CDS Polity · Indian Constitution — Making, Foundation and Amendments
Sources and the Preamble
Which features the Constitution borrowed from which country, the exact words of the Preamble in their order, and the three words the 42nd Amendment added in 1976.
Why this matters
Five CDS questions, all MODERATE, four of them on the Preamble. Every Preamble question turns on the exact text: which word comes first, which word was there in 1949 and which came in 1976. Read the Preamble slowly once and these become free marks.
Concept 1 of 3: Features borrowed from other constitutions
The makers of the Constitution studied many constitutions and took what worked. The quickest way to remember the sources is by idea: the way Parliament works came from Britain, the rights and the courts from the USA, and the guiding principles from Ireland.
Definition
The main sources:
- Britain: the parliamentary system, the rule of law, the law-making procedure, single citizenship, the cabinet system.
- USA: Fundamental Rights, independence of the judiciary and judicial review, impeachment of the President, the Vice-President.
- Ireland: the Directive Principles, nomination of members to the Rajya Sabha.
- Canada: a federation with a strong Centre, residuary powers with the Centre.
- Australia: the Concurrent List, the joint sitting of the two Houses.
- USSR: the Fundamental Duties. France: the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity, and the republic.
- Weimar Germany: suspension of Fundamental Rights during an emergency. South Africa: the procedure for amending the Constitution.
- Government of India Act, 1935: the federal scheme, the office of Governor, the emergency provisions.
| Source | Features taken |
|---|---|
| Britain | Parliamentary system, rule of law, law-making procedure, single citizenshipQ CDS 2017 (II): independence of the judiciary was the one feature in the list NOT from Britain. |
| USA | Fundamental Rights, independent judiciary, judicial review |
| Ireland | Directive Principles of State Policy |
| Canada | Federation with a strong Centre |
| Australia | Concurrent List, joint sitting |
| USSR | Fundamental Duties |
| France | Republic; liberty, equality and fraternity |
| Weimar Germany | Suspending Fundamental Rights in an emergency |
| South Africa | Procedure for amending the Constitution |
| Government of India Act, 1935 | Federal scheme, Governor, emergency provisions |
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2017 · CDS (II) 2017 — General Knowledge · Q25Moderate
Example 1 · Indian Constitution — Making, Foundation and Amendments · Sources and the Preamble
Which of the following features were borrowed by the Constitution of India from the British Constitution?
1. Rule of Law
2. Law-making Procedure
3. Independence of Judiciary
4. Parliamentary System
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Independent judiciary is American, not British
Britain gave the parliamentary system, the rule of law and the law-making procedure. The independence of the judiciary and judicial review are traced to the USA.
Concept 2 of 3: The words of the Preamble
The Preamble is one long sentence. It says who makes the Constitution (we, the people), what kind of State India is, and what the State promises its citizens. CDS asks about the order of the words, so learn them in the order they appear.
Definition
The text, in order:
- WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
- and to secure to all its citizens: JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
- LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
- EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;
- and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;
- IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.
The ideals run Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. In Kesavananda Bharati (1973) the Supreme Court held that the Preamble is a part of the Constitution.
| Part of the Preamble | Words |
|---|---|
| Source of authority | We, the people of India |
| Nature of the State | Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic |
| Justice | Social, economic and political |
| Liberty | Of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship |
| Equality | Of status and of opportunityQ |
| Fraternity | Assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation |
| Date of adoption | 26 November 1949 |
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2025 · CDS (II) 2025 — General Knowledge · Q6Moderate
Example 2 · Indian Constitution — Making, Foundation and Amendments · Sources and the Preamble
Which of the following statements with reference to the Preamble to the Constitution of India are correct ?
1. The word 'secular' comes before the word 'socialist'.
2. The word 'justice' comes before the word 'equality'.
3. The word 'fraternity' comes after the word 'liberty'.
Select the answer using the code given below :
Socialist comes before secular
The Preamble reads Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic. Learn the five words as one phrase; an option that puts secular first is wrong.
Fraternity is the last ideal
The order is Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. Fraternity comes after liberty, and justice comes first of all.
Concept 3 of 3: The 42nd Amendment and the Preamble
The Preamble has been amended only once, in 1976. Three words were added; everything else is as it was adopted in 1949. So the question is always: was this word there from the start, or did it come in 1976?
Definition
The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 made three changes:
- added SOCIALIST,
- added SECULAR,
- changed 'unity of the Nation' to 'unity and integrity of the Nation'.
Words that were there from 1949: sovereign, democratic, republic, justice, liberty (of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship), equality, fraternity.
| Word or phrase | In the Preamble since |
|---|---|
| Sovereign, Democratic, Republic | 1949 |
| Socialist | 1976 (42nd Amendment) |
| Secular | 1976 (42nd Amendment) |
| Integrity (in 'unity and integrity of the Nation') | 1976 (42nd Amendment)Q CDS 2024 (I): the liberty clause was NOT changed in 1976; only 'unity' became 'unity and integrity'. |
| Fraternity | 1949 |
| Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship | 1949 |
Practice this conceptself-check · 3 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2020 · CDS (II) 2020 — General Knowledge · Q77Moderate
Example 3 · Indian Constitution — Making, Foundation and Amendments · Sources and the Preamble
Which of the following terms were added to the Preamble of the Constitution of India by the Constitutional Amendment, 1976?
1. Socialist
2. Secular
3. Integrity
4. Fraternity
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Fraternity is original
The 42nd Amendment added socialist, secular and integrity. Fraternity was in the Preamble from the day it was adopted.
Integrity was added, unity was not
The 1949 text already said 'unity of the Nation'. The 1976 change made it 'unity and integrity of the Nation'.
Summary — formulas & gotchas at a glance
A revision cheat-sheet for the formulas and gotchas above. Click any concept name to jump back to its full explanation.
Reference tables (3)
Features borrowed from other constitutions10 rows
| Source | Features taken |
|---|---|
| Britain | Parliamentary system, rule of law, law-making procedure, single citizenshipQ CDS 2017 (II): independence of the judiciary was the one feature in the list NOT from Britain. |
| USA | Fundamental Rights, independent judiciary, judicial review |
| Ireland | Directive Principles of State Policy |
| Canada | Federation with a strong Centre |
| Australia | Concurrent List, joint sitting |
| USSR | Fundamental Duties |
| France | Republic; liberty, equality and fraternity |
| Weimar Germany | Suspending Fundamental Rights in an emergency |
| South Africa | Procedure for amending the Constitution |
| Government of India Act, 1935 | Federal scheme, Governor, emergency provisions |
The words of the Preamble7 rows
| Part of the Preamble | Words |
|---|---|
| Source of authority | We, the people of India |
| Nature of the State | Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic |
| Justice | Social, economic and political |
| Liberty | Of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship |
| Equality | Of status and of opportunityQ |
| Fraternity | Assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation |
| Date of adoption | 26 November 1949 |
The 42nd Amendment and the Preamble6 rows
| Word or phrase | In the Preamble since |
|---|---|
| Sovereign, Democratic, Republic | 1949 |
| Socialist | 1976 (42nd Amendment) |
| Secular | 1976 (42nd Amendment) |
| Integrity (in 'unity and integrity of the Nation') | 1976 (42nd Amendment)Q CDS 2024 (I): the liberty clause was NOT changed in 1976; only 'unity' became 'unity and integrity'. |
| Fraternity | 1949 |
| Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship | 1949 |
Watch out for (5)
- Independent judiciary is American, not British→ Features borrowed from other constitutions
- Socialist comes before secular→ The words of the Preamble
- Fraternity is the last ideal→ The words of the Preamble
- Fraternity is original→ The 42nd Amendment and the Preamble
- Integrity was added, unity was not→ The 42nd Amendment and the Preamble
Test yourself on Indian Constitution — Making, Foundation and Amendments
20 past CDS questions from this chapter, timed at 20 minutes and marked the way the exam marks it. You see your score and every answer the moment you finish. Free to start.