New Delhi | July 25, 2025
Amid rising public discourse on constitutional values, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Thursday confirmed in the Rajya Sabha that the Central Government has no proposal under consideration to remove the words “socialist” and “secular” from the Preamble of the Constitution of India.
Responding to a written question, Meghwal firmly stated that no such amendment has been initiated or is pending before the government. This clarification comes after several political leaders and public figures questioned the inclusion of these words, which were added during the 42nd Constitutional Amendment in 1976.
A Heated but Hypothetical Debate
Recent comments from influential voices including RSS leaders, former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan sparked a national conversation on whether the terms reflect the Constitution’s original intent or were a legacy of the Emergency era.
However, Meghwal’s reply put such speculations to rest at least for now.
“There is no proposal at present under consideration by the Government of India to remove the words ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ from the Preamble of the Constitution,” he stated clearly.
The Legal and Historical Background
The 42nd Amendment Act, enacted during the Emergency in 1976, inserted the terms “socialist” and “secular” into the Preamble. While the move has long been criticized by some as ideologically motivated, the Supreme Court has consistently upheld their constitutionality.
Most recently, in the 2024 judgment of Dr. Balram Singh v. Union of India, the apex court reaffirmed that these terms reflect core constitutional values not mere political slogans and that the Preamble is integral to the Constitution’s “basic structure.”
Why the Clarification Matters
• Preserves Constitutional Stability: With general elections on the horizon and ideological tensions high, the government’s neutral position defuses potential controversy.
• Signals Continuity: The response indicates no sudden deviation from long-standing constitutional doctrine.
• Respects Judicial Finality: By not challenging the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Preamble, the executive signals deference to the separation of powers.
