Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic

Elaboration

Sovereign: India is internally and externally free; no external authority controls it. Membership of the UN or Commonwealth, or signing treaties, does not dilute sovereignty. India's dominion status ended on 26 Jan 1950.
Socialist (42nd Amendment, 1976): India follows democratic socialism, not Marxist/state socialism. It means a mixed economy, reduction of inequality, and a welfare state. Avadi Session of Congress (1955) adopted the "socialistic pattern of society". D.S. Nakara v Union of India (1983) and Excel Wear discussed socialism; Samatha v State of AP (1997) linked it to Art 39.
Secular (42nd Amendment, 1976): The state has no official religion and treats all religions equally (sarva dharma sama bhava) while maintaining principled distance. Provisions: Arts 14, 15, 16, 25-28, 29-30, 44, 51A(e). S.R. Bommai v Union of India (1994) held secularism a basic feature; Kesavananda also included it.
Democratic: Government derives authority from the people. Political democracy (universal franchise, periodic elections, "one person one vote, one vote one value"), social democracy (Ambedkar), and economic democracy (DPSP). Democracy is a basic feature ( Indira Gandhi v Raj Narain, Kihoto Hollohan).
Republic: Head of state is elected, not hereditary. India's President is elected indirectly for 5 years (Art 54). A republic also implies political sovereignty of people and absence of special privileges.

Key points to remember

"Socialist" and "Secular" were not in the original 1950 text; both added in 1976 by the 42nd Amendment, and both are part of basic structure.
Indian secularism ≠ Western secularism (separation wall); India = positive secularism.
Sovereignty, democracy, republic are in the original Preamble.
Republic is about the head of state; democracy is about the source of power.
Bommai (1994) = secularism as basic structure.

PYQ / MCQ

1. India being a 'Republic' means:

(a) Its President is elected, not hereditary

(b) It is not a member of the Commonwealth

(d) It has no monarchy at the state level only

Answer: (a)

2. In which case was secularism declared a basic feature of the Constitution?

(a) Kesavananda Bharati

(b) S.R. Bommai

(d) Golaknath

Answer: (b)

3. 'Socialism' in the Preamble refers to:

(a) Nationalisation of all industries

(b) Democratic socialism with a mixed economy

(d) Planned capitalism

Answer: (b)