Which of the following is assured mainly by the 'fraternity' in the Preamble…

Concept

In a constitutional preamble, grammatical scope connects an objective to the outcomes qualified by its governing expression. When a participle such as “assuring” governs coordinated noun phrases, each coordinated phrase shares that relation.

Application

The operative clause reads: “FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation.” The word “assuring” governs two coordinated objects:

• the dignity of the individual, and

• the unity and integrity of the Nation.

Both objects are therefore assured by fraternity. Because two substantive values in the choices are covered together, the response by value is “More than one of the above.”

Cross-check

• Justice, liberty and equality occur in earlier clauses, each with its own qualifiers: social, economic and political justice; liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; and equality of status and opportunity.

• The words “and integrity” were inserted by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976. This expanded the national-objective wording without moving it outside the fraternity clause.

• Grammatically, the conjunction “and” coordinates the two noun phrases governed by “assuring,” independently confirming their shared relation to fraternity.