Vision of the Constitution
Constitution Day on November 26, 2024, marks 75 years of India’s Constitution and governance.
Constituent Assembly Debates show the diverse ideologies of the Constitution-makers, from right-wing to left-wing, working to create a unified political identity that respects multiple cultural and social groups.
Liberalism and the Role of the State
The Constitution agreed with liberalism but emphasized the state’s responsibility to address social and economic inequality.
Policies like reservation were designed to correct inequalities and enable equal participation in development.
The idea of liberty was central, but the Constitution-makers also stressed that the state must support the disadvantaged to enable true equality.
Egalitarian Society and Social Justice
The Constitution aims to minimize economic inequalities and create an egalitarian society, inspired by John Rawls’ principles of equal basic liberties and opportunities.
Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) Articles 38(2) and 39(c) focus on reducing income inequality, eliminating social and economic disparities, and preventing wealth concentration.
The Supreme Court reinforced this vision, interpreting "socialism" as reducing inequalities and ensuring equal opportunities for all.
The Court upheld the role of the state in ensuring social security and a decent standard of living for the working class.
Impact of Neoliberal Reforms and Rising Inequality
Post-1990s, neoliberal reforms shifted focus from welfare to private market-driven growth, weakening the state's role in reducing inequality.
Studies show the top 1% of earners now control 22% of the total income, reversing the progress made during the welfare state era.
Economic inequality now overlaps with social inequality, with upper castes holding most of the wealth, while marginalized groups like Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes remain excluded.
Recent Inequality Data reports show extreme wage disparities, with the top 10% earning vastly more than the bottom 90%, highlighting the growing divide.
The widening inequality violates the constitutional principles of an egalitarian society and undermines the goal of social and economic justice.
COMMENTS