is crucial to comprehending the evolution of India’s constitutional ideals. The inclusion of these words underscores the commitment to a more inclusive and equitable society, aligning with the broader goals of holistic national development and upholding constitutional values. Future constitutional discourse should focus on ensuring these ideals are effectively translated into tangible improvements in the lives of all citizens.
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