📘 Summary: The Preamble is the soul of the Indian Constitution. It's an introduction that outlines the core values and objectives of the nation. It declares India as a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, and Democratic Republic, and aims to provide justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity to all its citizens. ### What is the Preamble? The Preamble is like the summary or preface of the Constitution. It doesn't give any specific powers, but it sets the tone and direction for the entire legal framework of the country. Think of it as the mission statement for India. The very first words, "WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA," signify that the ultimate power lies with the citizens. ### Key Concepts in the Preamble - Sovereign: This means India is an independent nation, free to conduct its own internal and external affairs without any external interference. - Socialist: Added by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, this signifies India's goal to achieve socialist ends through democratic means, aiming for social and economic equality and preventing the concentration of wealth. - Secular: Also added by the 42nd Amendment, this means the state does not have its own religion and treats all religions equally. Citizens are free to practice any religion of their choice. - Democratic Republic: India has a government elected by the people (democratic) and the head of the state, the President, is also elected, not a hereditary monarch (republic). ### Objectives of the Constitution The Preamble clearly states its goals to secure for every citizen: - Justice: Not just in court, but also social (no discrimination) and economic (no wealth gap). - Liberty: Freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship. - Equality: Everyone is equal before the law (equality of status) and should have equal chances to succeed (equality of opportunity). - Fraternity: Promoting a sense of brotherhood among all Indians, ensuring the dignity of every individual and the unity of the nation. ### Is the Preamble Part of the Constitution? For a long time, there was a debate on this. But in the famous Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973) case, the Supreme Court declared that the Preamble is indeed a part of the Constitution. It can be amended, but its 'basic features' cannot be changed. 🧠 Quick Recap: - The Preamble is the introduction to the Constitution. - It defines India as a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic. - Its goals are Justice, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. - It was amended once in 1976 to add 'Socialist', 'Secular', and 'Integrity'. - The Supreme Court confirmed it is a part of the Constitution.