2. Socialist

Even before the term was added by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, the Constitution had a socialist content in the form of certain Directive Principles of State Policy. In other words, what was hitherto implicit in the Constitution has now been made explicit. Moreover, the Congress party itself adopted a resolution5 to establish a 'socialistic pattern of society’ in its Avadi session as early as in 1955 and took measures accordingly.

Notably, the Indian brand of socialism is a 'democratic socialism’ and not a 'communistic socialism’ (also known as 'state socialism’) which involves the nationalisation of all means of production and distribution and the abolition of private property. Democratic socialism, on the other hand, holds faith in a 'mixed economy’ where both public and private sectors co-exist side by

side6. As the Supreme Court says, 'Democratic socialism aims to end poverty, ignorance, disease and inequality of opportunity7. Indian socialism is a blend of Marxism and Gandhism, leaning heavily towards the Gandhian socialism’8 .‌‌

The new Economic Policy (1991) of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation has, however, diluted the socialist credentials of the Indian State.