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DAILY
CLASS NOTES
Polity

Lecture – 04
Preamble Part 1
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Preamble Part 1
Important Date related to Constituent Assembly (C.A.):

Demand for Constituent Assembly:

1923 ❖ The idea was first given by the Swaraj Party.

1934 ❖ M.N. Roy put forward the demand for C.A.

1935 ❖ INC officially demanded C.A. frame the Indian Constitution.

❖ Jawaharlal Nehru, on behalf of the INC, declared that “the Constitution of free India must
1938 be framed, without outside interference, by a Constituent Assembly elected on the basis of
adult franchise.

1940 ❖ Demand accepted in principle in August Offer.

1942 ❖ Cripps's Proposal for the Constitution was rejected.

1946 ❖ Cabinet Mission Plan (CMP) accepted by all parties.

❖ Lord Patrick Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps, and A V Alexander were its members.
❖ CMP rejected the idea of two Constituent Assemblies.

Objective Resolution:
❖ December 9, 1946 – First meeting of the Constituent Assembly, with Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha elected as
the temporary chairman.
❖ December 11, 1946 – Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the permanent chairman.
❖ Jawaharlal Nehru moved this historic resolution on Dec 13, 1946 in the Assembly.
❖ It contained the fundamentals & philosophy of the Constitutional structure.
❖ This resolution was adopted on Jan 22, 1947 by the Assembly.
❖ The present Preamble of the Constitution is a modified version of Objective Resolution.
❖ 29th August 1947: The Drafting Committee was formed to draft the Constitution. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was
appointed as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee.

Constitution Day, also known as 'Samvidhan Divas', is celebrated in our country on 26th November every year
to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India. On 26th November 1949, the Constituent Assembly
of India adopted the Constitution of India, which came into effect on 26th January 1950.

Preamble:
The term ‘Preamble’ refers to the introduction or preface to the Constitution. It contains the summary or essence of
the Constitution.
Ingredients of the Preamble:
The Preamble has four main components:
❖ Source of Authority: The Constitution gets its authority from the people of India.
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❖ Nature of the Indian State: It describes India as sovereign,

socialist, secular, democratic, and a republic.
❖ Objectives of the Constitution: It aims to provide justice, liberty,
equality, and fraternity.
❖ Date of Adoption: The Constitution was adopted on November
26, 1949.
We, the People of India:
❖ The Constitution is enacted by the people through representatives.
❖ It is not imposed by a king or external powers.
Key Objectives of the Indian Constitution:
❖ Justice – Ensuring fairness in society through Fundamental
Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP).
➢ Social Justice – Aims to eliminate discrimination based on
caste, creed, gender, or religion and promote equality in
society.
➢ Economic Justice – Ensures equal pay for equal work and
provides opportunities for everyone to earn a livelihood.
➢ Political Justice – Guarantees equal participation in
political processes for all citizens, without discrimination.
❖ Equality – Every citizen is equal before the law, and no section
of society enjoys special privileges. It ensures equal opportunities for all.
❖ Liberty – Grants individuals the freedom to choose their way of life, express their political views, and practice
any religion. However, liberty is not absolute and must function within legal limits.
❖ Fraternity – Encourages a sense of brotherhood among citizens, promoting national unity and ensuring
dignity for all.
Sovereignty:
❖ Sovereignty means the absolute and unlimited power of a state within its territorial boundaries.
❖ Internal sovereignty refers to the distribution of power within the state, determining where the supreme
power lies in the political system.
❖ External sovereignty deals with the state’s position in the international system and its ability to act as an
independent and autonomous entity.

Are We Sovereign in Current Geopolitics?

The question of whether a nation is truly sovereign in the current geopolitical landscape is complex. Sovereignty
traditionally means that a state has full control over its internal and external affairs. However, in today's
interconnected world, absolute sovereignty is influenced by several factors:
❖ Globalization and Interdependence
➢ Globalization has created economic, political, and cultural interdependence among nations.
➢ Countries rely on each other for trade, resources, technology, and even security.
➢ This interdependence means that decisions in one country can affect others, limiting the ability of any
single nation to act completely independently.
❖ International Organizations (WTO, IMF, UN)
➢ Global organizations like the World Trade Organization (WTO), International Monetary Fund (IMF),
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and United Nations (UN) set rules and standards that countries must follow.
➢ Membership in these organizations often requires nations to agree to certain regulations, which can
limit their sovereignty.
❖ International Law and Treaties (Paris Climate Treaty, Indus Water Treaty)
➢ International laws and treaties bind countries to specific agreements.
➢ For example, the Paris Climate Treaty requires nations to follow guidelines for reducing carbon
emissions.
➢ Similarly, treaties like the Indus Water Treaty determine how resources are shared between nations,
restricting unilateral decisions. The treaty described how water from the six rivers of the Indus River
System would be shared between India and Pakistan.
❖ Technology and Digital Interdependence
➢ Digital interdependence means that no country is entirely free from external influence, whether through
cybersecurity risks, digital surveillance, or international tech regulations.
➢ We are partially sovereign in today's interconnected world. Globalization, international laws, and
digital interdependence limit absolute independence. Nations must balance their sovereignty with
global cooperation and shared responsibilities.

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UPPSC Batch
Polity DMP–01
Preamble Part 1 – Practice Questions

1. The Preamble declares India to be a Sovereign Republic, but in the era of global interdependence, can
true sovereignty still exist? Critically examine the concept of sovereignty in the Indian Constitution
with reference to current geopolitical realities. (12 marks, 200 words)
How to approach the question:
❖ Introduction: Define sovereignty in 20-30 words citing “sovereignty” mentioned in the Preamble.
❖ Main body: Globalisation, international treaties and digital interdependence pose challenges to
absolute sovereignty. Critically examine this in 130-140 words.
❖ Conclusion: Today sovereignty does not mean complete independence but strategic autonomy, and
balancing national interests with global responsibilities. Write a conclusion by highlighting this in
20-30 words
Introduction:
The Preamble of the Indian Constitution declares India as a “Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic
Republic.” Sovereignty denotes supreme authority and independence in internal and external matters. It
implies that the will of the people is supreme and the state is free from any external interference. However,
in the context of 21st-century global geopolitics, this concept faces significant re-evaluation due to
interdependence, treaties, and global institutions.
Main Body:
Challenges to Sovereignty in Contemporary Geopolitics:
Globalization and Economic Interdependence:
❖ India depends on international trade, foreign investments, and global supply chains.
❖ Decisions made in foreign central banks, oil markets, or global corporations directly affect India's
economy.
❖ For example, oil price fluctuations or WTO rulings can influence domestic policies.
Role of International Organizations:
❖ India is a member of the UN, WTO, IMF, WHO, etc., which set global standards and rules.
❖ Compliance with WTO or IMF policies sometimes restricts India's policy choices.
❖ UN peacekeeping commitments and UN Security Council decisions can influence India’s strategic
moves.
International Laws and Treaties:
❖ Paris Climate Treaty: India is bound to follow global environmental norms and submit periodic
reports.
❖ Indus Water Treaty (1960): Limits India's autonomy over river water usage, even in times of conflict
with Pakistan.
❖ Treaties signed voluntarily become binding, reducing absolute legal sovereignty.
Digital Sovereignty and Technological Interdependence:
❖ Cybersecurity threats, social media regulations, and foreign digital platforms like Google, Meta,
etc., limit policy space.
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❖ India relies on foreign chipmakers, global data networks, and cloud infrastructure.
Are We Truly Sovereign Today?
❖ India retains formal legal and political sovereignty, but its functional sovereignty is influenced by
global dynamics.
❖ Sovereignty today is not absolute but conditional and negotiated.
❖ India must balance national interest with global responsibilities, such as climate change, human
rights, trade, and cybersecurity.
Conclusion:
While the Preamble’s declaration of sovereignty remains valid, the concept of sovereignty has evolved.
In today’s interconnected world, absolute sovereignty is neither feasible nor desirable. Shared
sovereignty and strategic autonomy are the new realities. India, as a rising global power, must protect its
core national interests while cooperating globally to navigate the challenges of a multipolar world. Thus,
sovereignty today is about autonomy with responsibility, not isolation.

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