Which two words have been incorporated in the Preamble by the 42nd Amendment?

Indian Polity ·Previously asked in BPSC CCE 2024

View the full solved paper: GS 2024 (Series G)

Question

Which two words have been incorporated in the Preamble by the 42nd Amendment?

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

Correct Answer

Option D — Secular and Socialist

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Secular and Socialist.

Key Points

  • The words 'Socialist' and 'Secular' were added to the Preamble of the Constitution by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 (often called the 'Mini-Constitution'), during the Emergency.
  • The same amendment also inserted the word 'Integrity' into the phrase 'unity and integrity of the Nation'.
  • So the Preamble's description of India changed from 'Sovereign Democratic Republic' to 'Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic'.

Additional Information

  • 'Sovereign', 'Democratic' and 'Republic' were already part of the original Preamble of 1950; only 'Socialist' and 'Secular' were newly added by the 42nd Amendment — making option (D) correct.