How many times has the Preamble to the Constitution of India been amended?
- A.Never
- B.Once
- C.Twice
- D.Three times
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is once. The Preamble has been amended only one time, by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976. That amendment added three words: "Socialist" and "Secular" to the description of India, and "Integrity" to the phrase "unity and integrity of the Nation".
"Never" is wrong because the 1976 change is on record; it is also why the Preamble as quoted today differs from the text adopted on 26 November 1949, which described India only as a "sovereign democratic republic". "Twice" and "three times" confuse the number of amendments with the number of words added, which is three. Keep the two numbers apart: one amendment, three words. The fact that the Preamble can be amended at all was settled by the Supreme Court in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973), which held that it is a part of the Constitution and can be amended so long as its basic features are not destroyed.
Read the full article: Preamble of the Indian Constitution: Notes, Keywords and PYQs
Practice Questions
View allFill in the blank using words contained in the Preamble to the Constitution of India: We, ______, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens....
- A.The Supreme Court
- B.The Indian Parliament
- C.The Central Government
- D.The People of India
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The Preamble opens with the words "We, the people of India", which name the people as the source from which the Constitution draws its authority.
Read the full explanation →Which of the following word sequences is correct as per the Preamble to the Constitution?
- A.Sovereign, secular, socialist, democratic, republic
- B.Sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic, republic
- C.Secular, democratic, secular, socialist, sovereign
- D.Socialist, secular, democratic, republic, sovereign
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This is the order in which the Preamble describes India: "a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC". Socialist and secular were inserted between sovereign and democratic by the 42nd Amendment in 1976; before that the phrase read "sovereign democratic republic".
Read the full explanation →Which among the following words were added to the Preamble in the 42nd amendment of the Indian constitution?
- A.Socialist
- B.Democratic
- C.Republic
- D.Sovereign
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The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 added three words to the Preamble: "Socialist" and "Secular" to the description of India, and "Integrity" to the phrase "unity and integrity of the Nation".
Read the full explanation →Which of the following is mentioned in the Preamble of the Constitution of India?
- A.Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship
- B.Fraternity assuring human dignity
- C.Equality of status and employment
- D.Justice, social, economic and administrative
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These are the exact words the Preamble uses for liberty, and they appear in it just as written here. Each of the other options changes one word of the real text, which is exactly how this question catches people.
Read the full explanation →The idea of the Preamble of the Indian Constitution is borrowed from the Constitution of _______.
- A.USSR (Present Russia)
- B.Canada
- C.Britain
- D.United States of America
Show answer
The idea of beginning a constitution with a preamble was borrowed from the Constitution of the USA, whose own text opens with the words "We the People".
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