What was the exact constitutional status of India on 26th January, 1950?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) A Sovereign Democratic Republic
On 26 January 1950 India was a Sovereign Democratic Republic. The words 'Socialist' and 'Secular' were added to the Preamble only by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, which took effect on 3 January 1977.
- ✗ (a) It leaves out 'Sovereign', which was in the Preamble from the start.
- ✓ (b) The original Preamble read 'Sovereign Democratic Republic'; the 42nd Amendment replaced these words with 'Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic' from 3 January 1977.
- ✗ (c) 'Secular' was inserted in 1976, so it was not part of the description in 1950.
- ✗ (d) This is the present wording, adopted only after the 42nd Amendment (1976), so it describes India after 1977, not in 1950.
Remember · 1950 Preamble: Sovereign Democratic Republic. 'Socialist' and 'Secular' (and 'integrity') were added by the 42nd Amendment, 1976, effective 3 January 1977.
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 11 Indian Economic Development
Sources
- NCERT Class 11 · Indian Economic Development “Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, Sec.2, for "Sovereign Democratic Republic" (w.e.f. 3.1.1977)”
- Constitution of India, Preamble (footnote 1) ↗ “Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s.2, for "SOVEREIGN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC" (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2021, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·