Constitutional Values
1. Secularism: We all are pleased when anyone says that India is a home to almost all
major religions in the world. In the context of this plurality (means more than one or two;
many), secularism is seen as a great constitutional value. Secularism implies that our
country is not guided by any one religion or any religious considerations. However, the
Indian state is not against religions. It allows all its citizens to profess, preach and
practice any religion they follow. At the same time, it ensures that the state does not
have any religion of its own. The Constitution strictly prohibits any discrimination on the
ground of religion.
2. Equality: Equality is as significant a constitutional value as any other. The Constitution
ensures equality of status and opportunity to every citizen for the development of the
best in him/her. As a human being everybody has a dignified self and to ensure its full
enjoyment, inequality in any form present in our country and society has been prohibited.
Equality reflected specifically in the Preamble is therefore held as an important value.
3. Liberty: The Preamble prescribes liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship
as one of the core values. These have to be assured to every member of all the
communities. It has been done so, because the ideals of democracy can not be attained
without the presence of certain minimal rights which are essential for a free and civilized
existence of individuals.
4. Fraternity: There is also a commitment made in the Preamble to promote the value of
fraternity that stands for the spirit of common brotherhood among all the people of India.
In the absence of fraternity, a plural society like India stands divided. Therefore, to give
meaning to all the ideals like justice, liberty and equality, the Preamble lays great
emphasis on fraternity. In fact, fraternity can be realized not only by abolishing
untouchability amongst different sects of the community, but also by abolishing all
communal or sectarian or even local discriminatory feelings which stand in the way of
unity of India.
5. Federalism: Federalism in India refers to the constitutional framework that divides
powers and responsibilities between the central government and the state governments.
India follows a federal structure with a strong unitary bias, meaning that while the
Constitution clearly demarcates powers between the center and the states, it also
provides for a strong central government.
6. Unity and integrity: As we have seen above, fraternity also promotes one of the critical
values, i.e. unity and integrity of the nation. To maintain the independence of the country
intact, the unity and integrity of the nation is very essential. Therefore, the stress has
been given on fostering unity amongst all the inhabitants of the country. Our Constitution
expects from all the citizens of India to uphold and protect the unity and integrity of India
as a matter of duty.
7. Sovereignty: You may have read the Preamble. It declares India “a sovereign socialist
secular democratic republic”. Being sovereign means having complete political freedom
and being the supreme authority. It implies that India is internally all powerful and
externally free. It is free to determine for itself without any external interference (either by
any country or individual) and nobody is there within to challenge its authority. This
feature of sovereignty gives us the dignity of existence as a nation in the international
community. Though the Constitution does not specify where the sovereign authority lies,
a mention of ‘We the People of India’ in the Preamble clearly indicates that sovereignty
rests with the people of India. This means that the constitutional authorities and organs
of government derive their power only from the people.