Preamble

Definition

The introductory statement of the Constitution that declares its source of authority, the nature of the Indian State, the objectives it seeks to secure, and the date of its adoption.

Key points

• Source: "We, the People of India" enact, adopt and give the Constitution to themselves; popular sovereignty.
• Describes India as a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic; "Socialist" and "Secular" (and "Integrity") were added by the 42nd Amendment, 1976.
• Objectives: Justice (social, economic, political), Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.
• Date of adoption: 26 November 1949 (the Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950).
• Based on the Objectives Resolution moved by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1946; held to be part of the Constitution and amendable (Kesavananda Bharati, 1973), but its basic structure cannot be destroyed.

Why it matters for CAPF

The keyword order, the 42nd Amendment additions, and the dates are high-frequency static-fact items, often as fill-in or matching questions.

Common confusion

The Preamble is amendable but not a source of justiciable power by itself; 26 November 1949 (adoption) versus 26 January 1950 (commencement); the "Socialist Secular" wording was added in 1976, not in the original 1949 text.

Parent note

preamble and features of the constitution