भारतीय राज्यघटनेच्या प्रास्ताविकानुसार भारत हे 'प्रजासत्ताक' आहे. प्रजासत्ताकाचा अर्थ कोणता ?
(a) राज्यकर्ता वंशपरंपरागत नसतो.
(b) सार्वभौम सत्ता केन्द्रीय मंत्रिमंडळामध्ये असते.
(c) शासन प्रमुख हा जनतेकडून विशिष्ट काळासाठी निवडला जातो.
(d) राष्ट्रप्रमुख हा जनतेकडून विशिष्ट काळासाठी निवडला जातो.
खाली दिलेल्या पर्यायातून योग्य पर्याय निवडा :

The correct answer is Option D ((a) and (d) only).

Key Points:
• Meaning of 'Republic' in Constitutional Law:
• A democratic polity can be classified into two categories: Monarchy (e.g., Britain, where head of State is hereditary) and Republic (e.g., India, USA).
• The term 'Republic' in our Preamble signifies two essential elements:
• 1. The Head of the State (in India, the President) is always elected directly or indirectly for a fixed period, not hereditary (statement d).
• 2. Absence of any hereditary monarch or privileged class, meaning political sovereignty vests in the people and all public offices are open to every citizen (statement a).
• 'Head of the government' (statement c) refers to the Prime Minister in a parliamentary system, which indicates democracy/parliamentary form, whereas Republic strictly concerns the 'Head of State'.
• Statement (b) is completely false as sovereignty vests in the people, not the Central Cabinet.
• Hence, (a) and (d) only are correct (Option 4).
• Key Takeaway: 'Republic' means the Head of State is elected for a fixed tenure and political sovereignty vests in the people, with no hereditary monarch.