Which of the following word does not figure in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution:

Question

Which of the following word does not figure in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution:

1. A. Sovereign
2. B. Democratic
3. C. Socialist
4. D. Welfare (Correct answer)

Correct Answer

Option D — Welfare

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Welfare.

Key Points

• The Preamble describes India as a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic; Welfare does not appear in it.
• Socialist and Secular were not in the original text either — both were inserted by the 42nd Amendment, 1976, along with *Integrity*.
• The four objectives the Preamble secures are Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.

Additional Information

• The idea of a welfare state does run through the Constitution, but through the Directive Principles (Part IV), not the Preamble.
• The Preamble begins "We, the people of India" and adopts the date 26 November 1949.
• In *Kesavananda Bharati* (1973) the Supreme Court held the Preamble to be part of the Constitution and amendable, but not so as to damage its basic structure.