Which of the following terms was NOT originally part of the Preamble but was added later?

The correct option is

Secular

Explanation

The Preamble to the Constitution of India outlines the fundamental values and philosophy on which the Constitution is based. While the majority of the text was adopted on November 26, 1949, specific terms were introduced later through a constitutional amendment.

Constitutional Amendment of the Preamble:

• The Preamble has been amended only once since its inception.
• This change was brought about by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976, enacted during the Emergency.
• This amendment added three new words to the Preamble:
  • Socialist
  • Secular
  • Integrity (added to the phrase "Unity of the Nation" to make it "Unity and Integrity of the Nation")

Analysis of Options:

• Sovereign, Democratic, and Republic: These terms were present in the original text adopted in 1949. The original description of the state was a "Sovereign Democratic Republic."
• Secular: This term was not in the original text and was inserted by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, changing the description to "Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic."

Key Takeaway:

The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 added the terms Socialist, Secular, and Integrity to the Preamble.