The Preamble – Philosophy, Keywords, Amendability & Key Supreme Court Cases | UPSC & CLAT PG

In this lecture, we study the Preamble of the Indian Constitution, the document that encapsulates the identity, philosophy, values, and objectives of the Constitution.
The Preamble guides constitutional interpretation and reflects the vision of the Constituent Assembly.

This segment is highly relevant for UPSC Law Optional, CLAT PG, Judiciary Exams, UGC-NET Law, and LL.B./LL.M. courses.

🧭 What You’ll Learn
1️⃣ Nature, Origin & Purpose of the Preamble

Source in the US Constitution

Role of the Objective Resolution (Nehru, 1946)

Preamble as the soul of the Constitution

Interpretative value

2️⃣ Structure & Key Words of the Preamble

We, the People of India – popular sovereignty

Sovereign – internal & external sovereignty

Socialist – meaning post-Samatha, post-1976 amendment

Secular – positive vs. principled secularism (Indian model)

Democratic – political, social & economic democracy

Republic – elected head of state

The Goals:

Justice (social, economic, political)

Liberty

Equality (formal + substantive)

Fraternity (dignity & unity)

3️⃣ Is the Preamble Part of the Constitution?

Position before Kesavananda Bharati

Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala – Preamble is part of Constitution + Basic Structure

S.R. Bommai v. Union of India – secularism as basic structure

LIC of India v. Consumer Education & Research Centre – social justice interpretation

4️⃣ Amendability of the Preamble

42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976)

Can the Preamble be amended?

Supreme Court’s view – amendable but cannot destroy basic structure

5️⃣ Preamble as an Interpretative Tool

Helps interpret ambiguous constitutional provisions

Used by courts for expanding rights under Articles 14, 19 & 21

6️⃣ Contemporary Relevance

Public debates on “secular”, “socialist”

Constitutional morality & Preamble values

Role in modern governance & public policy

The Preamble is not a mere ornamental introduction — it is the essence of constitutional identity.