Preamble to the Indian Constitution- Source, Nature, Objectives

The Constitution was adopted on the 26th of November, 1949. However, most of the Constitution’s provisions went into effect on the 26th of January, 1950. Article 394 specifies the articles that became effective on the 26th of November, 1949. Article 394 states that this article (394) and articles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 60, 324, 366, 367, 379, 380, 388, 391, 392 and 393 shall enter into force immediately. The remaining provisions of this Constitution shall enter into force on the 26th of January 1950, which is referred to as the Constitution’s commencement. The 26th of January was chosen since it was on this day in 1930 that the Indian National Congress issued the Announcement of Indian Independence (Purna Swaraj). Jawaharlal Nehru’s Objectives Resolution, voted by the Constituent Assembly on the 22nd of January, 1947, formed the foundation for the Preamble to the Indian Constitution. Although not enforceable in court, the Preamble describes the Constitution’s goals and serves as a guide for interpreting Articles where the language is unclear.

Preamble to the Indian Constitution

The Preamble to the Indian Constitution is a brief statement that explains the Constitution’s guiding purpose, ideals, and philosophy. The following is hinted at in the Preamble: 

1. The Constitution’s source, 
2. The character of the Indian state, 
3. A declaration of its goals, and 
4. The date on which it was adopted.

Source of the Constitution

The phrase “We the people of India” indicates that the Constitution was written by and for the Indian people rather than handed down by a foreign force.

It also highlights Rousseau’s notion of popular sovereignty, which states that all authority comes from the people, and the system of government will be accountable and answerable to them.

Nature of Indian state

1. Sovereign: India is sovereign both domestically and externally – outwardly, it is free of foreign influence, and nationally, it has a free government that is officially chosen by the people and develops laws that govern the people. No foreign force has the authority to impose its will on India’s government.
2. Socialist: “Socialism” is an economic theory in which the state owns the means of production and distribution. India has established a Mixed Economy in which private output would coexist with public production. As a social theory, socialism emphasises societal equality.
3. Secular: Secularism, as defined in the Preamble, means that the state will not have its religion and that all people will have the same right to freedom of conscience and to freely proclaim, practise, and promote the religion of their choosing. (AIR 1994 SC 1918, S R Bommai and Others v Union of India)
4. Democratic: Suggests that the Constitution has created a type of governance based on the people’s desire. The people elect the rulers, and they are accountable to them.
5. Republic: A democratic republic, in contrast to a monarchy, in which the head of state is appointed for life or until he abdicates from the throne, is an institution in which the head of state is chosen, directly or indirectly, for a specified term. The President of India is chosen for a five-year term by an electoral college. The President of India is not a hereditary position. Every Indian citizen is eligible to become the country’s President.

Objectives of Indian State

1. The Constitution is the ultimate law, and it aids in the preservation of society’s integrity and the promotion of citizen unity to develop a strong nation.
2. The Indian Constitution’s major goal is to encourage unity throughout the country.
3. The factors which help in achieving this objective are:
   • Justice: It is vital to sustaining the social order that the Indian Constitution guarantees via several articles of Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy. It is made up of three components: social, economic, and political.
     • Social Justice – The Constitution’s goal of social justice is to establish a society free of discrimination based on caste, creed, gender, religion, and other factors.
     • Economic Justice – Economic justice states that no one can be discriminated against because of their money, income, or economic standing. Everyone should be compensated equally for equal work, and everyone should have the opportunity to make a livelihood.
     • Political Justice – Political justice is that everyone has an equal, free, and equal opportunity to engage in politics without prejudice.
   • Equality: The term ‘equality’ refers to the fact that no one group in society is given preferential treatment, and that everyone is given equal opportunity in all they do. Before the law, everyone is on an equal footing.
   • Liberty: The phrase ‘liberty’ refers to people’s freedom to choose their way of life, political beliefs, and social behaviour. Liberty does not imply the ability to do everything; rather, a person could do anything within the bounds of the law.
   • Fraternity: The term ‘fraternity’ refers to a sense of brotherhood as well as an emotional bond with the country and its people. Fraternity contributes to the nation’s dignity and cohesiveness.

Importance of Objectives

It gives them a way of life. As the notions of a good life, it comprises fraternity, liberty, and equality, which cannot be taken away from one another.

• Liberty is strongly intertwined with equality, and equality is closely linked to liberty. 
• Liberty and equality are inextricably linked to brotherhood.
• Liberty without equality would result in the dominance of the few over the many.
• The individual initiative would be suffocated by equality without liberty.
• Liberty without fraternity would result in the dominance of the few over the many.
• Liberty and equality would not be a natural run of events without the fraternity.

Conclusion

This article will teach you all you need to know about the Preamble to the Indian Constitution, which is a vital topic for many exams. Prepare properly for your test, and I hope this post has been of assistance to you.

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