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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:
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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. -
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”. -
What are the Salient Features of the Indian Constitution?
The salient features of the Indian Constitution include: - A parliamentary system of government
- A Secular State
- A socialist state
- A democratic republic
- A welfare state
- A judicial system based on the rule of law
- A system of fundamental rights
- A system of directive principles of state policy
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A system of checks and balances
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What are the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution?
The fundamental rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution include: -
The right to equality
- The right to freedom
- The right against exploitation
- The right to freedom of religion
- Cultural and educational rights
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The right to constitutional remedies
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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: -
The promotion of social justice and economic equality
- The provision of adequate means of livelihood for all citizens
- The protection of the health and well-being of workers
- The promotion of education and culture
- The protection of the Environment
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The promotion of international peace and security
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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. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
What are the challenges facing the Indian Constitution?
The Indian Constitution is facing a number of challenges, including: -
The rise of Communalism and religious extremism
- The growing gap between the rich and the poor
- The problem of Corruption
- The threat of terrorism
- 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:
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The Indian Constitution was adopted on:
(a) 26 November 1949
(b) 26 January 1950
(c) 15 August 1947
(d) 12 March 1946 -
The Indian Constitution is based on the principle of:
(a) Federalism
(b) Unitary government
(c) Parliamentary democracy
(d) Presidential democracy -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
The most recent amendment to the Indian Constitution was made in:
(a) 2019
(b) 2020
(c) 2021
(d) 2022 -
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.