Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity in the Preamble
Indian Polity › Preamble · Topic 4.4
The Preamble secures justice (social, economic, political), liberty, equality (civic, political, economic) and fraternity, which assures dignity and national unity and integrity. Justice is from the Russian Revolution; the other three from the French.
6 min read · UPSC Prelims · Polity · Preamble
At a Glance
- What it is The four objectives of the Constitution, each explained in the Preamble
- Justice Social, economic and political; taken from the Russian Revolution (1917)
- Liberty, equality, fraternity Taken from the French Revolution (1789–1799)
- Equality Civic, political and economic
- Fraternity A sense of brotherhood; assures dignity of the individual and unity and integrity of the Nation
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Polity: Preamble
Where Does It Fit?
The earlier topic named the four objectives. This topic explains each one in detail: what it means and which provisions of the Constitution secure it.
Justice
The term justice embraces three distinct forms, social, economic and political, secured through various provisions of the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles.
| Form | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Social justice | Equal treatment of all citizens without any social distinction based on caste, colour, race, religion, sex and so on; absence of privileges for any section; improvement in the conditions of backward classes (SCs, STs and OBCs) and women |
| Economic justice | Non-discrimination between people on the basis of economic factors; elimination of glaring inequalities in wealth, income and property |
| Political justice | Equal political rights, equal access to all political offices and equal voice in the government |
A combination of social justice and economic justice denotes distributive justice. The ideal of justice, social, economic and political, has been taken from the Russian Revolution (1917).
Liberty
Liberty means the absence of restraints on the activities of individuals, and at the same time providing opportunities for the development of individual personalities. The Preamble secures to all citizens liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship through the Fundamental Rights, which are enforceable in a court of law. Liberty is essential for the successful functioning of the Indian democratic system, but it does not mean licence to do what one likes. The liberty conceived by the Preamble and by the Fundamental Rights is not absolute but qualified. The ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity have been taken from the French Revolution (1789–1799).
Equality
Equality means the absence of special privileges to any section of society and the provision of adequate opportunities for all individuals without any discrimination. The Preamble secures equality of status and of opportunity, which embraces three dimensions.
| Dimension | Provisions |
|---|---|
| Civic equality | Article 14 (equality before law), Article 15 (no discrimination), Article 16 (equality of opportunity in public employment), Article 17 (abolition of untouchability), Article 18 (abolition of titles) |
| Political equality | Article 325 (no one ineligible for the electoral roll on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex) and Article 326 (elections on the basis of adult suffrage) |
| Economic equality | Directive Principle in Article 39: equal right of men and women to an adequate means of livelihood and equal pay for equal work |
Fraternity
Fraternity means a sense of brotherhood. The Constitution promotes it through the system of single citizenship. The Fundamental Duties (Article 51-A) also make it the duty of every citizen to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood among all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic, regional or sectional diversities.
The Preamble declares that fraternity has to assure two things: the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation. The word integrity was added by the 42nd Amendment (1976). K.M. Munshi said that the phrase dignity of the individual signifies that the Constitution not only ensures material betterment and a democratic set-up, but also recognises that the personality of every individual is sacred. The Fundamental Duties also protect the dignity of women by making it a duty of every citizen to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women.
The phrase unity and integrity of the Nation embraces both the psychological and territorial dimensions of national integration. Article 1 describes India as a Union of States to make it clear that the states have no right to secede, implying the indestructible nature of the Union. It aims at overcoming hindrances to national integration such as communalism, regionalism, casteism, linguism and secessionism.
How Are the Four Connected?
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar said in his concluding speech in the Constituent Assembly on 25 November 1949 that the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity are not to be treated as separate items in a trinity; they form a union of trinity, and to divorce one from the other is to defeat the very purpose of democracy. Liberty cannot be divorced from equality, equality cannot be divorced from liberty, and neither can be divorced from fraternity. Without equality, liberty would produce the supremacy of the few over the many; equality without liberty would kill individual initiative.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- The aims in detail Each objective has a defined meaning and provisions behind it
- Direct Prelims material The sources of the ideals, the three forms of justice and the dimensions of equality can be asked directly
What Came Next?
The next topic explains the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976, which added Socialist, Secular and Integrity to the Preamble.
Key People and Terms
- Distributive justice Social justice together with economic justice
- Union of trinity Ambedkar’s description of liberty, equality and fraternity
- Russian Revolution (1917) Source of the ideal of justice
- French Revolution (1789–1799) Source of liberty, equality and fraternity
- Dignity of the individual K.M. Munshi: the personality of every individual is sacred
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Justice: social, economic, political; from the Russian Revolution (1917).
- Liberty, equality, fraternity: from the French Revolution.
- Equality: civic, political, economic.
- Civic equality: Articles 14 to 18; political: Articles 325, 326; economic: Article 39.
- Fraternity: single citizenship and Article 51-A.
- Integrity was added in 1976.
Do Not Confuse With
- Social and economic justice Social justice is about social distinctions; economic justice is about inequalities of wealth, income and property
- Liberty and licence Liberty is qualified; it is not a licence to do what one likes
- Unity and integrity The phrase embraces the psychological and territorial dimensions of national integration
Memory Hook
Justice from Russia, liberty-equality-fraternity from France; civic, political, economic equality; fraternity guards dignity and unity.
Mains Angle
Questions on the four objectives usually ask how the Constitution gives them effect. Use these points to add depth.
- Three forms of justice Social, economic and political justice are secured through the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles
- Qualified liberty Liberty is enforceable but not absolute
- Three dimensions of equality Civic, political and economic equality have separate provisions
- Fraternity and integration Single citizenship, Article 51-A and Article 1 serve fraternity
- Trinity Ambedkar said the three cannot be divorced from each other
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Explain how the Constitution gives effect to the ideals of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.”
How to Answer
- Introduction The four objectives and their foreign sources.
- Justice and liberty Forms of justice; liberty through enforceable rights.
- Equality and fraternity Three dimensions of equality; single citizenship and Fundamental Duties.
- Conclusion Ambedkar’s union of trinity.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What forms of justice does the Preamble secure?
The Preamble secures social, economic and political justice. Social justice means equal treatment without social distinctions, economic justice means non-discrimination on economic factors and elimination of glaring inequalities, and political justice means equal political rights, equal access to offices and equal voice in government.
What is distributive justice?
Distributive justice is the combination of social justice and economic justice. It denotes the equal treatment of all citizens without social distinction, together with the elimination of glaring inequalities in wealth, income and property. It is secured through the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles.
From where were the ideals of the Preamble taken?
The ideal of justice, social, economic and political, was taken from the Russian Revolution of 1917. The ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity were taken from the French Revolution of 1789 to 1799. Both sources can be asked directly.
What are the three dimensions of equality in the Preamble?
Equality of status and opportunity embraces civic, political and economic equality. Articles 14 to 18 ensure civic equality, Articles 325 and 326 political equality, and the Directive Principle in Article 39, with equal pay for equal work, economic equality.
Is liberty in the Preamble absolute?
No. Liberty means the absence of restraints on individual activities along with opportunities for the development of personality, but it does not mean licence to do what one likes. The liberty conceived by the Preamble and the Fundamental Rights is not absolute but qualified.
What does fraternity assure in the Preamble?
Fraternity assures the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation. The Constitution promotes the sense of brotherhood through single citizenship and the Fundamental Duties, and the word integrity was added by the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976.
What did K.M. Munshi say about the dignity of the individual?
K.M. Munshi said the phrase signifies that the Constitution not only ensures material betterment and maintains a democratic set-up, but also recognises that the personality of every individual is sacred. This is highlighted through provisions of the Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles.
What did Ambedkar say about liberty, equality and fraternity?
In his concluding speech in the Constituent Assembly on 25 November 1949, Ambedkar said these principles form a union of trinity and cannot be divorced from one another. Without equality liberty would produce the supremacy of the few, and equality without liberty would kill individual initiative.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The ideal of justice in the Preamble has been taken from the Russian Revolution of 1917.
The ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity come from the French Revolution.
2 The Preamble secures only social and economic justice.
It secures social, economic and political justice.
3 The word integrity was added to the Preamble by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976.
It appears in the phrase unity and integrity of the Nation.
4 Economic equality is ensured by Articles 14 to 18.
Articles 14 to 18 ensure civic equality. Economic equality is linked to the Directive Principle in Article 39.
5 Liberty in the Preamble is absolute.
The liberty conceived by the Preamble and the Fundamental Rights is qualified, not absolute.
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