SET 3 :COI(PREAMBLE): CIVIL SERVICES (PRELIMS), 2026
NOTES ON CONSTITUTION OF INDIA (for G S Papers) {Prepared on 16 .9.2025 }
For Study purpose only
NB: For any doubts clarification, please refer to the recommended text books
TOPIC : PREAMBLE (with questions already asked in previous UPSC(CSE)(Prelims) Exams.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS ON CONSTITUTION OF iNDIA
TOPIC : PREAMBLE
WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:
JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;
IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY
this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949,
do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION. =================================================================
“The Preamble is a key to open the minds of the makers of the Act, and the mischief which they intend to redress.” Dyre.C.J.
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POINTS TO REMEMBER :
1)The Preamble to the Indian Constitution is based on the Objective Resolution presented by Jawaharlal Nehru (on December 13, 1946) and adopted by the Constituent Assembly (in January 22, 1947). .
2)The Preamble embodies the Objectives and ideals of the Constitution
3)The Preamble aids the legal interpretation of the Constitution where the language may be ambiguous
4)The Preamble represents the entire Constitution in its written words and enables one to understand the Constitution
5)The words ‘socialist’, ‘secular’, and ‘integrity’ were added to the Preamble by the 42nd Amendment , 1976 (This is the first time amendment to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution )
6) In the Berubari case , Supreme Court agreed that the Preamble was the key to the minds of the framers of the Constitution .
7)Any provision of the Constitution could be amended under Article 368 only ‘within the broad contours of the Preamble and of the Constitution.
8)On November 26, 1949 the people of India in the Constituent Assembly adopted, enacted and gave to themselves this Constitution of the sovereign , democratic republic of India .
9)On January 26, 1950 India was declared as ‘Republic’ which means that the head of the state (i.e., President of India) will be elected directly or indirectly. The President of India post will not be hereditary.
10) According to the Preamble of the Constitution, it was resolved to constitute India into a ‘Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic’.
11)The term ‘ sovereignity ‘ under the Constitution means that the people of India are
not subordinate to any external authority and also what is sought to be established is the oneness of the people of India and that the ‘Sovereignty’ vests in the collectivity .
12)According to the Preamble, the Constitution must strive to obtain the guarantee to the people justice based upon social, economic , politicall equality, equality of opportunity and equality before law, freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith, worship, vocation, association, action and unity and integrity of individual and the nation.
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“With the adoption of the Constitution by the members of the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, India became the largest democracy in the world. By this act of strength and will, Assembly members began that the greatest political venture since that originated in Philadelphia in 1787.”
Graville Austin
Graville Austin : Book Name : ”The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation”
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The Founding Fathers of our Grand Assembly adopted a grand declaration of the ideals and objectives ‘to give upto ourselves one of the finest constitutions in the world’.
K.V.Rao: Parliamentary Democracy of India : A Critical Commentary ================================================================
Acharya J.B.Kripalani said in a more philosophical language , ‘mystic principles of a welfare state ‘ .
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“Preamble of any constitution is its soul. The Preamble of the Indian Constitution is unique. Except Bharat, [no other] Constitution’s Preamble has undergone change and why? Preamble is not changeable. Preamble is not alterable. Preamble is the basis on which the constitution has grown. Preamble is the seed of the Constitution. It is Soul of the constitution but this Preamble for Bharat was changed by 42nd Constitutional Amendment act of 1976, adding words Socialist, Secular and integrity”.
Jagdeep Dhankkar ,former Vice-President of India
================================================================= “It is all owing to the fact that the basic philosophy of the Fundamental Law of
our Land, that lays down the mechanical or anatomical structure of our political system, is based on a firm resolve, a pledge, and an undertaking “ J.L.Nehru said.
1. Which of the following is described as the ‘Soul of the Constitution’?
(a) Fundamental Rights
(b) Fundamental Duties
(c) Directive Principles of State Policy
(d) Preamble
Ans : d
2. The Preamble to the Indian Constitution is based on
(a) Philosophy of India
(b) ‘Objectives Resolution’ drafted & moved by Pandit Nehru (c) Indian Culture
(d) Religious Concept
Ans : b
3. The term ‘We’ in Preamble means
(a) Indian Government
(b) Supreme Courts
(c) Indian Parliament
(d) The People of India
Ans : d
4. Indian Constitution ensures ‘Justice’ in which of the following form
(a) Social
(b) Economic
(c) Political
(d) All of the above
Ans: d
5. Preamble has been amended by which Amendment Act?
(a) 27th Constitutional Amendment
(b) 42nd Constitutional Amendment
(c) 44th Constitutional Amendment
(d) 40th Constitutional Amendment
Ans : b
6. In which case, the Supreme Court specifically opined that Preamble is ‘not’ a part of the Constitution?
(a) Berubari Union case
(b) Kesavanada Bharati case
(c) Both (a) & (b)
(d) None of the above
Ans : a
7. In which case, the Supreme Court rejected the earlier opinion and held that Preamble is an integral part of the Constitution?
(a) Berubari Union case
(b) Kesavanada Bharati case
(c) Both (a) & (b)
(d) None of the above
Ans : b
8. The Preamble states that the Constitution derives its authority from
(a) Indian Culture
(b) Government of India
(c) The People of India
(d) Princely states
Ans: c
9. As per Preamble, date of adoption of the Constitution is (a) 26th January 1950
(b) 26th November 1949
(c) 11th December 1946
(d) None of the above
Ans: b
10. 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976) added which of the terms to the Preamble
(a) Socialist
(b) Secular
(c) Sovereign
(d) Both (a) & (b)
Ans:d
11. Which part of the Indian Constitution expressly declares that India is a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic?
(a) Fundamental Rights
(b) Directive Principles of State Policy
(c) Preamble
(d) Fundamental Duties
Ans: c
12. ‘Economic Justice’ as one of the objectives of the Indian Constitution has
been provided in
(a) the Preamble and the Fundamental Rights
(b) the Preamble and the Directive Principles of State Policy
(c) the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles of State Policy (d) None of the Above
Ans:b
13. The correct sequence of the following words in the Preamble is (a) Sovereign, Democratic, Socialist, Secular, Republic
(b) Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic
(c) Sovereign, Socialist, Democratic, Secular, Republic
(d) None of these
Ans: b
14. The Constitution of which country was the first to begin with a Preamble?
(a) USA
(b) India
(c) Britain
(d) Canada
Ans : a
15. The ideal of Justice (Social, Economic and Political) in the Preamble draws its inspiration from
(a) Russian Revolution (USSR constitution )
(b) American Civil War
(c) French Revolution
(d) Japanese Constitution
Ans: a
16. The ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity in the Preamble have been taken from
(a) French Revolution
(b) Russian Revolution
(c) American Civil War
(d) None of the above
Ans: a
17. Which of the following is true about Preamble?
(a) It is a source of power to legislature and a source of prohibition upon the powers of legislature.
(b) It is justiciable.
(c) Its provisions are enforceable in courts of law.
(d) None of the above.
Ans: d
18. What does the term ‘Secular’ mean in the Indian context?
(a) All religions are equal in the eyes of the government and the State does not uphold any particular religion as its official religion. (b) Special importance to a religion related to minorities.
(c) One religion is promoted by the government.
(d) None of the following.
Ans: a
19. The 42nd Constitutional Amendment added which of the following words in the Preamble?
(a) Socialist
(b) Secular
(c) Integrity
(d) All of the above
Ans: d
20. Which of the following words in not mentioned in the Preamble to the Indian Constitution?
(a) Sovereign
(b) Socialist
(c) Democratic
(d) Indians
Ans: d
21. The word ‘Sovereign’ mentioned in the Preamble
implies_____
(a) India is an Independent State.
(b) India is neither a dependency nor a dominion of any other nation.
(c) India is free to conduct its own affairs (both internal and
external).
(d) All of the above.
Ans: d
22. Which of the following statements is/are true?
(a) India’s membership of the Commonwealth of Nations does not affect India’s Sovereignty in any manner.
(b) India’s membership of United Nations Organization (UNO) does not limit India’s Sovereignty.
(c) India can either acquire a foreign territory or cede a part of its territory in favor of a foreign state.
(d) All of the above.
Ans; d
23. Till now, the Preamble to the Constitution of India has been amended for how many times?
(a) Once
(b) Twice
(c) Thrice
(d) Never
Ans : a
24. In which of the following, are the basic aims and objectives of the Indian Constitution discussed?
(a) Part -1
(b) Preamble
(c) Part –II
(d) Schedule
Ans : b
25. Which among the following statements is incorrect?
(a) The objective resolution passed by Pt. Nehru was what became the Preamble to the Constitution of India.
(b) Preamble is enforceable in the court of law.
(c) Preamble has been amended only once in 1976.
(d) Preambles proves that the sovereignty lies ultimately with the Indian People Ans : b
26. 42nd Constitutional Amendment was done in which year?
(a) 1976
(b) 1966
(c) 1986
(d) 1972
Ans : a
27. Which among the following was the outcome of Kesavananda Bharati v/s State of Kerala case, 1973?
(a) Preamble is a part of the Indian Constitution and subject to amending power of the Parliament.
(b) Preamble is not a part of the Indian Constitution and not subject to amending power of the Parliament.
(c) Preamble is a part of the Constitution but not subject to amending power of the parliament.
(d) Preamble is not a part of the Constitution but is subject to the amending power of the Parliament
Ans : a
28. The Preamble to the Indian Constitution aims at securing
(a) Dignity of Individual and Unity & Integrity of the nation.
(b) Fundamental Rights to all individuals.
(c) Fundamental Rights to the citizens of India.
(d) Security of tenure to all government servants.
Ans : a
29. What is the meaning of ‘equality’ in the Indian
Constitution?
(a) Lack of opportunities
(b) Lack of equality
(c) Absence of special privileges to any section of the society, and provision of adequate opportunities for all individuals without any discrimination.
(d) None of the above.
Ans : c
30. Which of the following terms was not included in a “union of trinity” by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in his concluding speech in the Constituent Assembly?
(a) Liberty
(b) Flexibility
(c) Equality
(d) Fraternity
Ans : b
31. The philosophy underlying the Indian constitution was embodied quite early in the Objective Resolution, which was moved in the first session of the Constituent Assembly (on 13 December 1946) by:
(a) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
(c) Chakravarti Rajagopalachari
(d) Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar
Ans : a
32. ‘Republic and the ideals of Liberty, equality and fraternity’ is taken from which of the following ?
Ans : French Constitution
33. The word ‘Sovereignty’ refers to which of the following ?
Ans : to the independent authority of the State. It means that state has the power to legislate on any subject which is not subject to the control of any other state or external power.
34.The word Socialist was added to the Preamble by which of the following? Ans : 42nd Constitutional Amendment, 1976.
35.Socialism means what ?
Ans : Socialism does not mean the resisting private sector, instead it emphasizes that wealth should not be concentrated in few hands and inequality of income should be abolished.
36.The term Secular was inserted by which of the following ?
Ans : 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976.
37.The word Democracy is defined as what ?
Ans : Democracy is that form of government in the administration of which the adult population has some direct or indirect share.
38.Our democracy is which type ?
Ans : Our democracy is a representative democracy which means people have no direct control such as referendum or initiative. People exercise their power through elected representatives in Parliament at Centre and State legislatures at the state level.
39.Democratic republic stands for welfare of all the people of India which embodies the concept of what ?
Ans : It is welfare state, laid down in Directive Principles of State Policy.
40.Republic means what ?
Ans : a form of government in which Head of the State is an elected person and not a hereditary monarch like a King or the Queen as in Great Britain.
41,President is the Head of Republic of India who is indirectly elected by the people for a fixed period of 5 years. How he / she can be removed ?
Ans : He can also be removed from office by Impeachment (Article 61). 42.Preamble mentions ‘liberty’of thought, expression, belief, faith and
worship. These freedoms have been provided in our constitution under which of the following ?
Ans : Fundamental Rights (Article 19, 25-28) and are enforceable by court of law (through Article 32 and 226).
43. ‘Justice’ includes which of the following ?
a)Social
b)Economic
c) Political
d)All the above
Ans : d
44. Distributive justice is in which articles ?
a)Article 15
b)Article 39 (b) and Article 39 ( c )
c) Both (a) and ( b)
d) None of these
Ans : c
45.Political Justice can be seen in which Article ?
a)Article 326
46.Equality of opportunity and status is given in Preamble which is ensured by________
a)Articles 14 to 18 and Article 325-326.
47.’Equality’ means what ?
a)This means that every person shall have equal rights of opportunity for any job, work and nobody can be discriminated or treated as lower than anyone else only on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex etc.
48.Equality of status and opportunity for all is the basis for ultimately establishing which of the following ?
Ans : an egalitarian society.
49.’Fraternity’ means what ?
a)It refers to the spirit of brotherhood, a feeling that all people are children of same soil, the same motherland. Fraternity ensures the Unity and Integrity of India.
50. In the Judgement of Berubari Union case (1960) Supreme Court of India
says
Ans: Preamble is not a part of the Constitution
51. In the Judgement of Kesavananda Bharti case (1973) Supreme Court of India says
Ans : Preamble is a part of the Indian
52. In the Judgement of LIC of India Case (1995) Supreme Court of India says what ?
Ans : Preamble is an integral part of the Indian Constitution
53. In the words "SOVEREIGN,SOCIALIST, SECULAR, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC", “Socialist and Secular”, words are also effective from which date ?
Ans : (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
54. "Unity of the Nation" is effective from which date
Ans : (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
55. Which Constitution was the first to begin with a Preamble ? Ans USA
56.Preamble to the Indian Constitution is based on the ‘Objectives Resolution’, drafted and moved by whom ?
Ans : Pandit J.L. Nehru, and adopted by the Constituent Assembly 57.Preamble reflects whom ?
Ans : Mind of constitution makers (UPSC PRE 2017)
58. Preamble has been amended by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act (1976), which added three new words—
Ans : Socialist, Secular and Integrity
59. The word ‘sovereign’ indicates what ?
Ans : ‘sovereign’ implies that India is neither a dependency nor a dominion of
any other nation, but an independent state- free to conduct its own affairs (both internal and external)
60. The word ‘Socialist’ indicates what ?
Ans : Indian socialism is a blend of Marxism and Gandhism, leaning heavily towards the Gandhian socialism( stateless society)- UPSC PRE 2020
61.What is ‘democratic socialism’ ?
Ans : Democratic socialism- holds faith in a ‘mixed economy’ where both public and private sectors co-exist side by side
62.What is Indian brand socialism ?
Ans: Indian brand of socialism is a ‘democratic socialism’ and not a ‘“communistic socialism’ ( which is also known as ‘state socialism’)
63. When Congress party itself adopted a resolution to establish a ‘socialistic pattern of society ?
Ans : in its Avadi session
64. The ‘Secular’ conveys what ?
Ans : Positive concept of secularism i.e, all religions in our country (irrespective of their strength) have the same status and support from the state
65. By which amendment the word ‘secular’ included inthe preamble ?
Ans : added by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976
66. The word ‘democratic’ indicates what ?
Ans : Rule by people, with the people and for the people (Abraham Lincoln ) Doctrine of popular sovereignty, that is, possession of supreme power by the people ( it calls into activity the intelligence and character of ordinary man and women) UPSC 2017
67.What is ‘direct democracy’ ?
Ans : Direct democracy, the people exercise their supreme power directly as is the case in Switzerland- four devices of direct democracy, namely, Referendum, Initiative, Recall and Plebiscite
68.What is ‘referendum’ ?
Ans : Referendum is a procedure whereby a proposed legislation is referred to the electorate for settlement by their direct votes.
69.What is ‘initiative ‘ ?
Ans : Initiative is a method by means of which the people can propose a bill to the legislature for enactment.
70. What is ‘recall’ ?
Ans : Recall is a method by which the voters can remove a representative or an officer before the expiry of his term, when he fails to discharge his duties properly.
71. What is ‘plebiscite ‘ ?
Ans : Plebiscite is a method of obtaining the opinion of people on any issue of public importance. It is generally used to solve territorial disputes.
72. What is ‘indirect democracy’ ?
Ans : Indirect democracy, on the other hand, the representatives elected by the people exercise the supreme power and thus carry on the government and make the laws (through Parliament i.e., Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and President of India). Ex: INDIA
73. The ‘principles of liberty, equality and fraternity’ are not to be treated as separate items in a trinity. Why ?
Ans : They form a union of trinity in the sense that to divorce one from the other is to defeat the very purpose of democracy
74. What is the meaning of ‘Republic’ ?
Ans : The head of the state (like: President) is always elected directly or indirectly for a fixed period (like USA President )
India had an elected President. India’s head of the state (i.e., President) is indirectly elected for a fixed period of five years
75. The word Republic has two things. What are they ?
Ans : i)Vesting all political sovereignty in the people and not in the King (which is normally hereditary); and
ii)Absence of any privileged class and hence all public offices are being opened to every citizen without any discrimination.
76. The ideal of ‘justice’ — social, economic and political—has been taken from the where ?
Ans : Russian Revolution (1917).
77.The word ‘liberty ‘ conveys what ?
Ans : The word ‘liberty’ means the absence of restraints on the activities of individuals, and at the same time, providing opportunities for the development of individual personalities (UPSC 2019)
78. The Preamble secures to all citizens of India which type of ‘liberty’ ? Ans : liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship(UPSC PRE 2017)
79. The word ‘ equality’ in the Preamble conveys what ?
Ans : Absence of special privileges to any section of the society, and the provision of adequate opportunities for all individuals without any discrimination
80.The word ‘fraternity’ conveys what ?
Ans : Sense of brotherhood- to assure two things- the dignity of the individual and
81. The unity and integrity of the nation: By which amendment the word ‘integrity’ has been added to the preamble?
Ans : by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976)
82. What is the status of ‘Preamble’ ?
a)Like any other part of the Constitution, the Preamble was also enacted by the Constituent Assembly; but, after the rest of the Constitution was already enacted(INDEPENDENT)
b)The Preamble is neither a source of power to legislature nor a prohibition upon the powers of legislature
c)It is non-justiciable, that is, its provisions are not enforceable in courts of law. (UPSC PRE 2020)
d) All the above
Ans : d
83.Whether ‘Preamble ‘ can be amended ?
Ans : Preamble can be amended, subject to the condition that no amendment is done to the ‘basic features’- the fundamental features of the Constitution as contained in the Preamble cannot be altered by an amendment under Article 368
84.When ‘Preamble’ was amended ?
Ans : Preamble has been amended only once so far, in 1976, by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, which has added three new
words—Socialist, Secular and Integrity—to the Preamble.
85. In which case Supreme Court of India specifically opined that Preamble is not a part of the Constitution of India ?
Ans : Berubari Union case (1960) [Berubari was a place in West Bengal. The dispute is about transferring the land to Pakistan)
86. In which case Supreme Court of India held that Preamble is part of the Constitution of India ?
Ans Keshavananda Bharathi case (1973)
87. In which case Supreme Court of India again held that Preamble is an integral part of the Constitution of India ?
Ans : LIC of India (1995 )
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88. “It is rightly said that the preamble to a constitution or to an ordinary law of the land explains the basic objectives and purposes sought to be achieved or promoted by means of law,whether higher or lower . The most important point that ought to be taken account of at this stage is that the ‘spirit or the ideology behind the Constitution is sufficiently crystallised in the Preamble”. Who said ?
Ans : G.C.Venkata Subba Rao: Commentary on the Constitution of India p.129
89. An attempt was made in _________ Constitution Amendment Bill, 1978 so as to define the term ’Secular’ as one ‘in which there is equal respect for all religions’ and ‘Socialist’ as ‘a republic in which there is freedom from all forms of exploitations – Social, Political and Economic ‘ . Clause 44 of this Bill was , however, dropped on account of an amendment made by the Rajya Sabha to which Lok Sabha concurred.
Ans : 45th
90. “We , the People of India” emphasises which three cardinal points ? a)that the ultimate sovereignty is with the people
b)that the Founding Fathers were the real representatives of the people c)that the Constitution is founded on the consent or acquiescence of the people of India d)All the above
Ans : d
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