Recently, the leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha claimed that the words “socialist” and “secular” were missing in the Preamble of the Constitution of India in copies given to MPs.
These two words were added to the Preamble by The Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976.

“Socialist” was inserted in the Preamble during the Indira Gandhi government to emphasize that socialism was a goal and philosophy of the Indian state.
The Indian brand of socialism did not involve the nationalization of all means of production but focused on selective nationalization where necessary.
“Secular” was added to ensure that the state protects all religions equally, maintains neutrality, and does not uphold any one religion as a “state religion.”
The secular nature of the Indian state is secured by Articles 25-28 of the Constitution.

Secularism in the Indian Constitution is not a matter of religious sentiment but a matter of law.
- It signifies the state’s concern with the relationship between individuals rather than between individuals and God, which is a matter of personal choice.
Critics have debated the term’s implications, with some claiming it supports “pseudo-secularism” and “vote-bank politics.”
Secularism always Implicit:
- The philosophy of secularism was implicit in the Constitution even before the 42nd Amendment.
- Founding documents like Articles 25, 26, and 27 were adopted with the intention of promoting secularism.
- The 42nd Amendment made explicit what was already implicit in the Constitution’s provisions and overall philosophy.
Past Supreme Court Petitions:
- Various petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court seeking the removal of “socialist” and “secular” from the Preamble.
- Petitioners argued that these words were not originally intended and that their inclusion exceeds the amending power of Parliament under Article 368.
- In 2008, the Supreme Court rejected a plea to remove “socialist,” stating that socialism in a broader sense means welfare measures for citizens and has a different meaning at different times.