The ‘preamble’ is the term used to refer to the introduction or preface to the Constitution. The Preamble was initially put forth as an ‘Objective Resolution’ on 13 December 1946 by Jawaharlal Nehru. It was then adopted unanimously by the Constituent Assembly on 22 January 1947. The preamble contains the summary or essence of the Indian Constitution.

After the drafting of the Constitution, Preamble was designed at the end and adopted after three readings. The original Preamble incorporated 81 words in its entirety.  After the 42nd Constitutional Amendment in the year 1976, four new words incorporated were ‘secular’, ‘socialist’, ‘and’, ‘integrity’. 

An eminent jurist and constitutional expert N A Palkhivala called the Preamble the ‘identity card of the Constitution.’ Kanaiyalal Meneklal Munshi calls the Preamble the “Political Horoscope” of the Constitution of India. These description highlights helps us understand that the countenance of our Constitution and worthy of knowing and predicting past and future events respectively.

Text of 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 thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;

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

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

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

Components of the Preamble 

The Preamble reveals its four components as:

1. The Constitution derives its authority from the people of India.
2. India to be of a sovereign, socialist, secular democratic and republican polity.
3. Justice, liberty, equality and fraternity as the objectives.
4. November 26, 1949 as the date of adoption 

Keywords in the Preamble 

Sovereign

It implies that India is neither a dependency nor a dominion of any other nation, but an independent state.

Socialist

The Indian brand of socialism is a ‘democratic socialism’ that holds faith in a ‘mixed economy’ where both public and private sectors co-exist side by side.

Secular

The Indian Constitution embodies the positive concept of secularism ie, all religions in our country have the same status and support from the state. 

Democratic

The Indian Constitution follows representative parliamentary democracy, in which the executive is responsible to the legislature for all its policies and actions. It is embracing not only political democracy but also social and economic democracy.

Republic 

The term ‘republic’ in our Preamble indicates that India has an elected head called the president. 

Justice

The Preamble embraces Justice in three distinct forms as social, economic and political, secured through various provisions of Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles.

Liberty

The Preamble secures to all citizens of India liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship, through their Fundamental Rights. These are enforceable in a court of law, in case of violation.

Equality

The Preamble secures all citizens of India equality of status and opportunity. It embraces three dimensions such as civic, political and economic.

Fraternity

Fraternity means a sense of brotherhood. The Preamble declares that fraternity has to assure two things that are the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation

Significance of the Preamble 

• It embodies the basic philosophy and fundamental values such as political, moral and religion on which the Constitution is based. 
• It contains the grand and noble vision of the Constituent Assembly.
• It reflects the dreams and aspirations of the founding fathers of the Constitution. 

Is Preamble a part of the constitution?

Berubari Union case (1960)

In this case, the Supreme Court specifically opined that Preamble is not a part of the Constitution.

Kesavananda Bharati case17 (1973)

In the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973), the Supreme held that the Preamble is a part of the Constitution. Later in the LIC of India case(1995) also, the Supreme Court again held that the Preamble is an integral part of the Constitution.