HPAS 2024 Mains GS-2 Question 1
Is the word socialistic in the preamble of the constitution relevant in the present day of politics?
Solution:
The word “socialistic” was added to the Preamble by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976. Its relevance in the present day is a complex and debated issue, especially in light of the post-1991 economic reforms.
The relevance of the term must be examined from two perspectives: its classical economic interpretation and its constitutional-social interpretation.
Arguments for its Irrelevance (The Economic Shift)
In the “present-day” context of a globalized economy, the 1976-era interpretation of socialism (implying state ownership and control) appears largely irrelevant or anachronistic.
- The 1991 LPG Reforms: India’s economic policy shifted decisively from a state-led (Nehruvian socialist) model to a market-led model based on Liberalization, Privatization, and Globalization (LPG).
- Privatization and Disinvestment: In present-day politics, there is a clear consensus on strategic disinvestment and privatization of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) (e.g., Air India). This is the direct opposite of the socialist principle of state ownership of the “commanding heights” of the economy.
- Market-Driven Economy: The primary engine of growth is now the private sector, fueled by private investment and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), not state planning.
Arguments for its Continued Relevance (The Social Mandate)
The relevance of the word “socialistic” endures not as a rigid economic model, but as the guiding philosophy for India’s **welfare state** and its commitment to social justice.
The Supreme Court (in D.S. Nakara v. Union of India, 1983) clarified that Indian socialism is “democratic socialism,” not state socialism. Its goal is to end poverty, ignorance, disease, and inequality of opportunity.
- Guiding Light for DPSPs: The word “socialistic” is the philosophical anchor for the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP). Articles like **Article 38** (minimizing inequalities in income) and **Article 39(b) & (c)** (distributing material resources for the common good, preventing concentration of wealth) are socialist in their soul.
- Core of Present-Day Politics (Welfare State):** All contemporary Indian politics, regardless of the party, revolves around this socialist-welfare principle. The largest and most popular government schemes are expressions of this:
- The National Food Security Act (NFSA), providing subsidized grain to over 80 crore people.
- MGNREGA, guaranteeing a right to employment.
- Ayushman Bharat, providing state-funded health insurance to the poor.
- Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) and farm-support schemes (PM-KISAN).
- A Check on Pure Capitalism:** The Preamble acts as a “social conscience,” reminding the state that even in a market economy, its primary duty is to ensure inclusive growth and protect the vulnerable from market excesses.
Conclusion
While the economic *means* of the 1970s (state ownership) are no longer relevant, the social *ends* enshrined in the word “socialistic” are more relevant than ever. Present-day politics has not abandoned socialism; it has merely changed its tools. It has shifted from “state socialism” (state as the primary producer) to “welfare socialism” (state as the primary enabler and distributor of social good, funded by a market economy). Therefore, the word remains highly relevant as the moral and constitutional compass for all state policy.
Concise Model Answer (150-Word Limit)
The relevance of the word “socialistic” (42nd Amendment, 1976) is a central debate in modern India.
Economically, it seems irrelevant. The post-1991 LPG reforms shifted India from a state-led model to a market-driven one. Present-day politics emphasizes privatization and disinvestment, which is contrary to the classic socialist idea of state ownership.
However, its constitutional and social relevance is stronger than ever. The Supreme Court (in *D.S. Nakara*) defined it not as state control, but as “democratic socialism”—a mandate for a **welfare state** to reduce inequality and provide a basic standard of life (Art 38, 39).
This “socialistic” principle is the core philosophy behind all major contemporary welfare schemes, such as the **National Food Security Act (NFSA), MGNREGA, and Ayushman Bharat**. Thus, while the *economic means* have changed, the *social goal* remains the central focus of Indian politics.