Socialist, secular, and integrity

Learning outcome

You can say which words the 42nd Amendment added to the Preamble, and which words were already there in 1949.

Concepts and why

The Preamble adopted in 1949 described India as a SOVEREIGN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC, and it spoke of the unity of the Nation. The 42nd Amendment changed that reading. The words became SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC. The phrase unity of the Nation became unity and integrity of the Nation. In Hindi, the added ideas are समाजवादी, पंथनिरपेक्ष and अखंडता. Socialist, secular and integrity were not in the Preamble of 1949. Sovereign, democratic and republic were already there.

Worked examples

A question asks which amendment added socialist and secular to the Preamble. The answer is the 42nd Amendment. A question asks whether unity and integrity was the 1949 phrase. The 1949 phrase was unity of the Nation. Integrity came with the 42nd Amendment.

Common mistakes

Placing socialist and secular in the 1949 Preamble. Saying the 42nd Amendment removed democratic or republic. It added words. It did not remove those two. Treating integrity as part of the original unity phrase.

Practice questions

1. Which amendment added socialist and secular to the Preamble?
2. What was the 1949 phrase for unity?
3. Which of these was already in the 1949 Preamble: secular, or republic?

Answers and explanations

1. The 42nd Amendment.
2. Unity of the Nation.
3. Republic. Secular was added by the 42nd Amendment.

Analogy

A nameplate on a gate can gain two new words and a longer last line without losing the first words. Sovereign, democratic and republic stayed. Socialist and secular were written in. The last line grew from unity to unity and integrity.

Quick reference

1949: Sovereign Democratic Republic, unity of the Nation. 42nd Amendment: Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic, unity and integrity of the Nation. Hindi additions: समाजवादी, पंथनिरपेक्ष, अखंडता.