Philosophy of the Indian Constitution

Every Constitution has a philosophy of its own. For the philosophy under our Constitution, we must look back into history.

The Objective Resolution:

• This Constitution Assembly declares, it’s firm and solemn resolve to proclaim India as the Independent Sovereign Republic and to compose for her future Constitution.

• WHEREIN the territories that now comprise British India, the territories that now form the Indian States, and such other parts of India as are outside British India and the States as well as such other territories as are willing to be constituted into Independent Sovereign India, shall be a Union of all; and

•WHEREIN the said territories, whether with their present boundaries or such with others as may be determined by the Constituent Assembly and subsequently by accordance with the law of the Constitution, shall possess and retains the status of autonomous units, together with residual powers and exercise all powers and functions of Government and administration, save and except such powers and functions as are vested in or assigned to the Union, or as are inherent or implied in the Union or resulting therefrom; and

•WHEREIN all powers and authority of Sovereign Independent india, its constituent parts, and organs of government are derived from the people; and

•WHEREIN shall be guaranteed and secured to all people of India justice, social, economic, and political; equality of status, of opportunity, and before the law; freedom of thoughts, expression, belief, faith, worship, vocation, association, and action, subject to the law and public morality; and

• WHEREIN adequate safeguards shall be provided for minorities, backward and tribal areas, and depressed and other backward classes; and

• WHEREIN shall be maintained the integrity of the territory of the Republic and its sovereign rights on the land, sea, and air according to justice and the law of civilized nations; and

• The ancient land attains its rightful and honored place in the world and make its full and willing contribution to the addition of world peace and the welfare of mankind.

The Preamble:

WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens;

JUSTICE, social, economic, and political;

LIBERTY of thoughts, expression, belief, faith, and worship;

EQUALITY of status and opportunity; and to promote among them all;

FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and the unity and integrity of the Nation;

IN OUR CONSTITUTION ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.

The Preamble to our Constitution serves, two purposes –

(a) it indicates the source from which the Constitution derives its authority;

(b) it also states the objects which the Constitution seeks to establish and promote.

Important Amendment: 42nd Amendment, 1976 that the goal of the Indian polity is socialism was ensured by inserting the word “socialist” in the Preamble, by the Constitution Act, 1976. The secular objective of the States has been specifically expressed by inserting the word “secular” in the Preamble by the Constitution Act, 1976.