Q. The mind of the makers of the Constitution of India is reflected in which of the following?

  • The Preamble
  • The Fundamental Rights
  • The Directive Principles of State Policy
  • The Fundamental Duties

Answer: (a) The Preamble

The Preamble:
  • A preamble is an introductory statement in a document that explains the document’s philosophy and objectives.
  • In a Constitution, it presents the intention of its framers, the history behind its creation, and the core values and principles of the nation.
  • The preamble basically gives idea of the following things/objects:
    • Source of the Constitution
    • Nature of Indian State
    • Statement of its objectives
    • Date of its adoption
  • It is a borrowed feature from the Constitution of the USA.
  • The ideals behind the Preamble to India’s Constitution were laid down by Jawaharlal Nehru’s Objectives Resolution, adopted by the Constituent Assembly on January 22, 1947.
  • Although not enforceable in court, the Preamble states the objectives of the Constitution, and acts as an aid during the interpretation of Articles when language is found ambiguous.
  • The Preamble has been amended only once so far, in 1976, by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act.
    • It added three new words Socialist, Secular, and Integrity.
Objectives of the Indian Constitution
  • The Constitution is the supreme law and it helps to maintain integrity in the society and to promote unity among the citizens to build a great nation.
    • The main objective of the Indian Constitution is to promote harmony throughout the nation.
  • The factors which help in achieving this objective are:
    • Justice: It is necessary to maintain order in society that is promised through various provisions of Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy provided by the Constitution of India. It comprises three elements, which is social, economic, and political.
      • Social Justice – Social justice means that the Constitution wants to create a society without discrimination on any grounds like caste, creed, gender, religion, etc.
      • Economic Justice – Economic Justice means no discrimination can be caused by people on the basis of their wealth, income, and economic status. Every person must be paid equally for an equal position and all people must get opportunities to earn for their living.
      • Political Justice – Political Justice means all the people have an equal, free and fair right without any discrimination to participate in political opportunities.
    • Equality: The term ‘Equality’ means no section of society has any special privileges and all the people have given equal opportunities for everything without any discriminations. Everyone is equal before the law.
    • Liberty: The term ‘Liberty’ means freedom for the people to choose their way of life, have political views and behavior in society. Liberty does not mean freedom to do anything, a person can do anything but in the limit set by the law.
    • Fraternity: The term ‘Fraternity’ means a feeling of brotherhood and an emotional attachment with the country and all the people. Fraternity helps to promote dignity and unity in the nation.
  • Importance of Objectives: It provides a way of life. It includes fraternity, liberty, and equality as the notion of a happy life and which can not be taken from each other.
    • Liberty cannot be divorced from equality, equality cannot be divorced from liberty. Nor can liberty and equality be divorced from fraternity.
    • Without equality, liberty would produce the supremacy of the few over the many.
    • Equality without liberty would kill individual initiative.
    • Without fraternity, liberty would produce the supremacy of the few over the many.
    • Without fraternity, liberty and equality could not become a natural course of things.