Jonah Patel
The Indian Constitution is a lengthy and complex document, and learning it can be challenging. However, with the right strategies and dedication, it is possible to understand, learn, and remember it. This paragraph will introduce some tips and tricks to help you learn the Constitution of India easily and efficiently. From creating a study plan to using mnemonics and understanding the key events, there are various methods to make the process of learning the Constitution of India more manageable and effective.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mnemonics | "Law removes all doubt" (L=Law in Article 14, D=Discrimination, O=Opportunity in public employment, U=Untouchability, T=Titles) |
| U Can Fly Directly From the US to UP to Meet the Child of Shyam and Ram; Fruits Taste Sweet To Eat, So Only Eat Maggi As Tasty Snack (to remember all 25 parts) | |
| Tricks | Note the sequence of articles. The pattern of unit-digit numbers is 2,3,4. The pattern of tens digit places is 5,6, and 7. The articles are Article 52, Article 63, and Article 74. |
| Adding 89 to certain articles can help you learn about disqualifications | |
| Correlation | Many Parts or Articles of the Constitution are related to each other. For example, Part V of the Constitution talks about the Executive in Union and Part VI Chapter II talks about the Executive in State. |
| Time Management | Make a list of topics and the estimated time it will take to complete them. Be realistic with your goals. |
| Constitutional History | Know the key events of the Pre and Post Constitution. For example, when the Constitution was drafted, how much time it took to finish, and the day it was adopted. |
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What You'll Learn
- Learn the fundamentals: rights, disqualifications, and mercy powers
- Understand the structure: the sequence and patterns of articles
- Use mnemonics: create memory aids for easier recall
- Know the executives: the President, Vice President, and Council of Ministers
- Explore the Uniform Civil Code: proposed laws for personal and family laws
Learn the fundamentals: rights, disqualifications, and mercy powers
Learning the Constitution of India is a challenging task, but there are several tips and tricks to help you understand, learn, and remember its fundamentals: rights, disqualifications, and mercy powers.
Fundamental Rights
The Indian Constitution guarantees six fundamental rights to all citizens, which are enshrined and applied without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, etc. These rights are enforceable by the courts, subject to certain conditions. Articles 12-35 of the Constitution deal with these rights, which include:
- Right to Equality, including equality before the law, prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth, and equality of opportunity in matters of employment.
- Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression, Assembly, Association or Union, Movement, Residence, and Right to Practice any Profession or Occupation (some of these rights are subject to security and public order).
- Right against Exploitation, prohibiting all forms of forced labour, child labour, and human trafficking.
- Right to Life, Right to Dignity, and Right to Education.
- Right to Constitutional Remedies, which is considered the most important fundamental right as it ensures the protection of other fundamental rights.
- Right to Freedom and Personal Liberty, which has been criticised for its limiting clauses and excessive sanctioning powers.
To remember the sequence of these rights, you can use the mnemonic "LAW": L stands for Law, A for Discrimination or no discrimination, and W for Opportunity in public employment.
Disqualifications
Article 102 of the Constitution addresses the disqualification of members of parliament, while adding 89 to 102 refers to the disqualification of MLAs.
Mercy Powers
Article 72 grants mercy powers to the President, while Article 161 (89+72) grants mercy powers to the Governor.
General Tips
- Understand the historical context: Know the key events and milestones that led to the inclusion of fundamental rights and disqualifications in the Constitution. For example, the first demand for fundamental rights came in 1895 with the "Constitution of India Bill" or the "Swaraj Bill."
- Make connections: Many parts and articles of the Constitution are interrelated. For example, Part V talks about the Executive in Union, while Part VI Chapter II discusses the Executive in State. Understanding these connections will help you remember the content more easily.
- Use mnemonics and tricks: As mentioned earlier, mnemonics can be extremely helpful in remembering the sequence of rights and articles.
- Divide and conquer: Create a study plan by dividing the content into manageable portions and allocating realistic time frames for completion. This will help you stay organised and focused during your preparation.
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Understand the structure: the sequence and patterns of articles
The Indian Constitution is a lengthy document with 395 articles in 22 parts and 12 schedules. It is not possible to memorise all the articles, but there are tricks to help you understand and remember the structure and sequence of articles.
First, it is important to know the key events of the Pre and Post Constitution. For example, when was the Constitution drafted, how much time did it take to finish it, and when was it adopted? The Indian Constitution was drafted by Sir B. N. Rau, the assembly's constitutional advisor, and was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November 1949, becoming effective on 26 January 1950.
Next, you can divide the Constitution into topics and plan the time required to complete them. For example, Part 3 of the Indian Constitution deals with the fundamental rights, whereas part 4 deals with DPSP. Part 3 starts from article 12 to article 35, and part 4 begins from articles 36 to 51. The first article of both parts defines the state in the same way.
There are also specific mnemonics to help remember the sequence of articles. For example, "Law removes all doubt", where the word "law" stands for article 14, "D" for discrimination (article 15), "O" for opportunity in public employment (article 16), "U" for untouchability (article 17), and "T" for titles (article 18).
Additionally, try to understand how different parts and articles of the Constitution are related to each other. For example, Part V of the Constitution talks about the Executive in Union, and Part VI Chapter II discusses the Executive in State. By understanding the connections between different parts and articles, you can better grasp the structure and sequence of the Indian Constitution.
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Use mnemonics: create memory aids for easier recall
The Indian Constitution is a lengthy and complex document, and it can be challenging to remember all its parts. Here are some mnemonic devices and memory aids to help you recall its contents more easily:
Acronyms and Phrases
Create acronyms or memorable phrases using the first letter of each item you need to remember. For example, to recall the 12 schedules of the Constitution, you could use the acronym "PETS FC with GST", where P stands for the First Schedule, E for the Second Schedule, T for the Third Schedule, and so on. Another example is the phrase "U Can Fly Directly From the US to UP to Meet the Child of Shyam and Ram; Fruits Taste Sweet To Eat, So Only Eat Maggi As Tasty Snack", which helps to remember all 25 parts of the Constitution.
Correlation and Association
Associate the parts of the Constitution with something you already know or can easily visualise. For instance, if you've read the Constitution once, you'll know that many parts or articles are interrelated. Try to see how the same powers are applied in the Union and State between the President and the Governor. For instance, Part V of the Constitution talks about the Executive in Union, while Part VI Chapter II discusses the Executive in State. By understanding these relationships, you can recall the content more easily.
Additionally, you can use visualisation and storytelling techniques to make the content more engaging and memorable. For instance, create a story or visual association for each part of the Constitution. This technique is similar to how you might remember episodes of a TV show because you can co-relate each episode and easily recall them even after a long time.
Chunking and Organisation
Break down the information into manageable chunks and organise it into themes or categories. For example, rather than trying to memorise all the articles at once, focus on one part or a group of related articles at a time. This method, known as "chunking", aids in better comprehension and recall.
Rhymes and Keyword Associations
Create rhymes or keyword associations that serve as mental hooks for easier retrieval. For instance, to remember the fundamental rights in Part 3 of the Constitution, use the rhyme "Law removes all doubt", where "law" stands for Article 14, "D" for discrimination (Article 15), "O" for opportunity in public employment (Article 16), "U" for untouchability (Article 17), and "T" for titles (Article 18).
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Know the executives: the President, Vice President, and Council of Ministers
The President of India has significant powers, including the ability to grant mercy under Article 72 of the Constitution. The President is advised and aided in executing their functions by the Union Council of Ministers, which is chaired by the Prime Minister and consists of the heads of each of the executive government ministries. The council is answerable to the Lok Sabha, and a smaller executive body, the Union Cabinet, is a subset of the Union Council of Ministers.
Ministers are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister, and they function until the President is pleased otherwise. The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha, and if the council loses the confidence of the Lok Sabha, it must resign to allow the formation of a new council. The Deputy Prime Minister, if there is one, presides in the absence of the Prime Minister or as the senior-most cabinet minister.
The Vice President of India is the second-highest constitutional post and the highest dignitary in the country after the President. The Vice President acts as the President in the event of the President's temporary absence or vacancy in the office due to death, resignation, or removal through impeachment. The Vice President is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States and receives the salary of Rs 1,25,000 per month associated with this role. To be eligible for the role, one must be an Indian citizen, over 35 years old, not hold any office of profit, and be qualified for election as a Member of the Rajya Sabha or the Council of States.
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Explore the Uniform Civil Code: proposed laws for personal and family laws
The Constitution of India is a complex and lengthy document, and learning it can be challenging. Here are some tips and tricks to help you understand and memorise the key elements, with a focus on the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) laws for personal and family law:
Understanding the Basics of the Indian Constitution
Start by familiarising yourself with the fundamental structure of the Constitution. It is divided into several Parts, each containing Articles that pertain to specific topics. For example, Part 3 deals with fundamental rights, while Part 4 covers the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP).
Memorisation Techniques
To remember the sequence of Parts and Articles, create mnemonic devices or correlate the information with something you can easily recall, like popular song lyrics. For instance, to remember the first five Articles under Part 3 (Articles 12-35), use the mnemonic "Law Removes All Doubt": "Law" for Article 14, "D" for discrimination (Article 15), "O" for equal opportunity in public employment (Article 16), "U" for untouchability (Article 17), and "T" for titles (Article 18).
Focus on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC)
The UCC, defined in Article 44, is a crucial aspect of the Constitution. It states, "The State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a Uniform Civil Code throughout the territory of India." The UCC aims to standardise personal laws across different religious communities in India, ensuring all citizens are treated equally before the law.
Historical Context of the UCC
The need for a UCC emerged as a significant topic in Indian politics following the Shah Bano case in 1985, which brought attention to the lack of uniformity in personal laws, particularly regarding Muslim personal law, which is partially based on Sharia law. The debate centred on whether certain laws should apply to all citizens without infringing on their fundamental right to practice their religion.
Pros and Cons of the UCC
Proponents of the UCC argue that it is a sign of a modern, progressive nation, moving away from caste and religious politics. It is believed to promote gender equality, especially for Muslim women, who previously faced restrictions on inheriting agricultural land under Muslim Personal Law. Additionally, a UCC would ensure that all Indians are treated equally under the law, regardless of their religious or community background.
However, opponents of the UCC, particularly orthodox Muslims, argue that their communal identity and personal laws are at stake if governed by a uniform code imposed by the judiciary or state. They advocate for complete autonomy in their personal laws, which has led to campaigns and political shifts, such as the loss of support for Rajiv Gandhi's Congress government in 1985 due to its endorsement of the Supreme Court's decision.
Recent Developments
While the Supreme Court of India reaffirmed the need for a UCC in 2015, the Law Commission of India stated in 2018 that a UCC was "neither necessary nor desirable at this stage," citing the importance of secularism and the plurality of India's religious communities. Despite this, the call for a UCC continues, with the 22nd Law Commission of India requesting input from religious organisations and the public in June 2023, indicating that the discussion around a potential UCC remains ongoing.
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Frequently asked questions
A good strategy to learn the Constitution of India is to divide and conquer. Make a list of topics and allocate a realistic timeframe to study them. This will help you plan your time effectively, allowing for revision and mock tests.
One trick is to note the sequence of articles. For example, the pattern of unit-digit numbers is 2,3,4 and the pattern of tens-digit places is 5, 6, and 7. So, Article 52 is followed by Article 63 and then Article 74. Adding 89 to 74 gives you 163, which refers to the article on the state council of ministers.
You can use mnemonics to remember the different parts. For instance, the mnemonic "Law Removes All Doubt" helps recall Article 14 (no discrimination), Article 15 (equal opportunity in public employment), Article 17 (untouchability), and Article 18 (abolition of titles).
Knowing the key events before and after the Constitution was drafted is crucial as it provides context and helps you understand the broader implications of the Constitution. For example, knowing when the Constitution was drafted, the time taken to complete it, and the date it was adopted are all essential pieces of information.
