Previous Year Question
Which among the following words were inserted in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution by the 42nd Constitution Amendment?
Socialist
Secular
Sovereign
Republic
Select the correct answer from the code given below:
1 and 3
3 and 4
2 and 3
1 and 2
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976, inserted the words Socialist, Secular and Integrity into the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. Among the given options, only Socialist and Secular were newly inserted.
1. Socialist — Correct
The word Socialist was not present in the Preamble of the original Constitution. It was inserted by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment.
The word expresses constitutional objectives relating to social and economic justice and the reduction of inequality of opportunity.
2. Secular — Correct
The word Secular was also absent from the original Preamble. It was inserted by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment.
In the Indian constitutional system, secularism is associated with equal constitutional treatment of all religions by the State and the religious freedom of individuals.
3. Sovereign — Incorrect
The word Sovereign was already included in the original Preamble on 26 November 1949. It was not inserted by the 42nd Amendment.
It refers to India’s internal and external sovereignty.
4. Republic — Incorrect
The word Republic was also present in the original Preamble. It was not inserted by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment.
In a republic, the office of the Head of State is not hereditary.
Additional important fact: The 42nd Amendment inserted not two but three words into the Preamble. The third word was Integrity. The original Preamble referred to the unity of the Nation, which the amendment changed to the unity and integrity of the Nation. These changes to the Preamble came into effect on 3 January 1977.