SC Upholds Inclusion of 'Socialist' and 'Secular' in Preamble
Why focus: Core GS2 Polity & NCERT Class 11. SC ruling on 42nd Amendment setup for 'Assertion-Reason' on Preamble's amendability.
In News
What Happened
Why It Matters
Background
History & Context
What Changed
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Legal challenge to Amendment power: BEFORE, petitioners argued that amending a document explicitly dated November 26, 1949, was a historical anomaly and legally invalid. NOW, the Supreme Court clarified that an amendment does not alter the historical date of adoption but validly updates the Constitution's guiding text.
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Interpretation of Socialism: BEFORE, some legal arguments suggested that the term 'socialist' inherently restricted economic freedom and mandated state control over industry. NOW, the Court explicitly defined Indian socialism as a commitment to equal opportunity and a welfare state, which does not preclude private enterprise.
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Status of the 42nd Amendment: BEFORE, the inclusion of these specific words in the Preamble faced recurring litigation from groups questioning the legitimacy of changes made during the Emergency. NOW, the Supreme Court has definitively upheld the constitutional validity of their inclusion.
Prelims Angle
NCERT Connection
Practice Questions
Q1
Correct Statement(s)Which of the following statements regarding the Preamble to the Indian Constitution is/are correct? 1. The words 'Socialist' and 'Secular' were added to the Preamble by the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act. 2. In the Kesavananda Bharati case, the Supreme Court held that the Preamble is a part of the Constitution and can be amended.