Salient features of constitution

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  • Lengthiest Written Constitution: Originally our constitution contained 395 articles divided in 22 parts and 8 schedules. Constitution has been amended 98 times. Currently there are 25 Parts, 12 Schedules, and 448 Articles. These figures show our constitution as the most comprehensive constitution in the world. (British have no written constitution and Constitution of USA had originally only 7 articles)
  • Starts with a Preamble: It gives an insight into the Philosophy of the Constitution.
  • Drawn from different sources: Fundamental Rights from USA, Bicameralism from UK, Fundamental Duties from USSR etc,
  • Blend of Rigidity and Flexibility: making Law is quite flexible and easy in comparison to amending a law.
  • Sovereignty of the Country: managing internal and external affairs freely without any external forces.
  • Democratic state: governing power is derived from the people by means of elected representatives of the people.
  • Republic: India does not have a hereditary post of Head of the State. The Head of the state in India is President and he / she is elected.
  • Socialist State: Indian Socialism is Democratic Socialism. The goals of the socialism are to be realized through democratic means.
  • Secular state: India is secular country. Here No religion is a state religion. The constitution provides equal treatment to all religions.
  • Parliamentary form of government: Westminster model of government. Presence of nominal and real executives, majority party rule, Collective Responsibility of executive to legislature, Dissolution of lower house, prime minister has crucial and important role.
  • A blend of Federal and Unitary System: there are separate governments in the Union and States and there is division of power. Unitary features: Strong centre. Single Citizenship-2/”>Citizenship, single constitution for both the centre and states, Emergency Provisions, Services-2/”>All India Services. India is also quasi-federal as constitution describes India as union of states. States cannot unjoin as well as there is no agreement by states. We have union as well as state lists.
  • Integrated and Independent Judiciary: The states have high courts but the verdicts of these courts are subject to appeal to The Supreme Court. The Constitution has made the High Courts subordinate to the Supreme Court.
  • Universal Adult Franchise: Every citizen who is above 18 years has a Voting Right without any discrimination.
  • Three tier government structure: union, state and panchayats.
  • Synthesis of Parliamentary Sovereignty and Judicial Supremacy: Judicial Review of Supreme Court by Procedure Established by Law. Also, parliament can amend major portion of constitution.
  • Fundamental rights: to promote political Democracy. Enforceable by courts for violation. They are Justiciable in nature.
  • Fundamental duties: to respect constitution; to promote national unity, Integrity, sovereignty; to preserve rich cultural heritage and promote common brotherhood. They are not justiciable in nature.
  • Directive Principles of State Policy: socialistic, liberal and gandhian meant for promoting ideal social and economic democracy. To establish welfare state. It is the duty of state to apply these in governance. They are not justiciable.
  • Independent bodies: constitution not only provides legislative, executive and judicial organs of government (state and centre) but also has independent Election Commission, CAG, UPSC, SPSC with security of tenure, service conditions.

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    The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. It was adopted on 26 November 1949, by the Constituent Assembly of India, and came into effect on 26 January 1950. The Constitution provides for a parliamentary System of Government with a President as the head of state and a Prime Minister as the head of government. The Constitution also guarantees certain fundamental rights to all citizens, including the right to Equality, the right to freedom, the right against exploitation, the right to freedom of religion, cultural and educational rights, and the right to constitutional remedies.

    The Constitution of India is a long and complex document, but some of its most important features include:

    • Supremacy of the Constitution: The Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and all laws and actions of the government must be in accordance with it.
    • Preamble: The Preamble to the Constitution sets out the basic principles and objectives of the Indian state.
    • Fundamental Rights: The Fundamental Rights are a set of rights that are guaranteed to all citizens of India. These rights include the right to equality, the right to freedom, the right against exploitation, the right to freedom of religion, cultural and educational rights, and the right to constitutional remedies.
    • Fundamental Duties: The Fundamental Duties are a set of obligations that are imposed on all citizens of India. These duties include the duty to abide by the Constitution and the laws of the country, the duty to respect the National Flag and the National Anthem, the duty to protect the Environment, and the duty to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood among all people of India.
    • Directive Principles of State Policy: The Directive Principles of State Policy are a set of principles that the government is supposed to follow in making laws and policies. These principles include the principles of social Justice, economic justice, and Secularism-2/”>Secularism.
    • Citizenship: The Constitution defines who is a citizen of India and the rights and privileges that are associated with citizenship.
    • Parliament: The Parliament is the supreme legislative body of India. It consists of the President and the two Houses of Parliament, the Lok Sabha (the House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (the Council of States).
    • President: The President is the head of state of India. He/She is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament and the legislative assemblies of the states.
    • Vice President: The Vice President is the second highest constitutional office in India. He/She is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament.
    • Council of Ministers: The Council of Ministers is the executive body of the government of India. It is headed by the Prime Minister, who is appointed by the President.
    • Judiciary: The Judiciary is the independent branch of the government of India. It is headed by the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the country.
    • Election Commission: The Election Commission is an independent body that is responsible for conducting Elections to the Parliament, the state legislatures, and the offices of the President and the Vice President.
    • Comptroller and Auditor General: The Comptroller and Auditor General is an independent officer who is responsible for Auditing the accounts of the government of India and the state governments.
    • Public Service Commissions: The Public Service Commissions are independent bodies that are responsible for conducting examinations for recruitment to the civil services of the government of India and the state governments.
    • Finance Commission: The Finance Commission is an independent body that is appointed every five years to recommend to the government of India the principles on which the distribution of financial Resources between the Centre and the states should be made.
    • Planning Commission: The Planning Commission was an independent body that was responsible for formulating and implementing the Five Year Plans for Economic Development of India. It was abolished in 2014 and replaced by the NITI Aayog.
    • Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes: The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes are two groups of people who are considered to be socially and educationally backward. They are entitled to certain special privileges and benefits under the Constitution.
    • Municipalities: The municipalities are local self-government bodies that are responsible for providing civic amenities in urban areas.
    • Panchayats: The panchayats are local self-government bodies that are responsible for providing civic amenities in rural areas.
    • National Commission for Women: The National Commission for Women is an independent body that is responsible for protecting the rights of women in India.
    • National Commission for Minorities: The National Commission for Minorities is an independent body that is responsible for protecting the rights of minorities in India.
    • National commission for Backward classes: The National Commission for Backward Classes is an independent body that is responsible for protecting the rights of the Backward Classes in India.

    Here are some frequently asked questions and short answers about the Constitution of India:

    1. What is the Constitution of India?
      The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. It was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950. The Constitution provides for a parliamentary system of government with a President as the head of state and a Prime Minister as the head of government.

    2. What are the salient features of the Constitution of India?
      The salient features of the Constitution of India include:

    3. A Federal System of Government

    4. A parliamentary system of government
    5. A Secular State
    6. A socialist state
    7. A democratic republic
    8. A welfare state
    9. A judicial system based on the Rule of Law
    10. A system of checks and balances
    11. A system of fundamental rights
    12. A system of directive principles of state policy

    13. A system of local self-government

    14. What are the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India?
      The fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India include:

    15. The right to equality

    16. The right to freedom
    17. The right against exploitation
    18. The right to freedom of religion
    19. Cultural and educational rights

    20. The right to constitutional remedies

    21. What are the directive principles of state policy?
      The directive principles of state policy are a set of principles that the government is supposed to follow in making laws and policies. The directive principles include principles such as:

    22. Promotion of social justice

    23. Economic development
    24. Protection of environment

    25. Promotion of international peace and security

    26. What is the role of the President of India?
      The President of India is the head of state of India. The President is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both houses of Parliament and the legislative assemblies of the states. The President has the power to:

    27. Approve or reject laws passed by Parliament

    28. Appoint the Prime Minister and other members of the Union Council of Ministers
    29. Dismiss the Prime Minister and the Union Council of Ministers
    30. Prorogue or dissolve Parliament
    31. Declare war or conclude peace

    32. Negotiate and ratify treaties

    33. What is the Role of the Prime Minister of India?
      The Prime Minister of India is the head of government of India. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President and is the leader of the party or coalition that has the majority in the Lok Sabha. The Prime Minister has the power to:

    34. Advise the President on all matters of administration

    35. Head the Union Council of Ministers
    36. Allocate portfolios to ministers
    37. Dismiss ministers
    38. Reshuffle the Union Council of Ministers

    39. Call for fresh elections

    40. What is the role of the Parliament of India?
      The Parliament of India is the supreme legislative body of India. It consists of the President and two houses: the Lok Sabha (the lower house) and the Rajya Sabha (the upper house). The Parliament has the power to:

    41. Make laws

    42. Approve the budget
    43. Elect the President
    44. Impeach the President
    45. Declare war

    46. Approve treaties

    47. What is the role of the Supreme Court of India?
      The Supreme Court of India is the highest court in India. It has the power to:

    48. Decide cases involving the interpretation of the Constitution

    49. Decide cases involving disputes between the Centre and the states
    50. Decide cases involving fundamental rights

    51. Review the decisions of lower courts

    52. What are the challenges facing the Indian Constitution?
      The Indian Constitution is facing a number of challenges, including:

    53. The rise of Communalism and casteism

    54. The problem of Corruption
    55. The issue of POVERTY
    56. The challenge of terrorism

    57. The problem of Regionalism

    58. What is the future of the Indian Constitution?
      The future of the Indian Constitution is uncertain. The Constitution has been amended over 100 times since it was adopted in 1949. It is possible that the Constitution will be amended further in the future to address the challenges facing India.

    Sure. Here are some MCQs about the Indian Constitution:

    1. Which of the following is not a feature of the Indian Constitution?
      (a) It is a written constitution.
      (b) It is a federal constitution.
      (c) It is a unitary constitution.
      (d) It is a flexible constitution.

    2. The Indian Constitution was adopted on
      (a) 26 November 1949.
      (b) 26 January 1950.
      (c) 15 August 1947.
      (d) 12 March 1950.

    3. The Indian Constitution is based on the principle of
      (a) secularism.
      (b) socialism.
      (c) democracy.
      (d) all of the above.

    4. The President of India is elected by
      (a) the members of the Lok Sabha.
      (b) the members of the Rajya Sabha.
      (c) the members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
      (d) the members of the Electoral College.

    5. The Prime Minister of India is appointed by
      (a) the President of India.
      (b) the Vice President of India.
      (c) the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
      (d) the Chief Justice of India.

    6. The Supreme Court of India is the highest court in the country. It has
      (a) original jurisdiction.
      (b) Appellate Jurisdiction.
      (c) advisory jurisdiction.
      (d) all of the above.

    7. The Indian Constitution guarantees certain fundamental rights to all citizens. These rights include
      (a) the right to equality.
      (b) the right to freedom.
      (c) the right against exploitation.
      (d) all of the above.

    8. The Indian Constitution also guarantees certain directive principles of state policy. These principles are
      (a) not enforceable by any court.
      (b) enforceable by any court.
      (c) only partially enforceable by any court.
      (d) none of the above.

    9. The Indian Constitution has been amended several times since it was adopted. The first amendment was made in
      (a) 1950.
      (b) 1951.
      (c) 1952.
      (d) 1953.

    10. The most recent amendment to the Indian Constitution was made in
      (a) 2019.
      (b) 2020.
      (c) 2021.
      (d) 2022.

    I hope these MCQs were helpful. Let me know if you have any other questions.