The Central government on Thursday clarified that it has no plans to remove the words “socialist” and “secular” from the Preamble of the Constitution, nor has any official process been initiated to amend these provisions.
In a written reply to a question raised by Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal stated that the government holds no intention of reconsidering these terms.
“The government’s official stand is that there is no current plan or intention to reconsider or remove the words ‘socialism’ and ‘secularism’ from the Preamble of the Constitution,” Meghwal said.
He also emphasized that any amendment to the Preamble would require broad consensus and careful deliberation, and no such process is currently underway.
Meghwal cited a November 2024 Supreme Court ruling in the Dr. Balram Singh vs Union of India case, which upheld the 42nd Constitutional Amendment of 1976 that inserted the words “socialist” and “secular” into the Preamble.
The Court had clarified that in the Indian context, “socialism” represents the ideal of a welfare state and does not hinder private enterprise, while “secularism” remains an essential feature of the Constitution’s basic structure.
The Minister also addressed recent public discourse surrounding the issue, referring to statements made by members of social organisations, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
“Such opinions may create a public atmosphere, but they do not reflect the government’s position or translate into any formal legislative action,” he added.
The clarification comes in the wake of remarks by RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, who said that the terms were forcibly inserted during the Emergency in 1976 and called for a reconsideration. His comments, made during a programme on the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, drew strong criticism from Opposition leaders.
Despite the debate, the government reiterated that the Preamble remains unchanged and no initiative has been taken to alter its foundational values.
