PREAMBLE OF INDIAN CONSTITUTION
WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?
DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES FACED BY THE INDIAN
CONSTITUTION MAKERS
VALUES OF OUR INDIAN CONSTITUTION

PREAMBLE OF INDIAN CONSTITUTION
 The constitution begins with a short statement of
its basic values.
 This is called the preamble to the constitution.
 It contains the philosophy on which our
constitution has been built.
 It provides a standard to examine and evaluate
any law and action of the government, to find out
whether it is good or bad.
 It is the soul of the Indian Constitution.

SIGNIFICANCE/ IMPORTANCE OF PREAMBLE
 The preamble is like an introduction or preface of a book.
 As an introduction is it not a part of the contents but it
explains the purpose and objectives with which the
document has been written.
 As such the preamble provides the guidelines of the
constitution.
 The preamble, in brief, explains the objectives of the
Constitution in two ways,
1. about the structure of the governance
2. about the ideals to be achieved in independent India
 The preamble is considered the key of the constitution.

PROBLEMS FACED BY THE CONSTITUTION
MAKERS IN INDIA
 The making of the constitution for a huge and diverse
country like India was not an easy task. At that time the
people of India were emerging from the status of subjects to
that of citizen.
 The country was born through a partition on the base of
religious differences. This was a horrible experience for the
people of India and Pakistan.
 More than 10 lakh people were killed on both sides of the
border in partition related violence.
 The British had left it to the rulers of princely states to decide
whether they wanted to merge with India or Pakistan or
remain independent.
 Anxiety about the present and future of the state.

VALUES OF THE CONSTITUTION IN INDIA
 WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA :The constitution has been
drawn up and enacted by the people through their
representatives, and not handed down to them by a king or
any outside powers.
 SOVEREIGN : People have supreme right to make
decision on internal as well as external matters. No
external power can dictate the government of India.
 SOCIALIST: Wealth is generated socially and should be
shared equally to the society. The govt tries to reduce the
inequalities.
 SECULAR: The people have the freedom to follow any
religion. In India there is no official religion. Govt treating all
the religions equally.

 DEMOCRATIC : A form of govt, enjoy the equal political
rights, elected their leaders and hold them accountable.
 REPUBLIC : The head of the state is an elected person
and not a hereditary position.
 JUSTICE : People cannot be discriminated on the base of
caste, religion and gender. Govt should working for the
welfare of the state.
 LIBERTY : no unreasonable restrictions on the citizens in
what they think, how they wish to express their thoughts
and the way they wish to follow up their thoughts in action.
 EQUALITY : all are equal before law. The govt should
ensure the equal opportunities for all.
 FRATERNITY : All of us should behave as if we are
members of same family. No one should treat a fellow
citizen as inferior.

FRMAING OF CONSTITUTION- STEPS
 Leaders in behind of the framing of our constitution.
 Problems faced by the constitution makers.
 However the advantage of the constitution makers was
the role of the national movement.
 The national movt was not merely a struggle against a
foreign rule, it was the struggle for transform our society
and politics.
INITIAL STEPS
 1928- Motilal Nehru and eight other leaders drafted a
constitution for India.
 1931- a resolution passed at the Karachi session of the
INC regarding with the constitution.

 Both thes documents were committed to the inclusion of
1. Universal Adult Franchise
2. Right to freedom and equality
3. Protecting the right of the minorities.
This things accepted as the basic values of our Indian
constitution makers in the constituent assembly.
INSPIRATIONS
 Govt of India Act passed by the British govt- 1935.
 Inspiration from French Revolution- Equality, Liberty and
fraternity.
 Parliamentary Democracy in Britain.
 Bill of Rights in USA.
 Socialist Revolution in Russia.

CONSTITUENT ASSEMBBLY MEMBERS
 The election to the constituent assembly held in July 1946.
 First meeting- December 1946.
 Soon after Country was divided in to India and Pakistan.
 Constituent assembly also divided in to- Constituent
assembly of India and Pakistan.
 The constituent assembly wrote the constitution had 299
members.
 Assembly adopted the constitution- 26 November 1949.
 Came to effect- January 26, 1950- Republic day

Constitution still prevailing in India
Many countries of the world have had to rewrite their
constitution.
Some countries it prevailing like a mere piece of paper.
But in India in the last 60 years the constitution prevailing
because
1. No large social group or political party never
questioned the legitimacy of the constitution.
2. The constituent assembly represented the people
of India.(INC was the major party, however it included
various political parties and their opinions-
language, caste, class, religion, occupation etc..)
3. The constituent assembly worked gives sanctity to
the constitution

CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY
The drafting of the document called the constitution was
done by as an assembly of elected representatives called
constituent assembly.
CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY DEBATES
The drafting committee chaired by Dr. B.R.Ambedkar
prepared a draft constitution for discussion. Several rounds
of through discussion took place on the draft discussion.
More than two thousand amendments were considered.
The members deliberated for 114 days spread over three
years. Every document presented and every word spoken
in Constituent assembly has been recorded and preserved.
These are called Constituent Assembly Debates