<h4>Supreme Court Upholds Socialist and Secular Values</h4><p>The <strong>Supreme Court</strong> has affirmed the constitutional validity of the terms <strong>'Socialist'</strong> and <strong>'Secular'</strong> as additions to the <strong>Preamble</strong> of the Indian Constitution.</p><p>These crucial terms were incorporated into the <strong>Preamble</strong> through the <strong>42nd Amendment Act of 1976</strong>, a significant legislative change during the Emergency period.</p><h4>Parliament's Amending Power</h4><p>The Supreme Court clarified that <strong>Parliament</strong> possesses the power to amend the <strong>Constitution</strong>, including the <strong>Preamble</strong>, under <strong>Article 368</strong>.</p><p>This power allows for modifications to the foundational document, provided they do not alter the <strong>Basic Structure</strong> of the Constitution, a doctrine established in the <strong>Kesavananda Bharati case, 1973</strong>.</p><div class='info-box'><strong>Key Fact:</strong> The <strong>42nd Amendment Act, 1976</strong>, added three words to the Preamble: <strong>Socialist</strong>, <strong>Secular</strong>, and <strong>Integrity</strong>.</div><h4>Validity of 1976 Additions</h4><p>The Court specifically ruled that the additions made in <strong>1976</strong> were valid, despite the argument regarding the original adoption date of the <strong>Preamble</strong> on <strong>26th November 1949</strong>.</p><div class='key-point-box'>The <strong>Preamble</strong>, though adopted earlier, is considered part of the Constitution and thus amenable to amendment under <strong>Article 368</strong>, subject to the <strong>Basic Structure Doctrine</strong>.</div><h4>Understanding Indian Secularism</h4><p><strong>Secularism</strong>, as enshrined in the <strong>Indian Constitution</strong>, represents a unique interpretation where the <strong>State protects all religions equally</strong>.</p><p>This differs from the Western concept of strict separation of church and state, as India adopts a model of 'positive secularism' or 'principled distance'.</p><div class='info-box'>The <strong>SR Bommai Case (1994)</strong> is a landmark judgment that extensively discussed and upheld <strong>Secularism</strong> as a <strong>Basic Feature</strong> of the Constitution.</div><h4>Constitutional Safeguards for Religion and Equality</h4><p>The <strong>Right to Freedom of Religion</strong> is guaranteed under <strong>Articles 25 to 28</strong> of the Constitution.</p><p>These articles provide citizens with the liberty to <strong>preach, practice, and propagate</strong> the religion of their choice, ensuring religious freedom for all.</p><p>Furthermore, <strong>Articles 14, 15, and 16</strong> reinforce the secular and egalitarian principles by prohibiting <strong>discrimination against citizens on religious grounds</strong>.</p><p>These articles guarantee <strong>equal protection of laws</strong> and <strong>equal opportunity in public employment</strong>, irrespective of one's religious affiliation.</p><div class='exam-tip-box'>When discussing <strong>Secularism</strong>, always link it to <strong>Fundamental Rights</strong> (<strong>Articles 25-28</strong>) and <strong>Equality Provisions</strong> (<strong>Articles 14-16</strong>) to provide a comprehensive answer in <strong>UPSC Mains GS Paper II</strong>.</div>