Abstract

The Indian Constitution conceived as a transformative charter for a newly independent nation is deeply rooted in the ideals of social justice equality and fraternity. Among the foundational promises of the Constitution is the commitment to eradicate centuries of caste-based discrimination gender-based marginalization economic deprivation and social exclusion. This paper examines how the vision of social justice enshrined in the Constitution has been implemented through legal provisions affirmative action policies judicial interpretations and institutional mechanisms. It explores the evolution of social justice as a dynamic and contested principle in Indian constitutionalism and interrogates the extent to which constitutional guarantees have been translated into material and symbolic equality for India’s marginalized communities. The paper also critically reflects on the limitations of state-driven justice mechanisms the challenges of tokenism institutional inertia and the role of civil