UPSC DAW Mains Answer Writing 4th July 2025

UPSC DAW Mains Answer Writing 4th July 2025

Question

‘Socialism and secularism are not mere insertions in the Preamble, but foundational principles reflected throughout the Indian Constitution.’ In the light of this statement, critically examine how these ideals are embedded in the Constitutional provisions and upheld by the judiciary. (10 marks, 150 words) 

Model Answer

Introduction:  

  • The Indian Constitution does not merely adopt socialism and secularism as ornamental additions in the Preamble; it weaves them into its substantive fabric. Long before the 42nd Amendment formally introduced these words, the principles of social and economic justice and religious equality were already central to the constitution’s vision. 

 Socialism: Reflected, Yet Evolving: 

  • Socialism in the Indian constitutional context emphasizes equitable distribution, state responsibility, and social welfare, rather than ideological statism. 

  • The Directive Principles of State Policy, particularly Articles 38 and 39, frame the state’s role in reducing inequalities and ensuring fair access to resources. 

  • Fundamental Rights such as Articles 14–16 enforce legal equality, while Article 21 has been expanded to encompass rights to health, education, and livelihood - reflecting a welfare-oriented ethos. 

  • The Preamble’s call for ‘Justice - social, economic and political’ encapsulates these objectives 

 However, the model has undergone significant recalibration post-1991, after the adoption of Liberalisation, Privatisation, and Globalisation (LPG) policies: 

  • The retreat of the state from sectors like education, health, and employment raises questions about its socialist commitment. 

  • Welfare has shifted towards targeted delivery and market-based mechanisms (e.g., DBT, JAM trinity), reflecting a move from classic socialism to social liberalism. 

 Despite judicial reinforcement, such as in D.S. Nakara (pension as a right) and Unni Krishnan (right to education), economic inequalities remain stark, as noted in the World Inequality Report (2022). Thus, socialism exists structurally but is increasingly being interpreted flexibly, adapting to evolving economic contexts.  Secularism: Constitutionally Central, Politically Contested: 

  • Secularism in India is envisioned not as strict separation but principled equidistance, where the state protects religious freedoms while maintaining neutrality. 

  • Articles 25–28 ensure freedom of religion and protection from religious imposition. 

  • Articles 29 and 30 uphold the rights of minorities to preserve their culture and institutions. 

  • Even before the term’s formal insertion, the liberty of belief and worship enshrined in the Preamble and Fundamental Rights reflected this ideal. 

 However, the actual practice of secularism reveals contradictions: 

  • The state’s management of Hindu temples, while religious institutions of other faiths remain autonomous, raises concerns about unequal application of secular principles. 

  • Government interventions in practices like triple talaq and temple entry for women have been lauded as progressive, but also criticised as selective secularism. 

 The judiciary has consistently upheld secularism, notably in S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994), where it declared secularism a part of the Constitution’s basic structure. Yet, public discourse increasingly reflects majoritarian interpretations, challenging its foundational status.  Conclusion:  

  • The principles of socialism and secularism are indeed foundational to the Constitution, evident not only in the Preamble but across rights, duties, and institutional frameworks. However, their evolution in a liberalised economy and challenges from socio-political pressures show that they are living ideals, constantly interpreted and redefined. Their continued relevance lies not in their textual presence, but in the constitutional morality with which they are upheld.