Meghwal acknowledged that an atmosphere has been created by office-bearers of some social organisations and certain groups who may be expressing opinions or advocating for a reconsideration of these words.
Published Jul 25, 2025 | 10:58 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 25, 2025 | 10:58 AM
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. (Screengrab)
Synopsis: Union Minister of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal said that the government has not formally initiated any legal or constitutional process to remove the words “socialist” and “secular” from the Preamble of the Constitution.
Union Minister of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal said on Thursday, 24 July, that the government has not formally initiated any legal or constitutional process to remove the words “socialist” and “secular” from the Preamble of the Constitution.
“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,” he said, in a reply to a question in the Lok Sabha by Samajwadi Party (SP) Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman.
The Union minister said, in November 2024, the Supreme Court — in the case of Dr. Balram Singh vs Union of India and Others — had 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 Indian context signifies a welfare state and does not impede private sector growth, while “secularism” is integral to the Constitution’s basic structure.
Meghwal acknowledged that an atmosphere has been created by office-bearers of some social organisations and certain groups who may be expressing opinions or advocating for a 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.
He said 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,” he added.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
