Latest news with #42ndConstitutionalAmendment
The Print
25-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
No plans to drop ‘socialist' or ‘secular' from Constitution, govt tells Rajya Sabha
'Any discussions regarding amendments to the preamble would require thorough deliberation and broad consensus, but as of now, the government has not initiated any formal process to change these provisions,' Meghwal added. Responding to a question by Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman, the Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal stated in a written reply on Thursday that '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'. New Delhi: The Central government has no current plan or intention to reconsider or remove socialist or secular from the Constitution, nor have any proceedings been initiated for the same, government has informed the Rajya Sabha. The Union Minister mentioned that the Supreme Court has already affirmed the validity of 42nd Constitutional amendment in 1976, which inserted the words socialist and secular in the preamble. 'In November 2024, the Supreme Court of India in the case of Dr Balram Singh and others Vs Union of India and another's, the Court has also dismissed petitions challenging the 1976 amendment (42nd Constitutional Amendment), affirming that Parliament's power to amend the Constitution extends to the Preamble. The Court clarified that 'socialism' in the India context signifies a welfare state and does not impede private sector growth, while 'secularism' is integral in the Constitution's basic structure,' Meghwal said in the reply. He said that while certain office bearers of social organizations have expressed their opinions to remove the words to create public discourse, this has not changed the official stance of the government. Referring to the statements of office bearers of certain social organisations, he stated, 'Regarding the atmosphere created by office bearers of some social organisations, it is possible that certain groups are expressing opinions or advocating for reconsideration of these words. Such activities can create a public discourse or atmosphere around the issue, but do not necessarily reflect the official stance or actions of the government,' he added. In June earlier, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale had said that terms like 'Socialism' and 'Secularism' were forcibly inserted into the Constitution — a move that needs to be reconsidered. The RSS leader was addressing a program on the 50th anniversary of the Emergency held at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, jointly organised by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (under the Ministry of Culture), where he said that the Emergency imposed on the country on June 25, 1975 was the 'biggest blow to Indian democracy.' The comments were later criticised by several Opposition leaders. This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. Also Read: The Preamble won't be changed back to the original. Here's why
News18
25-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
'No Current Plan': Govt On Considering To Remove 'Socialism', 'Secularism' From Preamble
Last Updated: Government said there is no plan to remove 'socialism' and 'secularism' from the Preamble. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal stated no formal actions have been initiated. Government on Thursday informed the Rajya Sabha that there is 'no current plan' to remove the words 'socialism' and 'secularism' from the Preamble of the Constitution. Furthermore, government also said that there are no 'formal" initiations from its side to remove these words. 'Socialism' and 'secularism' were inserted into the Preamble during the Emergency period. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, in a written reply, said the discussion could be among the political circles but 'government did not announce any formal course of action' regarding this. '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. Any discussions regarding amendments to the Preamble would require thorough deliberation and broad consensus, but as of now, the government has not initiated any formal process to change these provisions," the minister's reply was quoted by PTI. Meghwal also highlighted that in November 2024, the Supreme Court dismissed petitions challenging the 1976 (42nd Constitutional Amendment), which confirmed that Parliament's power to amend the Constitution includes the Preamble. The court clarified that 'socialism" in the Indian context means a welfare state and does not hinder private sector growth, while 'secularism" remains a fundamental aspect of the Constitution's basic structure. Regarding the atmosphere created by the office-bearers of some social organisations, Meghwal mentioned that certain groups might be expressing opinions or advocating for reconsideration of these terms. 'Such activities can create a public discourse or atmosphere around the issue, but this does not necessarily reflect the official stance or actions of the government," he said. view comments First Published: July 25, 2025, 09:59 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
25-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
No Plan To Remove 'Socialist' And 'Secular' From Preamble: Law Minister
New Delhi: Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday that although some groups are advocating for the removal of the words "socialist" and "secular" from the Preamble of the Indian Constitution, the government has no current plan or intention to pursue such a move. Responding in writing to a question raised by Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman, Mr Meghwal clarified: 'The Indian government has not formally initiated any legal or constitutional process to remove the words 'socialist' and 'secular' from the Preamble. While there may be discussions or debates in certain public or political circles, no formal decision or proposal has been announced by the government regarding amendments to these terms.' His statement follows recent remarks by RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, who in June called for a national discussion on whether these words, added during the Emergency via the 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976), should remain in the Preamble. Mr Meghwal distinguished the government's stance from the views expressed by leaders of social organisations. 'It is possible that some groups are expressing opinions or advocating for a reconsideration of these words. Such discussions may contribute to public discourse, but they do not reflect the official position or actions of the government,' he said. Citing a Supreme Court ruling from November 2024 in Dr Balram Singh & Others vs Union of India, Minister Meghwal said: 'The court clarified that 'socialism' in the Indian context signifies a welfare state and does not impede private sector growth, while 'secularism' is integral to the Constitution's basic structure.' Reiterating the government's position, he added: 'There is no current plan or intent to reconsider or remove the words from the Preamble. Any such constitutional amendment would require broad political consensus and detailed deliberation — and at present, no such process has been initiated.'
Hans India
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
No plan to remove 'socialism', 'secularism,' says Centre
New Delhi: The Union government has 'no current plan or intention' to reconsider or remove the words 'socialism' and 'secularism' from the Preamble of the Constitution inserted during the Emergency period, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday. The House was also told that the government has not 'formally' initiated any legal or constitutional process to remove the two words from the Preamble of the Constitution. In a written reply, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said while there may be discussions or debates in certain public or political circles, 'no formal decision or proposal has been announced by the government' regarding amendments to 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. Any discussions regarding amendments to the Preamble would require thorough deliberation and broad consensus, but as of now, the government has not initiated any formal process to change these provisions," the minister asserted. He pointed out that in November 2024, the Supreme Court had also dismissed petitions challenging the 1976 amendment (42nd Constitutional Amendment), which affirmed that Parliament's power to amend the Constitution extends to the Preamble. The court clarified that 'socialism' in the Indian context signifies a welfare state and does not impede private sector growth, while 'secularism' is integral to the Constitution's basic structure.
The Hindu
24-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
No current plan or intention to reconsider or remove 'socialism', 'secularism' from Preamble: Government
The Union government has "no current plan or intention" to reconsider or remove the words 'socialism' and 'secularism' from the Preamble of the Constitution inserted during the Emergency period, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday (July 24, 2025). The House was also told that the government has not "formally" initiated any legal or constitutional process to remove the two words from the Preamble of the Constitution. In a written reply, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said while there may be discussions or debates in certain public or political circles, "no formal decision or proposal has been announced by the government" regarding amendments to 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. Any discussions regarding amendments to the Preamble would require thorough deliberation and broad consensus, but as of now, the government has not initiated any formal process to change these provisions," the Minister asserted. He pointed out that in November 2024, the Supreme Court had also dismissed petitions challenging the 1976 amendment (42nd Constitutional Amendment), which affirmed that Parliament's power to amend the Constitution extends to the Preamble. The Court clarified that "socialism" in the Indian context signifies a welfare state and does not impede private sector growth, while "secularism" is integral to the Constitution's basic structure. Regarding the atmosphere created by the office-bearers of some social organisations, Mr. Meghwal said certain groups may be expressing opinions or advocating for reconsideration of these words. "Such activities can create a public discourse or atmosphere around the issue, but this does not necessarily reflect the official stance or actions of the government," he said. Last month, then vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar had asserted that the words inserted in the Preamble of the Constitution through an amendment during the Emergency era were a "festering wound", lending weight to the call by a top RSS leader for a review of the added terms 'secular' and 'socialist'. Wading into the political row sparked by RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale's call for a national debate on whether the terms 'secular' and 'socialist' to define India's foundational values should remain in the Preamble, Dhankhar had said the Preamble is sacrosanct and "not changeable". He further said the added words were a "sacrilege to the spirit of Sanatan".
