Debate Over 'Socialist' and 'Secular' in the Preamble

Source: IE 

Why in News? 

A renewed debate has emerged over the inclusion of the words “socialist” and “secular” in the Preamble, added during the Emergency via the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976. Critics argue that these terms were inserted without wide consultation and may not align with India’s inherently secular civilisational ethos.  

• The discussion has reignited questions about their constitutional legitimacy and contemporary relevance. 

What is the Preamble of the Indian Constitution? 

• About: The Preamble is the introductory statement of the Constitution of India, outlining the core values, guiding principles, and objectives upon which the Constitution is based. 
  • It reflects the aspirations of the people and serves as a key to understanding the Constitution’s spirit. 
  • The philosophy underlying the Constitution of India was summed up in the Objectives Resolution, which was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 22nd January, 1947. 
• Insertion of ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’: Originally, when the Constitution came into effect on 26th January 1950, the Preamble declared India as a Sovereign Democratic Republic, committed to securing: 
  • Justice (social, economic, and political), 
  • Liberty (of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship), 
  • Equality (of status and opportunity), and 
  • Fraternity (assuring individual dignity and national unity). 
  • The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976, enacted during the National Emergency, (1975-77) added the terms ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ to the Preamble. 
    • Socialist signified the state's commitment to reducing inequality and ensuring distributive justice through a mixed economy model. 
    • Secular reaffirmed the principle of equal respect for all religions, ensuring that the state maintains neutrality in religious matters without endorsing any faith. 
    • The word “Integrity” was added alongside “unity” in the expression “unity and integrity of the Nation”. 
  • While many changes made during the Emergency were later reversed through the 44th Amendment (1978), the additions to the Preamble remained enacted. 

What does 'Secularism' Mean in the Indian Context? 

• About: Indian secularism is a unique and inclusive model that ensures equal respect and treatment of all religions. It seeks to prevent inter-religious and intra-religious domination, while ensuring that the State maintains principled distance from all faiths. Rather than being anti-religious, it upholds pluralism, tolerance, and constitutional morality. 
• 3-fold Strategy of Indian Secularism: 
  • Principled Distance: The Indian State maintains neutrality and does not favour or promote any religion. 
    • No religious instruction or celebration in government schools 
    • No religious symbols in courts or public offices 
    • Ensures equal treatment of all religions in public life 
    • State remains equidistant from all faiths 
  • Non-Interference: The State respects religious sentiments and avoids unnecessary intrusion into religious practices, as long as they don’t violate Fundamental Rights or Constitutional provisions. 
    • Example: Religious communities managing their own places of worship and festivals. 
  • Selective Intervention: The State intervenes when religious practices contradict constitutional values such as equality, dignity, and justice. 
    • Eg: Abolition of untouchability (Article 17), Reform of personal laws (ensuring gender equality), Laws enabling equal inheritance rights for women etc. 
• Secularism Before the 42nd Amendment, 1976: Before the 42nd Amendment in 1976, the word “secular” was not explicitly mentioned in the Preamble, but the spirit of secularism was embedded in the Constitution.  
  • Key provisions included Article 14 (equality before law), Articles 15 & 16 (prohibition of discrimination on religious grounds), Articles 25-28 (freedom of religion), and Article 44 (Uniform Civil Code as a Directive Principle), Collectively upholding the secular character of the Indian State. 
• Indian vs. Western (US) Secularism: 

 

What were the Key Dilemmas in Explicitly Including the Term 'Secular' in the Constitution? 

• Constitutional Role vs. Ideological Proclamation: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar believed that the Constitution should serve as a framework of governance and not impose fixed ideological commitments.  
  • He argued that social and political ideals must evolve through the will of the people over time, rather than be dictated by the Constitution. 
• Risk of Superficial Symbolism: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru believed that adding 'secular' would be a symbolic gesture lacking real impact, stating that secularism must be lived, practiced, and protected, not merely declared in words. 
• Fear of Misinterpretation: Many members including Loknath Misra and HV Kamath feared that explicitly using the term might be misconstrued as anti-religious or irreligious, potentially alienating religious communities in a deeply spiritual and diverse society. 
• Need for Legislative Flexibility: Including the word ‘secular’ was seen by some as limiting the future legislative scope of the State, especially when reforming religious practices for social justice (e.g., abolishing untouchability or reforming personal laws). 

What are the Arguments in Favour & Against the Inclusion of the word “Socialist” or “Secular” in Indian Constitution? 

Arguments in Support of Inclusion 

• The Constitution is Inherently Secular and Socialist: Even before the 42nd Amendment, 1976, secularism and socialism were implicit in various provisions. 
  • Article 14, 15, 16, 25-28 protect religious freedom and prohibit discrimination. 
  • Directive Principles (Part IV) reflect socialist goals such as equitable distribution of wealth, social justice, and state welfare. 
• Historical and Political Context: Inclusion of the terms "secularism" and "socialism" in the Preamble reaffirmed India's religious neutrality and the political will of the time, as the 2nd Amendment 1976 sought to enshrine these values, which were later retained by the 44th Amendment, 1978. 
• Judicial Endorsement: 
  • In Kesavananda Bharati Case (1973), the Supreme Court (SC) ruled secularism and socialism as part of the basic structure, which cannot be removed or amended even by Parliament. 
  • In S. R. Bommai v. Union of India  (1994), SC reaffirmed secularism as a basic feature of Indian democracy. 
  • In Minerva Mills v. Union of India (1980), the SC held that the socialist objectives in the DPSPs are fundamental to the Constitution, and in certain cases, Articles 39(b) and 39(c) can override Articles 14 and 19 to uphold socialism and economic justice. 
  • In Dr. Balram Singh v. Union of India (2024), the Supreme Court dismissed petitions challenging the insertion of the words "socialist" and "secular" into the Preamble, upholding their validity and alignment with the Constitution. 

Arguments Against Inclusion 

• Against Original Intent: Critics argue that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and the framers believed the values of “socialist” and “secular” were already inherent in the Constitution’s provisions, making explicit inclusion unnecessary.  
  • They contended that inserting these terms during the Emergency (1976) was a “betrayal” of constitutional ethos, amounting to tampering with the Constitution’s soul amid democratic suppression. 
• Imposition of Western Ideas: Experts, critics argue that socialism and secularism are Western constructs alien to Indian civilizational ethos, emphasizing that Indian spiritual traditions promote a “positive alignment” with religion, unlike the strict church–state separation seen in Western secularism. 
• Procedural Concerns: Preamble, adopted at the end of the Constitution’s drafting and formally enacted on 26th November 1949, represents the guiding soul and foundational vision of the Constitution.  
• Critics argue that amending it retrospectively undermines its sanctity.  

Conclusion 

The inclusion of ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ in the Preamble remains a subject of constitutional debate, reflecting the dynamic tension between original intent and evolving democratic values. While the Supreme Court has upheld them as part of the basic structure doctrine, concerns around procedural legitimacy, ideological imposition, and civilizational ethos persist. Upholding constitutional morality, pluralism, and secular-democratic ideals is essential for preserving the spirit of the Indian Constitution. 

Drishti Mains Question: Examine the constitutional and philosophical challenges involved in balancing religious freedom with the principles of secularism in India.

Refugee, Deportation and Related Issues in India

Source: TH 

Why in News? 

India has intensified its action against illegal migrants, particularly along the eastern border, through measures such as deportation and pushbacks, in the wake of recent national security concerns and political developments in Bangladesh.  

• However, increasing cases of wrongful expulsions, including of Indian citizens, have raised serious concerns regarding citizenship verification, due process, and constitutional safeguards. 

What is Deportation and Pushbacks? 

Deportation 

• About: Deportation is the formal, legal process of removing a foreign national from Indian territory who is staying illegally or without valid documents. 
• Procedure: Detection → Detention → Legal proceedings → Identity verification → Repatriation via diplomatic channels. 
  • Governed by laws like the Foreigners Act, 1946, and the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. 
• Involves: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), and concerned embassy. 
• Safeguards: Involves judicial oversight, compliance with Article 21 (Right to Life) and international norms. 

Pushback 

• About: Pushback refers to the informal or extra-legal practice of forcibly returning suspected foreigners, especially near international borders, without due legal procedure. 
• Conducted by: Primarily Border Security Force (BSF), often at the point of interception. 
• Legal Status: Not codified in Indian law, lacks judicial oversight or nationality verification. 
• Concerns: 
  • Violation of due process, risk of mistaken identity, and breach of human rights norms (e.g., non-refoulement principle). 
  • Recent cases involve wrongful pushback of Indian citizens from Assam and West Bengal. 

What are the Key Legislations Regulating Immigration and Foreigners in India? 

• Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025: It replaced four outdated laws like the Foreigners Act (1946), Passport (Entry into India) Act (1920), Registration of Foreigners Act (1939), and Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act (2000).  
  • It aims to modernize and streamline the entry, stay, and exit of foreigners with key provisions. 
  • Stricter Entry & Deportation Norms: Valid passport/travel document mandatory; visa required unless exempted. Entry can be denied on grounds like national security, sovereignty, public health, or foreign relations. Immigration Officers' decisions are final. 
  • Institutional Framework: Establishes Bureau of Immigration (BoI) as a statutory body for visa issuance, border control, and foreign registration. 
  • Mandatory Reporting: Foreigners must register; hotels, educational institutions, hospitals, and householders in notified areas must report foreign nationals. 
  • Movement Restrictions: Special permits required for Protected/Restricted/Prohibited areas (e.g., border zones, strategic sites). Foreigners cannot change names without permission; movement may be restricted by the government. 
  • Penalties: Up to 5 years’ imprisonment or Rs 5 lakh fine for unauthorized entry. 
• Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950:  Enacted to manage the post-Partition influx from East Pakistan into Assam.  
  • Though applicable nationwide, it contains Assam-specific provisions allowing the Union Government to expel individuals or groups who were ordinarily residents outside India if deemed detrimental to public interest or Scheduled Tribes in Assam. 
  • Section 2 empowers authorities to order such persons to leave India or Assam within a specified time and route. 
• Foreigner Registration: Foreign nationals (including Persons of Indian Origin) with long-term visas (over 180 days) must register with the FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Officer). 
• Citizenship Act, 1955: Governs the acquisition, renunciation, and registration of citizenship, including provisions for Overseas Citizens of India (OCI). 

What are the Key Issues Associated with Deportation and Pushbacks and Ways to Ensure a Fair and Legal Approach? 

Issues Associated with Deportation and Pushbacks 

• Denial of Due Process: Foreigners' Tribunals (FTs) often presume foreignness and place the burden of proof on the accused, who may lack means to establish their identity.  
  • Pushbacks, as an extralegal mechanism, deny the accused a fair hearing, resulting in decisions that violate natural justice. 
• Impact on Marginalized Groups: Tribals, migrant workers, and the poor, least likely to retain documentation are most affected. Citizenship becomes conditional on documents rather than birth or residence. 
  • Example: The Assam NRC excluded nearly 2 million people, affecting all communities and revealing that the exercise was not limited to excluding only foreign nationals. 
• Weak Safeguards & Judicial Oversight: Extra-legal mechanisms like pushbacks often bypass due process and reduce the scope of judicial scrutiny, raising concerns over accountability and constitutional checks and balances. 
• Misuse of Legal Interpretations: Authorities have cited outdated laws, such as the Assam Maintenance of Public Order Act, 1950, to justify deportations. 
  • Example: The authorities in Assam referenced a Supreme Court ruling to support deportation actions. However, deportations without due process violate the constitutional principles of fairness and justice, stripping individuals of rights like voting, residence, and return. 

Measures to Ensure a Fair and Legal Deportation & Pushbacks 

• Rule of Law: Ensure all deportation and pushback actions follow due legal process, with adherence to constitutional safeguards under Article 14 and 21, including proper identity verification, judicial review, and access to legal remedy. 
• Institutional Strengthening: Reform and standardize the functioning of Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) with trained members, procedural transparency, and regular audits to prevent wrongful classification and enhance accountability. 
• Humanitarian Approach: Balance national security with human rights by avoiding blanket presumptions and recognizing the socio-economic vulnerabilities of affected groups; adopt fair procedures, especially in border states like Assam and West Bengal. 
• Legal Clarity & Policy Framework: Clearly distinguish deportation (legal) from pushbacks (extra-legal); harmonize laws under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. 
  • India must adopt a dedicated policy on deportation and pushbacks to ensure transparency, accountability, and alignment with international obligations like non-refoulement. 

Conclusion 

While deportation and push backs are important tools for maintaining national security and regulating illegal migration, they must adhere to constitutional principles of fairness, due process, and natural justice. Strengthening legal safeguards, ensuring judicial oversight, and promoting a rights-based approach are essential to prevent wrongful exclusions. A balanced framework will uphold individual rights while protecting sovereignty and reinforcing India’s democratic and legal obligations. 

Drishti Mains Question: Do India’s immigration laws provide adequate safeguards against wrongful deportation? Critically analyze in light of recent incidents involving Indian citizens.

Employment Linked Incentive Scheme

Source: PIB 

Why in News? 

The Union Cabinet approved the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme, announced in the Union Budget 2024–25 as part of a broader Rs 2 lakh crore youth employment package. 

• The ELI Scheme has a budget outlay of around Rs 1 lakh crore and will be implemented from August 2025 to 31st July 2027. 

What is the Employment Linked Incentive Scheme? 

• Key Components: 
  • Part A: Incentives for First-Time Employees 
    • It targets 1.92 crore first-time Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO)-registered employees, offering a one-month EPF wage (up to Rs 15,000), paid in two installments (after 6 and 12 months of service), with the latter contingent on completing a financial literacy programme.  
      • A portion will be deposited in a fixed savings account to promote long-term saving habits. 
  • Part B: Support to Employers 
    • Employers hiring additional workers (salary ≤ Rs 1 lakh) will get up to Rs 3,000/month for 2 years. 
    • EPFO-registered firms must hire 2 additional employees (for firms with <50 employees) and 5 additional employees (for firms with ≥50 employees), with minimum 6 months’ retention. 
    • Aims to boost employment across sectors, especially manufacturing, targeting creation of 2.6 crore jobs. 
• Incentive Payment Mechanism: All payments to the First Time Employees under Part A of the Scheme will be made through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) mode using Aadhar Bridge Payment System (ABPS).   
  • Payments to the Employers under Part B will be made directly into their Permanent Account Number-linked Accounts. 
• Significance: 
  • Boost Private Sector Hiring: Encourages recruitment by reducing hiring costs through incentives, particularly for first-time jobseekers. 
  • Youth Employment Focus: Targets fresh graduates and new entrants with wage support and social security coverage. 
  • Job Retention and Upskilling: Incentives linked to retention and financial literacy promote workforce stability. 
  • Promote Formalisation: Through EPFO-linked payments, it supports transition from informal to formal employment. 
    Reduce Inequality: Prioritises economically disadvantaged youth, supporting inclusion and mobility. 

Drishti Mains Question: How does the Employment Linked Incentive Scheme address youth unemployment and informality in India’s labour market?

Kharai Camel

Source: DTE 

Despite repeated interventions by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Gujarat’s Kachchh region continues to witness rampant mangrove destruction, threatening the existence of the rare, swimming Kharai camel. 

• Kharai Camel: It is indigenous to the Kachchh region, the Kharai camel is known for its rare ability to swim long distances and graze on mangroves. 
  • The word ‘Kharai’ comes from ‘Khar’, meaning saline, pointing to the camel’s ability to live in coastal saline ecosystems. It thrives in brackish water and estuarine ecosystems, not in confined pastures. 
  • Kharai Camels have webbed feet for swimming and strong digestive systems to tolerate salty vegetation. 
  • The Kharai camel is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). 
• Ecological and Cultural Significance: Integral to the Maldhari community, traditional camel herders who treat them as part of their pastoral heritage. 
  • Kharai Camel is recognised as a genetically distinct breed and listed as a threatened animal by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR). 
• Threats: Rapid expansion of salt pans, cement factories, and other industrial activities in Coastal Regulation Zone- I areas has led to massive loss of mangrove forests. 
  • Populations have declined significantly, with loss of habitat and access to food being the primary reasons. 

Read more: Tourism Working Group in Rann of Kutch

Earth’s Oldest-Known Rocks

Source: TH 

A volcanic rock belt in Quebec’s (Canada) Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt, dated to be 4.16 billion years old, has been identified as the oldest-known rock on Earth, originating from the Hadean eon (4.5–4.03 billion years ago), when Earth itself was formed about 4.6 billion years ago. 

• The rocks are metamorphosed volcanic basalt, formed when magma solidified underground, and provide clues about Earth’s early crust, primordial oceans, and the environment where life may have begun. 
• Two radioactive dating methods (samarium-neodymium decay) confirmed the age, making them the oldest-known intact rocks. 
• Zircon crystals from Australia (4.4 billion years old) remain the oldest mineral fragments, but the Quebec rocks are the oldest intact geological formations. 
• The Hadean eon (4.5–4.03 billion years ago) was previously thought to be a molten hellscape (extremely harsh, hostile, or dangerous to life), but evidence suggests a cooling crust, shallow oceans, and an early atmosphere. 

Read More: Earth’s Mantle and Evolution of Life

Teak Leaves for Laser Protection

Source: PIB  

Indian scientists have discovered that teak leaf extract could be harnessed as a natural, eco-friendly optical limiter to protect eyes and sensitive sensors from high-intensity laser radiation. 

• Teak leaves contain anthocyanins, natural pigments with nonlinear optical (NLO) properties, making them suitable for optical power-limiting applications such as laser safety goggles, optical shields, and laser-resistant coatings. 

Teak (Tectona grandis) 

• About: Teak (Sagwan) is a moist deciduous tree known as the "King of Timbers" for its durability, strength, and resistance to pests, water, and decay, making it ideal for shipbuilding, premium furniture, flooring, exterior construction, carving, turnings, and musical instruments. 
  • India holds 35% of the world’s planted teak forests, while Asia accounts for 95% of global teak resources. 
• Geographic Distribution: It is native to South and Southeast Asia, including India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Indonesia. 
  • In India, it grows in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and the Northeast, thriving in well-drained soils and full sunlight. 
• Botanical Features: Teak is a large deciduous tree with a straight cylindrical trunk (1–1.5 m diameter), oblong dark green leaves in opposite pairs, and small, fragrant white/cream flowers in clusters. 
• Regulatory Status: Green felling is prohibited in government forests under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and the National Forest Policy, 1988, making private teak plantations essential to meet domestic and export demands.

Read More: Types of Forests in India

Electronic Private Automatic Branch Exchange

Source: TH 

In today's fast-paced corporate environment, efficient and integrated communication is essential for productivity, and Electronic Private Automatic Branch Exchange (EPABX) systems serve as a critical infrastructure enabling seamless internal and external connectivity in offices. 

• About: EPABX is a telephone switching system used in businesses to manage both internal and external communication, allowing multiple office telephones to connect through a shared external trunk line without requiring individual lines for each user. 
  • The core of EPABX is its switching mechanism, which directs calls accurately across internal and external lines. 
• Evolution of EPABX Technology: 
  • Electromechanical Relays (1970s–1980s): Used mechanical switches and electromagnets to connect phone lines. 
  • Digital Electronic Systems: By the late 1980s, digital switching using computers and microprocessors improved call handling and introduced Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) and Time Division Multiplexing (TDM). 
    • PCM converts analog voice into binary data for efficient digital communication. 
    • TDM enables multiple signals to share one channel by assigning each a time slot, allowing simultaneous data transmission without interference. 
  • Modern Systems: Integration with VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) enables voice data to be transmitted over the internet, making communication scalable and cost-effective.

Read more: The Indian Telecom Revolution