Social Justice & Welfare·Amendments
Religious Freedom — Amendments
Constitution VerifiedUPSC Verified
Version 1Updated 5 Mar 2026
| Amendment | Year | Description | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42nd Amendment | 1976 | Added the word 'secular' to the Preamble, explicitly declaring India as a secular republic. This amendment reinforced the constitutional commitment to religious neutrality and equal treatment of all religions. | Strengthened the constitutional foundation for religious freedom by making secularism an explicit constitutional value, providing stronger basis for protecting religious minorities and preventing state favoritism towards any religion. |