Objectives Resolution

The Objectives Resolution was a historic declaration adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 22 January 1947. Moved by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on 13 December 1946, it set forth the underlying philosophy and guiding principles for the future Constitution of India. The Resolution expressed the aspirations of the Indian people for freedom, equality, and justice, and served as the blueprint for the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.

Historical Context

By 1946, India was on the verge of attaining independence after nearly two centuries of colonial rule. The Cabinet Mission Plan had laid the framework for establishing a Constituent Assembly to draft a constitution for free India. The first meeting of the Assembly took place on 9 December 1946, with Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha as temporary chairman, and later Dr. Rajendra Prasad as its permanent president.
It was in this session that Pandit Nehru introduced the Objectives Resolution, outlining the fundamental principles upon which the new nation would be founded. The Resolution was meant to provide a moral and ideological direction to the constitution-making process and to proclaim India’s determination to become an independent, sovereign, democratic nation.

Drafting and Presentation

The Resolution was introduced by Jawaharlal Nehru on 13 December 1946, during the second session of the Constituent Assembly. Nehru’s speech presenting the Resolution was deeply philosophical and visionary, emphasising the importance of equality, freedom, and social justice.
The debate on the Resolution continued for several days, with significant contributions from leading figures such as Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, and K. M. Munshi. Members from various communities expressed both support and concerns, particularly about the rights of minorities and the nature of the federal structure.
After extensive deliberation, the Objectives Resolution was unanimously adopted on 22 January 1947, becoming the foundational statement of India’s constitutional philosophy.

Main Principles of the Objectives Resolution

The Resolution outlined the key objectives that would guide the drafting of the Indian Constitution. Its major provisions included:

• Sovereignty and Independence: India was to be an independent sovereign republic, free from external domination, deriving its authority from the people.
• People as the Source of Power: All power and authority of government—legislative, executive, and judicial—were to flow from the people of India.
• Guarantee of Justice, Liberty, and Equality: The Resolution promised social, economic, and political justice, and assured freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship.
• Safeguards for Minorities and Backward Classes: It pledged adequate protection for the rights and interests of minorities, tribal groups, and other backward communities.
• Federal Structure: India was envisaged as a federation of states, both British Indian provinces and princely states, united under a single sovereign government.
• Promotion of World Peace: The Resolution affirmed India’s commitment to contribute to international peace and progress, and to maintain friendly relations among nations.

These principles reflected not only the nationalist aspirations of the time but also India’s long-standing civilisational values of justice, tolerance, and human dignity.

Debates and Reactions in the Constituent Assembly

The debates on the Objectives Resolution were among the most significant in the Constituent Assembly’s proceedings. Members discussed the balance between individual rights and collective welfare, federalism, minority safeguards, and the nature of sovereignty.

• Supporters, including Nehru, Patel, and Azad, hailed the Resolution as a declaration of India’s commitment to democracy and equality.
• Some Muslim League members objected to the Resolution, arguing that it did not accommodate their demand for a separate nation. However, most of the Muslim League had already withdrawn from the Assembly following its decision to form Pakistan.
• Dr. B. R. Ambedkar supported the Resolution, though he emphasised the need for strong constitutional mechanisms to protect the rights of marginalised communities.

Ultimately, the adoption of the Resolution symbolised the unity of purpose among the framers of India’s Constitution.

Influence on the Constitution and the Preamble

The Objectives Resolution served as the philosophical and moral foundation of the Indian Constitution. Its core ideals were later incorporated into the Preamble, which opens with the words “We, the people of India…”, affirming the sovereignty of the people and their commitment to justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity.
Key elements from the Resolution reflected in the Constitution include:

• Sovereignty of the people – basis of the democratic system.
• Social, economic, and political justice – enshrined in the Directive Principles of State Policy.
• Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship – guaranteed through Fundamental Rights.
• Equality and fraternity – foundational principles of citizenship and governance.
• Federalism – defined through the distribution of powers between the Union and the States.
• Promotion of world peace – reflected in Article 51, which directs the State to maintain peaceful international relations.

Thus, the Resolution not only guided the drafting process but also set the tone for India’s democratic and secular identity.

Philosophical and Political Significance

The Objectives Resolution was both a political declaration and a philosophical charter. It articulated the values that would shape the Republic of India and marked the transition from colonial rule to self-governance. Its significance lay in:

• Establishing the sovereignty of the people as the source of all power.
• Affirming the democratic and republican nature of the Indian state.
• Integrating the ideals of liberty, equality, and justice into the nation’s constitutional ethos.
• Laying the groundwork for a secular and inclusive polity.
• Expressing India’s commitment to global peace and cooperation.

Nehru described it as a “solemn pledge” of the people of India to build a nation founded on justice and equality for all.

Legacy and Continuing Relevance

The Objectives Resolution remains one of the most enduring documents in India’s constitutional history. It symbolises the aspirations of a newly liberated people determined to establish a democratic order grounded in fairness, tolerance, and human rights.
Even today, its principles continue to guide constitutional interpretation and public policy. The ideals of sovereignty, democracy, secularism, and social justice, derived from the Resolution, form the enduring backbone of India’s constitutional identity.