Malcolm Rivera
The Indian Constitution is the supreme legal document of India and is the longest written national constitution in the world. It was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950. The Constitution is divided into 25 parts, with each part containing several chapters. This paragraph introduces the topic of the number of chapters in the Indian Constitution and provides some background information on the Indian Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Chapters | 25 |
| Date Adopted | 26 November 1949 |
| Date Effective | 26 January 1950 |
| Replaced | Government of India Act 1935 |
| Key Figures | G. V. Mavlankar, B. R. Ambedkar, Sanjay Phakey, Jawaharlal Nehru, C. Rajagopalachari, Rajendra Prasad, Vallabhbhai Patel, Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi, Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar, Sandipkumar Patel, Abul Kalam Azad, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Nalini Ranjan Ghosh, Balwantrai Mehta, Frank Anthony, H. P. Modi, Harendra Coomar Mookerjee |
| First Speaker of the Lok Sabha | G. V. Mavlankar |
| Number of Representatives of Scheduled Classes | Over 30 |
| Type of Supremacy | Constitutional |
| Amendment Limitations | No |
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What You'll Learn
The Indian Constitution is divided into 25 parts
The Indian Constitution is the supreme legal document of India and is the longest written national constitution in the world. It was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950, replacing the Government of India Act 1935 as the country's fundamental governing document. The Indian Constitution is divided into 25 parts and 12 schedules, with 448 articles. The parts of the Constitution are the main body of the Constitution and deal with various topics, while the schedules provide additional information.
The 25 parts of the Indian Constitution cover a range of topics. Part II, consisting of Articles 5 to 11, deals with citizenship. It defines who was eligible for Indian citizenship when the Constitution was enacted and how citizenship can be obtained and lost. Part III, consisting of Articles 12 to 35, guarantees Fundamental Rights and provides remedies in case of their violation. These rights are categorised into six groups: the Right to Equality (Articles 14 to 18), Right to Freedom (Articles 19 to 22), Right against Exploitation (Articles 23-24), Right of Freedom of Religion (Articles 25 to 28), Cultural and Educational Rights (Articles 29-30), and Right to Constitutional Remedies (Articles 32 to 35). Articles 25 to 28 provide religious freedom to all people, whether they are members of a minority or majority group.
Part IV-A, consisting of Article 51-A, was added to the Constitution during the state of emergency in 1976. It stipulates 11 Fundamental Duties. The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) are incorporated into Articles 36 to 51. However, Article 37 states that these DPSP are not legally enforceable in a court of law. The Constitution also covers the structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, including the judiciary, which is expected to remain independent and unaffected by pressure from other branches of the state.
The Indian Constitution also includes the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Article 44, which aims to create a single law for India that would apply to all religious sects. The goal of the UCC is to combat discrimination against vulnerable groups and promote national unity by simplifying laws that are currently divided along religious lines. Overall, the 25 parts of the Indian Constitution provide a comprehensive framework for the country's governance and the protection of citizens' rights.
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Chapter II falls under Part V
The Indian Constitution is divided into 25 parts, and Chapter II falls under Part V, which deals with the Union Government. Chapter II consists of Articles 79 to 122, which outline the composition, powers, and procedures of the Parliament of India. The Parliament of India is made up of the President, the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), and the Lok Sabha (House of the People), as outlined in Article 79.
Chapter II includes important provisions such as the qualifications and disqualifications for membership of Parliament, the procedure for passing bills, the powers and privileges of members, and the role of the Speaker and the Chairman in conducting proceedings. The Chapter also addresses the issue of ordinances, which must meet the requirements of immediate necessity and urgency, and cannot be issued on matters outside the legislative competence of Parliament.
The President of India, as the head of state and the constitutional head of the executive, has a range of powers and functions outlined in the Indian Constitution. These include the power to form a new State or Union Territory, as outlined in Article 3, and the authority to unite a part of any State or Union Territory with any other State or Union Territory. The President also has the power to make laws in the interests of the general public, which can include imposing reasonable restrictions on the exercise of certain rights, such as the right to engage in any profession or occupation.
The Indian Constitution is the supreme legal document of India and is the longest written national constitution in the world. It establishes constitutional supremacy, with the Supreme Court playing a key role in interpreting and protecting the constitution. The constitution outlines the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, as well as the fundamental rights, directive principles, and duties of citizens.
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Chapter I covers the Union and its territory
The Indian Constitution is the country's supreme legal document and the world's longest written national constitution. It contains 448 articles in 25 parts and 12 schedules, though it originally featured 395 articles in 22 parts and 8 schedules when it was drafted on November 26, 1949. The constitution came into force on January 26, 1950, replacing the Government of India Act 1935 as the country's fundamental governing document.
Chapter I of the Indian Constitution, titled "The Union and its Territory," encompasses Articles 1 to 4. This chapter establishes the framework for India, or Bharat, as a "Union of States." This concept of a "Union" signifies the inseparable nature of the Indian Federation, with no state possessing the right to withdraw.
Article 1 defines the territory of India as comprising the territories of the states, the Union territories specified in the First Schedule, and any other territories acquired by the country. The First Schedule lists the individual states and their respective territories. Notably, the Union Territories are not included in the "Union of States," which exclusively includes states that are part of the federal system and share power distribution with the Union.
Articles 2 and 3 confer significant powers on the Parliament to alter the structure and composition of states and Union territories. Parliament can establish or admit new states, increase or diminish the area of existing states, alter state boundaries, or change state names. These powers have been invoked in the formation of newer states such as Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana, as well as in the renaming of states like West Bengal.
Article 4 complements Articles 2 and 3 by providing guidelines for amending the First and Fourth Schedules to reflect changes in state boundaries, names, or the inclusion of new states. It also allows Parliament to include supplemental, incidental, and consequential provisions as deemed necessary.
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Chapter III covers Fundamental Rights
The Indian Constitution is the supreme legal document of India and is the longest written national constitution in the world. It was adopted with a declaration in its preamble and came into force on 26 January 1950. The constitution guarantees fundamental rights to its citizens and, in some cases, to all persons.
Chapter III of the Indian Constitution, comprising Articles 12-35, covers the Fundamental Rights of its citizens. These rights are inviolable and are divided into six categories, with remedies in place in case they are violated. The six fundamental rights are:
- Right to Freedom: This includes the freedom of speech, the right to life, and personal liberty. It also includes the right against exploitation, prohibiting human trafficking, forced labour, and the employment of children in factories or hazardous conditions.
- Right to Equality: This right guarantees equal rights for everyone, irrespective of religion, gender, caste, race, or place of birth.
- Right to Life: This right ensures the protection of life and personal liberty, including the right to dignity and education.
- Right to Education: This guarantees the right to education for all citizens.
- Right to Protection in Respect of Conviction for Offences: This right provides protection for citizens in case of conviction for offences.
- Right to Freedom of Religion: This includes the freedom to attend or not attend religious instruction or worship in certain educational institutions.
It is important to note that the right to property was initially considered a fundamental right, but it was removed from the list by the 44th Constitutional Amendment as it was seen as a hindrance to achieving socialism and redistributing wealth equitably.
The Fundamental Rights are not absolute and are subject to certain restrictions, including those related to state security, public morality, and friendly relations with foreign countries. The State has the right to impose reasonable limitations on these rights. The judiciary plays a crucial role in protecting these rights from infringement by any state body and ensuring an independent judicial system.
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Chapter IV covers Directive Principles of State Policy
The Indian Constitution is the supreme legal document of India and is the longest written national constitution in the world. It was adopted with a declaration in its preamble and came into force on 26 January 1950. The constitution lays down the framework that demarcates the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions. It also sets out the fundamental rights, directive principles, and duties of citizens.
Chapter IV of the Indian Constitution covers the Directive Principles of State Policy. This chapter provides guidelines for the governance of the country and sets out the principles that the State should follow in its policies and laws. These principles are not enforceable by the courts but are nevertheless fundamental in governing the country and aim to create social and economic conditions under which the citizens can lead a good life.
The Directive Principles of State Policy include a range of topics such as the promotion of educational and economic opportunities, the protection of monuments, the environment, and the country's natural resources, as well as the promotion of international peace and security. The State is also expected to strive for the establishment of a social order that is based on justice and that ensures human dignity, liberty, and opportunity for all.
In addition, the State should minimize inequalities in income and endeavour to eliminate inequalities in status, facilities, and opportunities, not only among individuals but also among groups of people residing in different areas. The State should also ensure a decent standard of living for all, especially for industrial and agricultural workers, and also aim to provide free legal aid to those who cannot afford it.
The Directive Principles of State Policy also emphasize the importance of securing the participation of workers in the management of industries and ensuring that owners of private property contribute to the community's welfare. The State is also expected to strive for the organization of village panchayats and to ensure that the State's policies are informed by the village-level opinions.
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Frequently asked questions
The Indian Constitution is divided into 25 parts.
Chapter II falls under Part V and deals with the Union Government.
Chapter I deals with the Union and its territory.
Chapter III deals with the Fundamental Rights of Indian citizens.
Chapter IV deals with the Directive Principles of State Policy, which lay down the guidelines for the governance of the country.
