Government Stands Firm on Keeping 'Socialist' and 'Secular' in the Constitution

The Indian government has clarified there are no intentions to alter the Constitution's preamble by reconsidering or removing the terms 'socialist' and 'secular'. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal informed the Rajya Sabha that no proceedings are underway to change these foundational words.

Highlighting the importance of consensus in constitutional amendments, Meghwal stressed that although some social organizations are advocating for such changes, the government's position remains unchanged. The Supreme Court has upheld the 42nd Constitutional Amendment, enacted in 1976, which introduced these terms.

Referring to the Supreme Court ruling in November 2024, Meghwal noted that the Court dismissed challenges to the amendment, affirming that 'socialism' denotes a welfare state without hindering private growth, and 'secularism' is vital to the Constitution's core structure. Public discourse from certain groups doesn't reflect official policy, despite comments from influential leaders like RSS's Dattatreya Hosabale.

(With inputs from agencies.)