Question

Which amendment of the Constitution added the word ‘ secular in the Preamble?
A. 42nd Amendment
B. 44th Amendment
C. 46th Amendment
D. 50th Amendment

Answer 1

Hint: A Secular State is one that protects all religions equally and does not uphold any religion as the state religion. The amendment of 1976 added the word ‘secular’ in the Preamble.

Complete Step by Step answer:
The word ‘secular’ was added in the Preamble by the 42nd Amendment Act of the Indian Constitution. The 42nd Amendment Act was enacted to give effect to the recommendations made by the Swaran Singh Committee and is also regarded as a Mini-Constitution. A secular state is a state which is not based on any religion, a state which is separated from all religion. India with vast cultural diversities accepted secularism and thus was declared a secular state.

The 42nd Amendment act also made the President of the country bound by the advice of the Cabinet. It further added three new Directive principles - participation of workers in the industrial management section, equal justice and free legal aid.

Now let us examine the options:
Option A - The 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 added the word ‘ secular’ in the Preamble and thus India was declared a secular state.
Option B - The 44th Amendment Act of 1978 replaced ‘internal disturbances’ with ‘armed rebellion’ in relation to the national emergency. It made the right to property only a legal right and removed it from the list of fundamental rights. This act also empowered the President to revert back once the advice of the Cabinet for reconsideration.
Option C - The 46th Amendment Act of 1982 levied sales tax on the price of goods and materials and brought about some uniformity in tax rates on specific items.
Option D - The 50th Amendment Act of 1984 empowered the Parliament to restrict the fundamental rights of the people employed in the telecommunication system and intelligence organisation set for the armed forces.

Thus, the correct answer is option (A).

Note: Along with ‘secular’ more two words ‘socialist’ and ‘integrity’ were added into the Preamble through the Amendment Act of 1976. This act also shifted five subjects to the concurrent list from the state list.