Republic Day: Time to Drop 'Secular', 'Socialist' from Constitution?

• The article argues that India, on its 77th Republic Day, should remove the words 'secular' and 'socialist' from its Constitution, calling them erroneously introduced.
• These words were inserted during the Emergency by then PM Indira Gandhi, bypassing Parliament, a move criticized by RSS sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale and Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi.
• BR Ambedkar, chairman of the Drafting Committee, had previously rejected the inclusion of 'Secular, Federal, Socialist Union of States' in the preamble, stating that the state's policy should be decided by the people over time.
• Jawaharlal Nehru also opposed 'secularism' as a Western concept, believing it didn't fit Bharat's ideas of religious tolerance, while Ambedkar noted the Constitution already ensured non-discrimination through Articles 16 and 19.
• Despite the Supreme Court dismissing petitions to remove these terms and the Union Law Minister stating no such plans in July 2025, the author suggests the current government has the mandate to act.

Why It Matters: India should consider removing 'secular' and 'socialist' from its Constitution, aligning with its original intent.