Objectives of the Constitution as Stated in the Preamble
Indian Polity › Preamble · Topic 4.2
The Preamble states justice, liberty, equality and fraternity as the objectives of the Constitution. It is valued as the horoscope, key-note and soul of the Constitution by Munshi, Barker and Hidayatullah.
6 min read · UPSC Prelims · Polity · Preamble
At a Glance
- What it is The Preamble specifies justice, liberty, equality and fraternity as the objectives of the Constitution
- Justice Social, economic and political
- Liberty Of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship
- Equality Of status and of opportunity
- Fraternity Assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Polity: Preamble
Where Does It Fit?
The previous topic gave the text of the Preamble and its four ingredients. This topic takes the third ingredient, the objectives. The meaning of each objective is taken up in a later topic. Here the focus is on what the objectives are, what they secure and why the Preamble is valued.
What Are the Objectives?
The Preamble specifies justice, liberty, equality and fraternity as the objectives of the Constitution. It secures to all citizens justice (social, economic and political); liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; and equality of status and of opportunity. It promotes among all citizens fraternity, assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation.
| Objective | What the Preamble secures |
|---|---|
| Justice | Social, economic and political |
| Liberty | Of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship |
| Equality | Of status and of opportunity |
| Fraternity | Assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation |
How Do the Objectives Connect to the Objectives Resolution?
The fifth clause of the Objectives Resolution of 1946 had resolved that there shall be guaranteed and secured to all the people of India justice (social, economic and political); equality of status of opportunity and before the law; and freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith, worship, vocation, association and action, subject to law and public morality. The Preamble is based on this resolution.
How Do the Rest of the Constitution and the Objectives Work Together?
The Preamble secures liberty to all citizens through the Fundamental Rights, which are enforceable in a court of law if violated. Social and economic justice are secured through various provisions of the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles. The Directive Principles aim to realise the high ideals of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity outlined in the Preamble. The Fundamental Duties, in turn, promote the spirit of common brotherhood.
Why Is the Preamble Valued?
The Preamble embodies the basic philosophy and fundamental values, political, moral and religious, on which the Constitution is based. It contains the grand and noble vision of the Constituent Assembly and reflects the dreams and aspirations of the founding fathers.
- Sir Alladi Krishnaswami Iyer, a member of the Constituent Assembly, said: “The Preamble to our Constitution expresses what we had thought or dreamt so long.”
- K.M. Munshi called the Preamble the “horoscope of our sovereign democratic republic”.
- Pandit Thakur Das Bhargava called it the most precious part of the Constitution, the soul of the Constitution, a key to the Constitution, a jewel set in the Constitution and a proper yardstick with which one can measure the worth of the Constitution.
- Sir Ernest Barker, an English political scientist, described it as the “key-note” to the Constitution and quoted it at the opening of his book Principles of Social and Political Theory (1951).
- M. Hidayatullah, a former Chief Justice of India, said that the Preamble resembles the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America, but is more than a declaration; it is the soul of the Constitution, which lays down the pattern of the political society.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- The aims of the Constitution The four objectives are the base for questions on rights, directive principles and duties
- Quotations for Mains The tributes of Munshi, Bhargava, Barker and Hidayatullah can be used in answers
What Came Next?
The next topic explains the key words that describe the nature of the State, and the one after explains the four objectives word by word.
Key People and Terms
- Justice, liberty, equality, fraternity The four objectives
- Horoscope of our sovereign democratic republic K.M. Munshi on the Preamble
- Key-note Sir Ernest Barker on the Preamble
- Soul of the Constitution Thakur Das Bhargava and M. Hidayatullah on the Preamble
- Alladi Krishnaswami Iyer Member of the Constituent Assembly
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Four objectives: justice, liberty, equality, fraternity.
- Justice is social, economic and political.
- Liberty: thought, expression, belief, faith and worship.
- Equality: status and opportunity.
- Fraternity assures the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation.
- K.M. Munshi: horoscope. Ernest Barker: key-note.
Do Not Confuse With
- Objectives and nature of the State The objectives are justice, liberty, equality, fraternity; the nature of the State is sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic, republic
- Munshi and Bhargava Munshi called it the horoscope; Bhargava called it the soul and the jewel of the Constitution
- Preamble and Declaration of Independence Hidayatullah said it resembles the American Declaration of Independence but is more than a declaration
Memory Hook
Justice, liberty, equality, fraternity: the four aims, valued as the horoscope, key-note and soul of the Constitution.
Mains Angle
Questions on the objectives usually ask how they are realised in the Constitution. Use these points to add depth.
- Realised through the Constitution Liberty is secured by the Fundamental Rights, and social and economic justice by the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles
- Fraternity and unity Fraternity assures the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation
- Philosophy of the Constitution The Preamble embodies the political, moral and religious values on which the Constitution is based
- Judges and scholars Hidayatullah called it the soul of the Constitution that lays down the pattern of the political society
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“The objectives stated in the Preamble are realised through other parts of the Constitution. Explain.”
How to Answer
- Introduction The four objectives in the Preamble.
- Realisation Fundamental Rights for liberty, Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles for justice, Fundamental Duties for brotherhood.
- Views Munshi, Bhargava, Barker and Hidayatullah.
- Conclusion The Preamble expresses the philosophy that the rest of the Constitution carries out.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the objectives of the Constitution in the Preamble?
The Preamble specifies justice, liberty, equality and fraternity as the objectives of the Constitution. Justice is social, economic and political; liberty is of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; equality is of status and opportunity; and fraternity assures dignity and national unity and integrity.
What forms of justice does the Preamble mention?
The Preamble mentions three forms of justice: social, economic and political. They are secured through various provisions of the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles of State Policy in the Constitution, which together work towards social, economic and political justice for all citizens.
Who called the Preamble the horoscope of the Constitution?
K.M. Munshi, a member of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly, called the Preamble the horoscope of our sovereign democratic republic. Pandit Thakur Das Bhargava called it the soul of the Constitution, a key to the Constitution and a jewel set in it.
What did Sir Ernest Barker say about the Preamble?
Sir Ernest Barker, a distinguished English political scientist, described the Preamble as the key-note to the Indian Constitution. He was so moved by it that he quoted it at the opening of his book Principles of Social and Political Theory, published in 1951.
What did M. Hidayatullah say about the Preamble?
M. Hidayatullah, a former Chief Justice of India, said the Preamble resembles the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America but is more than a declaration. It is the soul of the Constitution, laying down the pattern of the political society, and contains a solemn resolve.
How is liberty secured under the Preamble?
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 in case of violation. This liberty is not absolute but qualified, and has to be enjoyed within the limits of the Constitution.
How does the Objectives Resolution relate to the objectives?
The Objectives Resolution of 1946 had resolved to secure to all the people of India justice, social, economic and political, equality of status and opportunity, and freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith, worship and association. The Preamble is based on this resolution.
What does fraternity assure in the Preamble?
Fraternity in the Preamble assures two things: the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation. The word integrity was added by the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976. Fraternity is promoted through single citizenship and the Fundamental Duties.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Preamble specifies justice, liberty, equality and fraternity as the objectives of the Constitution.
These are the third ingredient of the Preamble.
2 K.M. Munshi called the Preamble the horoscope of our sovereign democratic republic.
He was a member of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly.
3 Sir Ernest Barker described the Preamble as the key-note to the Constitution.
He quoted it at the opening of Principles of Social and Political Theory (1951).
4 The Preamble mentions only social and economic justice.
It mentions social, economic and political justice.
5 The Preamble secures equality of status and of liberty to the citizens.
It secures equality of status and of opportunity.
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