भारत हे धर्मनिरपेक्ष राज्य राहील याची हमी कितव्या घटनादुरुस्तीत देण्यात आली आहे ?
अ. ४० व्या
ब. ४२ व्या
क. २३ व्या
ड. ४४ व्या
वरीलपैकी योग्य पर्याय निवडा.

The correct answer is Option D (Only b).

Key Points:
• 42ⁿᵈ Amendment Act & Secularism:
• By the 42ⁿᵈ Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976, three new words were added to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution: 'Socialist' (समाजवादी), 'Secular' (धर्मनिरपेक्ष), and 'Integrity' (अखंडता).
• Although India was already inherently secular by virtue of Fundamental Rights (Articles 25–28 ensuring freedom of religion), the 42ⁿᵈ Amendment made this explicit in the Preamble, providing a solemn constitutional guarantee that the Indian Republic is and will remain a Secular State.
• In the landmark *S.R. Bommai case (1994)*, the Supreme Court ruled that Secularism is an unalterable part of the 'Basic Structure' of the Indian Constitution.
• None of the 40ᵗʰ, 23ʳᵈ, or 44ᵗʰ amendments introduced the secular designation.
• Hence, 'Only b' (Option 4) is the correct answer.
• Key Takeaway: The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976 explicitly added 'Secular' to the Preamble of the Constitution.