A Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament has proposed removing the words ‘secular’ and ‘socialist’ from India’s Constitution Preamble. The bill argues these terms were added undemocratically during the Emergency in 1976. The MP cited Constituent Assembly debates where Dr B R Ambedkar reportedly stated these words were not necessary. The original Constitution adopted in 1949 did not include them. MP Bhim Singh (File photo) BJP Rajya Sabha MP Bhim Singh introduced a Private Member’s Bill in the Upper House seeking to remove the words ‘secular’ and ‘socialist’ from the Constitution’s Preamble, on Saturday.The MP said these terms were added ‘undemocratically’ during the Emergency in 1976 through the 42nd amendment under Indira Gandhi’s government, when opposition leaders were imprisoned.Watch: MPs Speak Out as SIR Row Dominates Winter Session OpeningSingh introduced The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Rajya Sabha, arguing these words were not part of the original Constitution adopted in 1949.”I have introduced a Private Member’s Bill to amend the Preamble of the Constitution, to remove the words ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’. The original Constitution, adopted in 1949, which has been in force since 1950, did not have these two words. Mrs Indira Gandhi added these two words to the Constitution during the Emergency in 1976, under the 42nd Constitution amendment. At that time, no debate was held in Parliament,” Singh told PTI.”All the opposition leaders, including Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani and George Fernandes were in jail. Democracy was being murdered, and in that situation, Mrs Indira Gandhi added these two words. So, this is the word that was added later, and the Constitution should remain in its original form,” he added.Singh referenced debates from the Constituent Assembly where Dr BR Ambedkar had addressed these terms. “The chairman of the Drafting Committee, Dr B R Ambedkar, answered. He said the structure of the Constitution of India is such that it will make the country secular. He said it (inclusion of the word) is not needed,” Singh said.”There was a debate on the word socialist as well. Ambedkar replied that the Constitution committee cannot force future generations to follow the same political and economic policy. As far as socialism is concerned, it is related to the welfare of the people. This has been factored into the Constitution,” he said.”Was India secular before 1976 or not? Were Nehru ji, Lal Bahadur Shastri, or Indira Gandhi running a communal government? Why were these words required then?” he questioned.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. 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BJP Rajya Sabha MP Bhim Singh introduced a Private Member’s Bill in the Upper House seeking to remove the words ‘secular’ and ‘socialist’ from the Constitution’s Preamble, on Saturday.The MP said these terms were added ‘undemocratically’ during the Emergency in 1976 through the 42nd amendment under Indira Gandhi’s government, when opposition leaders were imprisoned.
Singh introduced The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Rajya Sabha, arguing these words were not part of the original Constitution adopted in 1949.“I have introduced a Private Member’s Bill to amend the Preamble of the Constitution, to remove the words ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’. The original Constitution, adopted in 1949, which has been in force since 1950, did not have these two words. Mrs Indira Gandhi added these two words to the Constitution during the Emergency in 1976, under the 42nd Constitution amendment. At that time, no debate was held in Parliament,” Singh told PTI.“All the opposition leaders, including Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani and George Fernandes were in jail. Democracy was being murdered, and in that situation, Mrs Indira Gandhi added these two words. So, this is the word that was added later, and the Constitution should remain in its original form,” he added.Singh referenced debates from the Constituent Assembly where Dr BR Ambedkar had addressed these terms. “The chairman of the Drafting Committee, Dr B R Ambedkar, answered. He said the structure of the Constitution of India is such that it will make the country secular. He said it (inclusion of the word) is not needed,” Singh said.“There was a debate on the word socialist as well. Ambedkar replied that the Constitution committee cannot force future generations to follow the same political and economic policy. As far as socialism is concerned, it is related to the welfare of the people. This has been factored into the Constitution,” he said.“Was India secular before 1976 or not? Were Nehru ji, Lal Bahadur Shastri, or Indira Gandhi running a communal government? Why were these words required then?” he questioned.
