Explain the Salient features of Indian Constitution?

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<–2/”>a >The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. It is a living document, an instrument which makes the government system work. It lays down the framework defining fundamental political principles, establishes the structure, procedures, powers and duties of government institutions and sets out Fundamental Rights, directive principles and the duties of citizens. It is the longest Written Constitution of any sovereign country in the world,
containing 449 articles in 25 parts, 12 schedules, 5 appendices and 101 Amendments.

Salient Features of the Indian Constitution

  1. The lengthiest Constitution in the world 
    The Indian Constitution is the lengthiest and the most detailed of all the written Constitutions of the world containing 449 articles in 25 parts, 12 schedules, 5 appendices and 101 Amendments.
  2. Parliamentary form of government 
    The constitution of India establishes a parliamentary form of a government both at the Centre and the State. The essence of the parliamentary government is its responsibility to the Legislature. The president  is the constitutional head of the State but the real executive power is vested in the council of ministers whose head is the Prime Minister.
  3. Unique Blend of Rigidity and Flexibility 
    It has been the nature of the amending process itself in federations which had led political scientists to classify federal Constitution as rigid.
  4. Fundamental Rights 
    The incorporation of a formal declaration of Fundamental Rights in part III of the Constitution is deemed to be a distinguishing feature of a democratic  State. These rights are prohibitions against the State. The State cannot make a law which takes away or abridges any of the rights of the citizens guaranteed in part III of Constitution.
  5. Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) 
    The Directive Principles of State Policy contained in Part IV of the Constitution, it set out the aims and objectives to be taken up by the States in the governance of the country.
  6. A federation with strong centralising tendency 
    The most remarkable feature of the Indian Constitution is that being a federal Constitution it acquires a unitary character during the time of emergency. During the proclamation of emergency the normal distribution of powers between Centre and State undergoes a vital change. The union parliament is empower to legislate on any subject mentioned in the state list. The financial arrangements between the Centre and State can also be
    altered by the Union Government.
  7. Adult Suffrage 
    The old system of communal electorates has been abolished and the uniform adult suffrage system has been adopted. Under the Indian Constitution every man and Women above 18 years of age has been given the right to elect representatives for the legislature.

    8. An Independent Judiciary 
    An independent and impartial judiciary with power of Judicial Review has been established under the Constitution of India. It is a custodian right of citizens. Besides, in a federal Constitution it plays another significant role of determining the limits of power of the Centre and States.

  8. A Secular State 
    A Secular State has no religion of its own as recognised religion of State. It treats all religions equally. Articles 25 to 28 of the Indian Constitution give concrete shape to this concept of Secularism-2/”>Secularism. It guarantees to every person the freedom of conscience and the right to profess, practice and propagate religion. In a Secular state, the state only regulate the relationship between man and man.
  9. Single Citizenship-2/”>Citizenship 
    The American constitution provides for dual citizenship, i.e., the citizen of America and a state citizenship. But in India there is only one citizenship, i.e., Citizen of India. No state citizenship like citizen of Assam, Citizen of Delhi. Every Indian is Citizen of India and enjoy the same rights of  citizenship no matter in what state he resides.

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The Indian Constitution is the supreme law of India. It was adopted on 26 November 1949, and came into effect on 26 January 1950. The Constitution is a very complex document, and it is difficult to summarize all of its features in a short ARTICLE. However, some of the most important features of the Indian Constitution include:

  • Sovereignty, unity and Integrity of India: The Constitution declares India to be a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. This means that India is a free and independent country, with its own government and laws. It also means that India is a united country, with all of its parts being equal and indivisible.
  • Democratic form of government: The Constitution provides for a parliamentary form of government with a President as the head of state and a Prime Minister as the head of government. The President is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament and the legislative assemblies of the states. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President and is the leader of the party or coalition of parties that has a majority in the Lok Sabha (the lower house of Parliament).
  • Principle of Federalism: The Constitution provides for a federal System of Government with a Division of Powers between the Union and the states. The Union government has powers over matters such as defence, foreign affairs, currency, and railways. The state governments have powers over matters such as Education, Health, and agriculture.
  • Rule of Law: The Constitution guarantees the rule of law, which means that no one is above the law. The law applies equally to all citizens, including the President, the Prime Minister, and other high-ranking officials.
  • Fundamental rights: The Constitution guarantees certain fundamental rights to all citizens, such as 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. These rights cannot be taken away by the government except in certain limited circumstances.
  • Directive principles of state policy: The Constitution lays down certain directive principles of state policy, which are not enforceable in a court of law, but are nevertheless fundamental in the governance of the country. These principles include the promotion of social Justice, Economic Development, and secularism.
  • Single Citizenship: The Constitution provides for a single citizenship for all citizens of India, irrespective of their religion, caste, sex, place of birth, or any other distinction. This means that all citizens of India have the same rights and obligations, regardless of their background.
  • Inherent powers of the Union: The Constitution vests certain inherent powers in the Union, such as the power to declare war, the power to conclude treaties, and the power to raise armed forces. These powers are necessary for the Union to function effectively as a sovereign state.
  • Emergency Provisions: The Constitution provides for certain emergency provisions, which can be invoked by the President in case of a grave emergency. These provisions allow the government to take extraordinary measures to deal with the emergency situation.
  • Amendment of the Constitution: The Constitution can be amended by a majority of the members present and voting in each House of Parliament, subject to certain conditions. This means that the Constitution can be changed to reflect the changing needs of the country.

These are just some of the most important features of the Indian Constitution. The Constitution is a very complex document, and there are many other features that could be discussed. However, the features discussed above give a good overview of the Basic structure of the Indian Constitution.

The Indian Constitution is the supreme law of India. It was adopted on 26 November 1949, and came into effect on 26 January 1950. The Constitution establishes the basic structure of the Indian government and defines the Fundamental Rights and Duties of citizens.

The Constitution has been amended 104 times since it was adopted. The most recent amendment was the 104th Amendment, which was passed in 2019.

The Constitution of India is a long and complex document. However, there are a few key features that are worth highlighting.

First, the Constitution is a federal document. This means that power is shared between the central government and the state governments.

Second, the Constitution is a secular document. This means that it does not promote any particular religion.

Third, the Constitution is a democratic document. This means that the government is elected by the people.

Fourth, the Constitution is a socialist document. This means that it promotes economic equality.

Fifth, the Constitution is a republican document. This means that the head of state is not a hereditary monarch.

Sixth, the Constitution is a welfare state document. This means that the government is responsible for providing for the welfare of its citizens.

Seventh, the Constitution is a written document. This means that it is set down in a single document, rather than being passed down through custom or tradition.

Eighth, the Constitution is a supreme document. This means that it is the highest law of the land, and all other laws must be consistent with it.

Ninth, the Constitution is a flexible document. This means that it can be amended, or changed, by the process set out in the Constitution itself.

Tenth, the Constitution is a living document. This means that it is interpreted and reinterpreted by the courts, and its meaning can change over time.

The Constitution of India is a remarkable document. It has helped to create a stable and prosperous Democracy in India. It has also inspired other countries around the world to adopt similar constitutions.

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Indian Constitution:

  1. What is the Indian Constitution?

The Indian Constitution is the supreme law of India. It was adopted on 26 November 1949, and came into effect on 26 January 1950. The Constitution establishes the basic structure of the Indian government and defines the fundamental rights and duties of citizens.

  1. What are the key features of the Indian Constitution?

The key features of the Indian Constitution include federalism, secularism, democracy, Socialism, republicanism, welfare state, writtenness, supremacy, flexibility, and livingness.

  1. What are the strengths of the Indian Constitution?

The strengths of the Indian Constitution include its flexibility, its ability to adapt to changing circumstances, and its commitment to social justice.

  1. What are the weaknesses of the Indian Constitution?

The weaknesses of the Indian Constitution include its length and complexity, its lack of clarity on some key issues, and its failure to address some important social problems.

  1. What is the future of the Indian Constitution?

The future of the Indian Constitution is uncertain. It is possible that the Constitution will be amended further, or that it will be replaced by a new constitution. However, it is also possible that the Constitution will remain in place for many years to come.

  1. The Indian Constitution is the supreme law of India. It was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950.
  2. The Constitution of India is a written constitution. It is the longest written constitution in the world.
  3. The Constitution of India is a federal constitution. It divides power between the central government and the state governments.
  4. The Constitution of India is a parliamentary democracy. The President is the head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of government.
  5. The Constitution of India guarantees fundamental rights to all citizens. 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.
  6. The Constitution of India also provides for a number of directive principles of state policy. These principles are not enforceable in a court of law, but they are nevertheless fundamental in the governance of the country.
  7. The Constitution of India has been amended a number of times since it was adopted. The most recent amendment was the 104th Amendment, which was passed in 2019.

Here are some MCQs on the Indian Constitution:

  1. The Indian Constitution was adopted on:
    (a) 26 November 1949
    (b) 26 January 1950
    (c) 15 August 1947
    (d) 12 March 1948

  2. The Indian Constitution is a:
    (a) Written constitution
    (b) Unwritten constitution
    (c) Mixture of Written and Unwritten Constitution
    (d) None of the above

  3. The Indian Constitution is a:
    (a) Federal constitution
    (b) Unitary constitution
    (c) Mixture of federal and unitary constitution
    (d) None of the above

  4. The Indian Constitution is a:
    (a) Parliamentary democracy
    (b) Presidential democracy
    (c) Mixture of parliamentary and presidential democracy
    (d) None of the above

  5. The Constitution of India guarantees 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

  6. The Constitution of India also provides for a number of directive principles of state policy. These principles are:
    (a) Enforceable in a court of law
    (b) Not enforceable in a court of law
    (c) Both enforceable and not enforceable in a court of law
    (d) None of the above

  7. The Constitution of India has been amended a number of times since it was adopted. The most recent amendment was the:
    (a) 104th Amendment
    (b) 103rd Amendment
    (c) 102nd Amendment
    (d) 101st Amendment

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