The Preamble primarily serves as which of the following?
- A.A schedule to the Constitution
- B.A guiding principle for interpretation
- C.A financial guideline
- D.An enforceable part of law
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is A guiding principle for interpretation. The Preamble is not enforceable in a court of law: it is neither a source of power for the legislature nor a limit on its powers. Its main legal use is as an aid to interpretation. When the meaning of a provision of the Constitution is unclear, courts look to the Preamble to understand the objectives the framers had in mind.
The other options describe things the Preamble is not. It is not a schedule: the Constitution's schedules are separate lists placed at the end of the text, such as the list of languages. It is not a financial guideline. And it is not an enforceable part of law, which is the most tempting wrong answer: even after the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) held that the Preamble is a part of the Constitution, it remained non-justiciable. Being part of the Constitution and being enforceable in court are two different things, and this question tests exactly that difference.
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
Show answer
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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