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MAINS 2016
GS2
12.5 marks

Discuss each adjective attached to the word ‘Republic’ in the Preamble. Are they defendable in the present circumstances?

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9 min
200 words
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What the examiner wants

Explain Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic and judge whether each holds good today.

DiscussExplain the different sides of the issue, use evidence, and finish with a balanced view.

Demand-wise check

  1. 1Sovereign: independent internally and externally; defendable despite WTO and treaties, which are voluntary≈35 words
  2. 2Socialist: added 1976; Indian democratic socialism; tested by liberalisation, yet welfare and DPSPs continue≈35 words
  3. 3Secular: added 1976; equal respect for all religions; challenged by communal politics but upheld as basic structure≈35 words
  4. 4Democratic: elections, rights, accountability; concerns on criminalisation and money power≈35 words

Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.

Answer plan

Each adjective: meaningPresent challengeDefenceOverall conclusion

Where marks usually go

  • Explaining 'Republic' and other Preamble words instead of the adjectives
  • Skipping the 'defendable today' part

Draw this

  • Four-row table: adjective → meaning → challenge → defence

Value addition

  • LawSocialist and Secular were inserted by the 42nd Amendment, 1976.Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act
  • CaseS.R. Bommai (1994): secularism is a basic feature of the Constitution.Supreme Court, 1994
  • CaseDr. Balram Singh v Union of India (November 2024): the Court dismissed challenges to 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble.Supreme Court, 2024

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