Salient Features of Indian 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 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 provides for a parliamentary form of government with a President as the head of state and the 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 holds office so long as he or she enjoys the confidence of the majority of the members of the Lok Sabha.

    The Constitution guarantees the Rule of Law. No person is above the law and everyone is equal before the law. The Constitution also provides for a number of fundamental rights, which are enforceable in the courts. 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.

    The Constitution also contains a number of directive principles of state policy, which are not enforceable in the courts but are nevertheless fundamental in the governance of the country. These principles are aimed at securing Justice, Liberty, equality and Fraternity for all citizens.

    The Constitution provides for a federal System of Government. The Union and the states are co-equal and independent in their respective spheres of authority. The Union Government has exclusive powers over certain matters, such as defence, foreign affairs and currency, while the states have exclusive powers over other matters, such as Education, Health and police.

    The Constitution also provides for a Single Citizenship for all citizens of India, irrespective of their religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.

    The Constitution declares Hindi to be the Official Language of the Union, but allows for the use of English for official purposes for a period of fifteen years. After this period, the use of English may be continued by the President for such further period as he may deem necessary.

    The Constitution can be amended by a majority of the members present and voting in each House of Parliament, subject to certain conditions. The amendment of certain provisions of the Constitution requires the ratification of the legislatures of not less than half of the states.

    The Constitution is the supreme law of the land and all laws in force in India must be consistent with it. The courts have the power to strike down any law that is inconsistent with the Constitution.

    The Indian Constitution is a remarkable document. It has been praised for its comprehensiveness, its flexibility, and its commitment to Human Rights. The Constitution has been a source of inspiration for many countries around the world. It has also been a source of controversy, particularly in recent years. However, the Constitution remains a vital part of the Indian Polity and it is likely to continue to play an important role in the country’s development for many years to come.

    The Constitution has been amended 104 times since it was adopted in 1950. The first amendment was passed in 1951 to provide for the representation of the Anglo-Indian community in Parliament. The most recent amendment was passed in 2019 to provide for the abrogation of ARTICLE 370, which granted special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

    The Amendments to the Constitution have been made to reflect the changing needs of the country and to make the Constitution more relevant to the contemporary times. Some of the major amendments to the Constitution include the following:

    • The First Amendment (1951): Provided for the representation of the Anglo-Indian community in Parliament.
    • The Fourth Amendment (1955): Provided for the acquisition of property by the state for public purposes.
    • The Seventeenth Amendment (1964): Provided for the appointment of a Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners.
    • The Twenty-fourth Amendment (1971): Provided for the amendment of the Constitution by a Simple Majority in Parliament.
    • The Forty-second Amendment (1976): Provided for the imposition of emergency in the country.
    • The Forty-fourth Amendment (1978): Provided for the restoration of the fundamental rights that had been suspended during the emergency.
    • The Eighty-sixth Amendment (2002): Provided for the right to education for all children between the ages of six and fourteen years.
    • The Ninety-third Amendment (2005): Provided for the reservation of seats for Women in the Panchayats And Municipalities.
    • The One Hundred and Second Amendment (2019): Provided for the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

    The Indian Constitution is a living document that has been amended several times since it was adopted in 1950. The amendments have been made to reflect the changing needs of the country and to make the Constitution more relevant to the contemporary times.

    Here are some frequently asked questions and short answers 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 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. Who wrote the Indian Constitution?
      The Indian Constitution was drafted by a Constituent Assembly consisting of elected representatives from all parts of India. The Assembly was chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who is also known as the “Father of the Indian Constitution”.

    3. What are the Salient Features of the Indian Constitution?
      The salient features of the Indian Constitution include:

    4. A Federal System of Government

    5. A parliamentary system of government
    6. A Secular State
    7. A socialist state
    8. A democratic republic
    9. A welfare state
    10. A judicial system based on the rule of law
    11. A system of fundamental rights
    12. A system of directive principles of state policy

    13. A system of checks and balances

    14. What are the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution?
      The fundamental rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution 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 order to promote the welfare of the people. These principles include:

    22. The promotion of social justice and economic equality

    23. The provision of adequate means of livelihood for all citizens
    24. The protection of the health and well-being of workers
    25. The promotion of education and culture
    26. The protection of the Environment

    27. The promotion of international peace and security

    28. 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 elected members of both houses of Parliament and the legislative assemblies of all the states. The President has the power to appoint the Prime Minister and other members of the Council of Ministers. The President also has the power to dissolve Parliament and to declare a state of emergency.

    29. 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 is responsible for the day-to-day running of the government and for the implementation of the policies of the government.

    30. 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 make laws, to approve the budget, and to oversee the functioning of the government.

    31. 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 interpret the Constitution and to decide on the constitutional validity of laws. The Supreme Court also has the power to hear appeals from lower courts.

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

    33. The rise of Communalism and religious extremism

    34. The growing gap between the rich and the poor
    35. The problem of Corruption
    36. The threat of terrorism
    37. The challenge of Globalization/”>Globalization-3/”>Globalization

    Despite these challenges, the Indian Constitution remains a vibrant and dynamic document that has helped to shape the modern Indian nation.

    Here are some MCQs about 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 1946

    2. The Indian Constitution is based on the principle of:
      (a) Federalism
      (b) Unitary government
      (c) Parliamentary democracy
      (d) Presidential democracy

    3. 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

    4. 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

    5. The Supreme Court of India is the highest court in the country. It has:
      (a) One Chief Justice and 25 judges
      (b) One Chief Justice and 30 judges
      (c) One Chief Justice and 35 judges
      (d) One Chief Justice and 40 judges

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

    7. The Indian Constitution also provides for certain directive principles of state policy. These principles are:
      (a) To secure justice, liberty, equality and fraternity for all citizens
      (b) To promote the welfare of the people
      (c) To raise the level of Nutrition and the standard of living of the people
      (d) All of the above

    8. 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

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

    10. The Indian Constitution is a living document that has been adapted to meet the changing needs of the country. It is a symbol of national unity and pride.