Salient features of the 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.

    • constitution of india,

    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 living document, and has been amended several times since it was adopted. The amendments have been made to reflect the changing needs of the country and to make the Constitution more relevant to the changing times.

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

    • Sovereignty, unity and integrity of India: The Constitution declares India to be a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. It also states that the unity and integrity of India is a matter of supreme importance.
    • Fundamental rights: The Constitution guarantees certain fundamental rights 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.
    • Directive principles of state policy: The Constitution lays down certain directive principles of state policy. These principles are not enforceable in a court of law, but the government is expected to follow them while making laws and policies. The directive principles include the principles of Justice, social, economic and political, the principle of non-discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth, the principle of equal pay for equal work, the principle of living wage, the principle of free and compulsory Education for all children up to the age of 14 years, the principle of promotion of educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, the principle of protection of Health and strength of workers, the principle of protection of Environment and forests, the principle of promotion of scientific and technological research, the principle of separation of judiciary from executive, the principle of adult suffrage, the principle of free and fair Elections, the principle of decentralisation of power, the principle of planning for Economic Development, and the principle of international peace and security.
    • Federalism: The Constitution establishes a federal System of Government in India. The Union Government and the state governments are both independent in their respective spheres. The Union government has exclusive powers over certain matters, such as defence, foreign affairs, currency and coinage, and railways. The state governments have exclusive powers over certain matters, such as law and order, education, health, and agriculture. There are also some matters on which both the Union government and the state governments have concurrent powers, such as Trade and Commerce, criminal law, and education.
    • Principle of judicial review: The Constitution establishes an independent judiciary. The Supreme Court and the High Courts have the power to strike down laws that they find to be unconstitutional.
    • Single Citizenship: The Constitution provides for a single citizenship for all citizens of India. This means that all citizens of India, irrespective of their religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth, or any other factor, are equal before the law.
    • Parliamentary system of government: The Constitution establishes a parliamentary system of government in India. The President is the head of state, but the real executive power is vested in the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers. The Prime Minister is the head of the government and is responsible to the Parliament. The Parliament is the supreme legislative body of India. It consists of the President and the two Houses, the Lok Sabha (the House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (the Council of States).
    • Independent Election Commission: The Constitution establishes an independent Election Commission to conduct free and fair elections to the Parliament and the state legislatures. The Election Commission is responsible for the registration of Political Parties, the delimitation of constituencies, the conduct of elections, and the declaration of results.
    • Fundamental duties: The Constitution also lays down certain fundamental duties for 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 defend the country, the duty to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India, the duty to preserve and protect the rich heritage of our composite culture, the duty to protect and improve the natural environment, and the duty to develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.

    The Indian Constitution is a remarkable document. It has been praised by many for its progressive and forward-looking nature. It has also been criticized by some for its complexity and for its failure to address some of the country’s most pressing problems. However, there is no doubt that the Indian Constitution has played a vital role in the development of India as a modern nation.

    What is The Preamble of the Indian Constitution?

    The Preamble of the Indian Constitution is the introductory statement of the Constitution of India. It is a brief introductory statement that sets out the guiding principles on which the Constitution is based. The Preamble states that India is a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. It also states that India is committed to justice, Liberty, equality, and Fraternity.

    What are the Fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution?

    The Fundamental Rights are the basic rights and freedoms that are guaranteed to all citizens of India by the Constitution. They are enshrined in Part III of the Constitution. The Fundamental Rights are:

    • Right to equality
    • Right to freedom
    • Right against exploitation
    • Right to freedom of religion
    • Cultural and educational rights
    • Right to constitutional remedies

    What are the Directive Principles of State Policy?

    The Directive Principles of State Policy are the principles that the State should follow in making laws and policies. They are enshrined in Part IV of the Constitution. The Directive Principles are not enforceable in a court of law, but the State is bound to follow them in making laws and policies.

    What is the structure of the Indian Parliament?

    The Indian Parliament is the supreme legislative body of India. It is a bicameral legislature, consisting of the Lok Sabha (the Lower House) and the Rajya Sabha (the Upper House). The Lok Sabha is directly elected by the people, while the Rajya Sabha is indirectly elected by the State Legislatures.

    What is the role of the President of India?

    The President of India 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. The President has the power to appoint the Prime Minister and other members of the Union Council of Ministers. He/She also has the power to dissolve the Lok Sabha 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. He/She is appointed by the President and is the leader of the party or coalition that has a majority in the Lok Sabha. The Prime Minister is responsible for the day-to-day running of the government and for appointing the other members of the Union Council of Ministers.

    What is the role of the Supreme Court of India?

    The Supreme Court of India is the highest court in India. It has original jurisdiction in cases involving the interpretation of the Constitution and in cases between the Union and the States. It also has Appellate Jurisdiction in cases from the High Courts. The Supreme Court is the final court of appeal in India.

    What are the major challenges facing India today?

    India is facing a number of major challenges today, including POVERTY, illiteracy, Unemployment, Corruption, and Environmental Degradation. The government is working to address these challenges, but progress has been slow.

    What are the prospects for India’s future?

    India is a young and dynamic country with a large Population and a growing economy. It has the potential to become a major world power in the 21st century. However, it faces a number of challenges, which it will need to address in order to realize its full potential.

    Sure, here are some MCQs on the topics of the Indian Constitution:

    1. The Indian Constitution was adopted on:
      (a) January 26, 1950
      (b) August 15, 1947
      (c) November 26, 1949
      (d) December 16, 1948

    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 secure the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation
      (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) 1951
      (b) 1952
      (c) 1953
      (d) 1954

    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 amended several times to reflect the changing needs of the country. It is a remarkable document that has helped to shape the modern Indian nation.

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