Which amendment added the words "Socialist" and "Secular" to the Preamble?
-
A.
42nd Amendment
-
B.
44th Amendment
-
C.
61st Amendment
-
D.
73rd Amendment
Correct Answer:
A. 42nd Amendment
Explanation:
The 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 is a landmark in Indian constitutional history, often referred to as the Mini-Constitution due to the extensive changes it introduced. Enacted during the National Emergency under the administration of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, this amendment fundamentally altered the Preamble by inserting three specific terms: Socialist, Secular, and Integrity.
Before this amendment, the Preamble described India as a Sovereign Democratic Republic. The inclusion of Socialist and Secular was intended to explicitly define the nation's commitment to economic justice and religious neutrality. While the original framers of the Constitution, including Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, had debated these terms and initially chose to leave them out to allow for future political and economic flexibility, the 1976 amendment codified them as foundational pillars.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court of India has since upheld these principles in various landmark judgments, such as the S.R. Bommai case, designating secularism as part of the Basic Structure of the Constitution. This ensures that these values remain integral to India’s democratic identity and cannot be removed by future legislative actions. Therefore, the 42nd Amendment is the correct legal instrument that added these specific words to the Preamble.
Click below to open Discussion & Feedback
0 Issues
Please
login to comment or Report Issues.