SSC
The Preamble of the Constitution of India provides for the liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and:
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Answer: Option A — Worship
Detailed Solution
The Preamble to the Constitution of India promises to secure to all its citizens "LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship".
Liberty means the absence of unnecessary restraints on the activities of individuals, and at the same time, providing opportunities for the development of their personalities. The liberties mentioned in the Preamble are secured through the Fundamental Rights, which can be enforced in courts:
Liberty of thought and expression is reflected in the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a). This includes the freedom of the press and the right to information.
Liberty of belief, faith and worship is reflected in Articles 25 to 28, which guarantee the freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practise and propagate religion, subject to public order, morality and health.
However, liberty is not absolute. It must be exercised within the limits laid down by the Constitution, and the State can impose reasonable restrictions in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, public order, decency, morality and other grounds.
The ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity in the Preamble were inspired by the French Revolution (1789). Dr B.R. Ambedkar said that these three should be treated as a "union of trinity", and that to separate one from the other would defeat the very purpose of democracy.
Freedoms such as profession, association and movement are not mentioned in the Preamble, but they are guaranteed under Article 19, which gives six freedoms to citizens: speech and expression; assembly; association or unions; movement; residence; and profession, occupation, trade or business.
The text of the Preamble begins with "WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA", showing that the source of authority of the Constitution is the people, and ends with "do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION", referring to its adoption on 26 November 1949. 26 November is celebrated as Constitution Day (Samvidhan Divas) since 2015. The Preamble is non-justiciable, but it helps to interpret the Constitution.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Profession, association and movement are freedoms under Article 19, not the liberties listed in the Preamble.
Quick tip
Remember: Preamble liberty = thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; equality = status and opportunity; fraternity = dignity of the individual and unity and integrity of the Nation; Constitution Day = 26 November.
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Preamble & Salient Features — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Preamble & Salient Features, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the Preamble of the Indian Constitution, the meaning of its key words (sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic, republic, justice, liberty, equality and fraternity), and the salient features of the Constitution, such as its federal structure with a unitary bias and the parliamentary form of government. Remember that the words 'socialist', 'secular' and 'integrity' were added by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, the only time the Preamble has been amended. Questions also test landmark cases on the Preamble: the Supreme Court held in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) that the Preamble is part of the Constitution. Practise the Preamble and salient features questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.