Who among the following had moved the objectives resolution which formed the basis of the Preamble of the Constitution of India in the Constituent Assembly on December 13, 1946 ?

1. Genesis of the Constituent Assembly (basic)

To understand the Preamble, we must first travel back to the room where the idea of India was being debated: the Constituent Assembly. This body was not a random gathering; it was formally constituted in November 1946 under the Cabinet Mission Plan M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Making of the Constitution, p.11. The British Cabinet Mission—comprising Pethick-Lawrence, Stafford Cripps, and A.V. Alexander—was the spark that moved India from being a colony to a nation-in-the-making by providing a framework for Indians to draft their own destiny History, Class XII (Tamilnadu State Board), Last Phase of Indian National Movement, p.93.

While the Assembly was indirectly elected by provincial assemblies (based on a limited franchise of tax and education), it aimed to be a "microcosm of India." It included representatives from all religions, castes, and even 15 women, representing the diverse heartbeat of the sub-continent M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Making of the Constitution, p.12. However, the true "soul" of the Constitution was poured into it on December 13, 1946, when Jawaharlal Nehru moved the historic 'Objectives Resolution'.

The Objectives Resolution was the ideological compass for the Assembly. It didn't just list laws; it proclaimed India as an Independent Sovereign Republic and guaranteed Justice, Equality, and Freedom to all its people NCERT Class XI, Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter 1, p.19. After deep deliberation, the Assembly unanimously adopted this resolution on January 22, 1947. This document is the genetic ancestor of our Preamble; in fact, the Preamble we see today is simply the modified version of Nehru's vision from that day.

Sources: Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth (7th ed.), Making of the Constitution, p.11-12; History, Class XII (Tamilnadu State Board 2024 ed.), Last Phase of Indian National Movement, p.93; Indian Constitution at Work, NCERT Class XI (2025 ed.), CONSTITUTION: WHY AND HOW?, p.19

2. Key Personalities and First Meetings (basic)

To understand how the Preamble came to be, we must first look at the early days of the Constituent Assembly. The Assembly held its **first meeting on December 9, 1946**. In a gesture of respect following French practice, the oldest member present, Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha, was elected as the temporary Chairman. However, the atmosphere was tense as the Muslim League boycotted the session, resulting in only 207 members attending Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, p.12. By **December 11, 1946**, the Assembly moved toward a more permanent structure by electing Dr. Rajendra Prasad as its President and H.C. Mukherjee as its Vice-President Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, p.12. The most critical moment for the Preamble occurred on **December 13, 1946**, when **Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru** moved the 'Objectives Resolution'. This was not just a procedural document; it was the ideological compass for the entire Constitution. It defined India as an 'Independent Sovereign Republic' and laid down the fundamental ideals of justice, equality, and freedom Indian Constitution at Work, NCERT Class XI, p.19. While other leaders like Dr. B.R. Ambedkar would later lead the drafting of the legal text, it was Nehru’s vision in this resolution that provided the soul of the document. After extensive deliberation, the Assembly unanimously adopted the resolution on **January 22, 1947**. The significance of this resolution cannot be overstated because its **modified version forms the Preamble** of the Indian Constitution we use today Themes in Indian History Part III, NCERT Class XII, p.322. It transformed the aspirations of the nationalist movement into a formal constitutional commitment.

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Making of the Constitution, p.12; Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.), CONSTITUTION: WHY AND HOW?, p.19; THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.), FRAMING THE CONSTITUTION, p.322; History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Reconstruction of Post-colonial India, p.104

3. Major Committees and their Chairpersons (intermediate)

To manage the monumental task of framing the Constitution, the Constituent Assembly appointed several committees to deal with different aspects of the process. Think of these as specialized 'working groups.' While there were many minor committees, the major committees were headed by the giants of the Indian national movement. Understanding who led which committee is not just about memorization; it reveals the 'division of labor' in our founding. For instance, Jawaharlal Nehru focused on the Union (Central) powers, while Sardar Patel focused on the Provinces and the sensitive area of Fundamental Rights Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Making of the Constitution, p.14.

The most critical of all was the Drafting Committee, set up on August 29, 1947. Chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, this seven-member body was responsible for scrutinizing the draft constitution prepared by the Constitutional Adviser, Sir B.N. Rau, and giving it a final shape Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, THE MAKING OF THE CONSTITUTION, p.20. This committee didn't just write laws; they debated the very soul of the Preamble, ensuring it reflected the 'Objectives Resolution' moved earlier by Nehru.

Here is a quick reference guide to the major committees and their leaders:

Committee Name	Chairperson
Union Powers Committee and Union Constitution Committee	Jawaharlal Nehru
Provincial Constitution Committee	Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Drafting Committee	Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
Advisory Committee (Rights, Minorities, Tribal Areas)	Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Rules of Procedure and Steering Committee	Dr. Rajendra Prasad*

*Note: While some specialized Steering groups had different members, Dr. Rajendra Prasad generally presided over procedural committees as the President of the Assembly.

Special mention must be made of the Advisory Committee headed by Patel. This was a massive committee that broke down into sub-committees, such as the Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee led by J.B. Kripalani and the Minorities Sub-Committee led by H.C. Mukherjee Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Making of the Constitution, p.14. This structure ensured that the Preamble’s promises of 'Justice' and 'Equality' were backed by detailed legal protections for every citizen.

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Making of the Constitution, p.14-15; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, THE MAKING OF THE CONSTITUTION, p.20

4. The Philosophy and Keywords of the Preamble (intermediate)

The Preamble is often called the 'Identity Card' of our Constitution. It isn't just a preface; it is the distilled essence of the long struggle for freedom. The philosophy of the Preamble was first articulated in the Objectives Resolution, moved by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on December 13, 1946. This resolution outlined the fundamental ideals—sovereignty, justice, and liberty—that would guide the framing of the Constitution Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter 1, p. 19. After deep deliberation, the Constituent Assembly unanimously adopted it on January 22, 1947, and its modified version stands today as our Preamble.

The Preamble defines the nature of the Indian State through five powerful keywords. Sovereign means India is neither a dependency nor a dominion but an independent state. Socialist, in the Indian context, refers to 'Democratic Socialism'—aiming to end poverty and inequality through parliamentary means rather than state-controlled 'communistic' socialism Indian Polity, Preamble of the Constitution, p. 42. Secular in India follows a 'positive' concept; instead of a strict wall between state and religion, it ensures all religions have equal status and support from the state Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter 9, p. 229. Finally, Democratic implies that power rests with the people, while Republic signifies that the Head of State (the President) is elected, not a hereditary monarch.

Beyond the nature of the state, the Preamble sets out four great objectives for its citizens: Justice (Social, Economic, and Political), Liberty (of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship), Equality (of status and opportunity), and Fraternity (assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity of the nation). These aren't just words; for instance, 'Social Justice' means the Constitution cannot ignore policies that inflict misery on segments of the population Introduction to the Constitution of India, Chapter 4, p. 27. These ideals are put into practice through the Fundamental Rights, which ensure that the promises of equality and liberty are legally enforceable Democratic Politics-I, Chapter 5, p. 79.

Sources: Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.), CONSTITUTION: WHY AND HOW?, p.19; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Preamble of the Constitution, p.42; Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.), THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE CONSTITUTION, p.229; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.), THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE CONSTITUTION, p.27; Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025), DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS, p.79

5. Legal Status and Amendability of the Preamble (exam-level)

To understand the legal standing of the Preamble, we must look at it through the lens of the Supreme Court's evolving interpretation. For many years, a fundamental question persisted: Is the Preamble actually a part of the Constitution? This isn't just a matter of semantics; if it is not a part of the Constitution, it cannot be amended using the powers granted to Parliament under Article 368.

The first major milestone was the Berubari Union case (1960). Here, the Supreme Court acknowledged that the Preamble serves as a 'key to open the mind of the makers', helping to clarify the meaning of ambiguous articles. However, the Court specifically ruled that the Preamble was not a part of the Constitution Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Landmark Judgements and Their Impact, p.625. This meant that the Preamble was seen as a preface or an introduction, but lacked the legal status of the articles themselves.

This view was dramatically overturned in the historic Kesavananda Bharati case (1973). The Supreme Court rejected its earlier stance, observing that the Preamble was voted upon and passed by the Constituent Assembly in the same manner as the rest of the Constitution. Therefore, the Court declared that the Preamble is an integral part of the Constitution Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Landmark Judgements and Their Impact, p.626. This shift granted the Preamble the status required to be amendable under Article 368, provided that such amendments do not destroy the 'Basic Structure' of the Constitution Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Basic Structure of the Constitution, p.129. This was later reaffirmed in the LIC of India case (1995), where the Court again called it an 'integral part'.

Regarding its enforceability, you must remember two unique characteristics: The Preamble is non-justiciable (its provisions are not enforceable in a court of law) and it is neither a source of power to the legislature nor a prohibition upon its powers. To compare the two landmark shifts, look at this summary:

Feature	Berubari Union Case (1960)	Kesavananda Bharati Case (1973)
Status	Not a part of the Constitution	Integral part of the Constitution
Amendability	Not amendable under Art. 368	Amendable, subject to 'Basic Structure'
Significance	A guide to the makers' intent	Foundational pillar of the Constitution

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Landmark Judgements and Their Impact, p.625; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Landmark Judgements and Their Impact, p.626; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Basic Structure of the Constitution, p.129

6. The Objectives Resolution: Features and Impact (exam-level)

On December 13, 1946, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru moved the historic 'Objectives Resolution' in the Constituent Assembly. This was not merely a procedural document; it was a "solemn resolve" that provided the ideological philosophy and the fundamental framework for the entire constitution-making process Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Making of the Constitution, p.12. Nehru aimed to capture the essence of the decades-long nationalist struggle and translate those aspirations into constitutional principles. He placed the Indian experiment in a broad historical perspective, drawing inspiration from past global struggles for liberty while ensuring the document remained uniquely Indian THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII, Framing the Constitution, p.322.

The resolution outlined several core pillars that define our republic today. It proclaimed India as an Independent Sovereign Republic and asserted that all power and authority of the state are derived ultimately from the people. This shifted the source of legitimacy from the British Crown to the Indian citizens. Furthermore, it committed to providing justice, equality, and freedom to all citizens, while specifically promising "adequate safeguards" for minorities, backward and tribal areas, and depressed classes THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII, Framing the Constitution, p.322.

The impact of this resolution was profound and long-lasting. It was unanimously adopted by the Assembly on January 22, 1947. Rather than being archived after the Constitution was finished, its spirit was preserved: its modified version forms the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. Many of its specific clauses, particularly those regarding rights and social justice, were given "institutional expression" within the Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board), Reconstruction of Post-colonial India, p.105.

Key Feature	Description
Sovereignty	India to be an Independent Sovereign Republic.
Source of Power	All authority is derived from the people of India.
Social Safeguards	Protection for minorities, tribal areas, and backward classes.
Global Peace	Promotion of world peace and the welfare of mankind.

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Making of the Constitution, p.12; THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII, Framing the Constitution, p.322; History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board), Reconstruction of Post-colonial India, p.105; Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI, CONSTITUTION: WHY AND HOW?, p.19

7. Solving the Original PYQ (exam-level)

Now that you have mastered the timeline of the Constituent Assembly and the core values that define the Indian state, this question tests your ability to link those abstract values—like sovereignty, justice, and equality—to the specific historical moment they were formalised. The Objectives Resolution was essentially the philosophical "blue-print" for the entire Constitution. As noted in Indian Constitution at Work (NCERT Class XI), it was this document that provided the ideological framework and later evolved into the Preamble, making it the most critical foundational step in our constitutional journey.

To arrive at the correct answer, focus on the pivotal date: December 13, 1946. While the Assembly had met only days prior, it required a clear vision to guide its complex debates. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru stepped forward to move this resolution, outlining the vision of an 'Independent Sovereign Republic.' Although the resolution was unanimously adopted later on January 22, 1947, Nehru’s role as the primary architect of India's ideological stance makes (D) Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru the correct choice. As highlighted in Themes in Indian History Part III (NCERT Class XII), his speech during this event defined the very vision of the Constitution.

UPSC often uses Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as a trap because of his renowned title as the 'Father of the Constitution'; however, his work primarily began later as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee. Similarly, Dr. Rajendra Prasad served as the President of the Assembly, meaning he presided over the sessions rather than moving this specific resolution. While Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was instrumental in the Advisory Committee and the integration of states, the ideological DNA of the Preamble is historically credited to Nehru's original resolution.