Malcolm Rivera
The Indian Constitution is a complex document that can be challenging to memorise, but there are several tricks and techniques to help you learn and understand it. This is particularly useful for those preparing for the UPSC exam or judiciary exams. One of the best ways to learn is to use mnemonics, especially for the laws regarding fundamental rights. For example, the mnemonic Law removes all doubt can help you remember Article 14, where 'L' stands for Law, 'T' stands for Titles, 'D' stands for Discrimination, 'O' stands for Opportunity in Public Employment, 'U' stands for Untouchability, and 'T' stands for Titles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of parts | 25 |
| Number of articles in Part 3 | 25 |
| First article of Part 3 | 12 |
| Last article of Part 3 | 35 |
| First article of Part 4 | 36 |
| Last article of Part 4 | 51 |
| Mnemonic for fundamental rights | "Law removes all doubt" |
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What You'll Learn
- Learn the fundamentals of the Indian Constitution in under 10 minutes
- Tricks to memorise the Indian Constitution
- Mnemonic devices for remembering the laws regarding fundamental rights
- Understanding the union executives and union-state relations
- The Constitution's power and how it can be used for the benefit of the people
Learn the fundamentals of the Indian Constitution in under 10 minutes
The Indian Constitution is a living document that adapts to the changing needs of the country. It is not a collection of articles or words but a powerful tool that can be used for the benefit of the people. The fundamentals of the Indian Constitution can be understood in under 10 minutes by focusing on its key features and the rights it guarantees to its citizens.
Fundamental Rights
The Constitution of India guarantees six categories of fundamental rights to its citizens, which are enshrined in Part III (Article 12-35). These rights are known as "fundamental" as they are essential for the all-round development of citizens and are protected by the country's fundamental laws. The six categories are:
- 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 the right to practice any profession or occupation.
- Right against exploitation, prohibiting all forms of forced labour, child labour, and human trafficking.
- Right to freedom of religion.
- Cultural and educational rights of ethnic and religious minorities, including the right to preserve their languages and establish their own educational institutions.
- Right to constitutional remedies for the protection of civil rights by means of writs.
Origins and Amendments
The first demand for fundamental rights in India came in the form of the "Constitution of India Bill" in 1895, also known as the Swaraj Bill. This bill emerged during a period of growing Indian nationalism and demands for self-government. Over time, there have been amendments to the Constitution, such as the removal of the Right to Property as a Fundamental Right in 1978 and the addition of the Right to Education Act in 2009.
Enforcement and Violations
The Fundamental Rights are enforceable by the courts, and violations result in punishments prescribed in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, subject to the discretion of the judiciary. The Supreme Court and High Courts can issue writs under Articles 32 and 226 of the Constitution to direct the State Machinery to enforce these rights.
Mnemonic Techniques
To remember the articles and key concepts of the Indian Constitution, one can use mnemonic devices and associate them with current affairs. For example, the phrase "Law removes all doubt" can be used to remember Article 14 (Law) and the subsequent words representing other articles: discrimination (Article 15), opportunity in public employment (Article 16), untouchability (Article 17), and titles (Article 18).
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Tricks to memorise the Indian Constitution
The Indian Constitution is considered the world's longest constitution. Here are some tricks to help you memorise it:
Understand the Logic and Schematics of the Constitution
The Constitution is a living document that is designed to react and respond to changing scenarios in the country. It is not a collection of articles or words, but a breathing entity where every word has its significance. For example, Part 3 of the Indian Constitution deals with fundamental rights, while Part 4 deals with DPSP. Part 3 gives guaranteed rights against the state, and Part 4 provides direction to the state for the individual. Understanding the logic and structure of the Constitution can help you remember its contents more easily.
Use Mnemonics
Mnemonics are memory aids that can help you remember information more effectively. For example, to remember the fundamental rights in the laws, you can use the mnemonic "Law removes all doubt". Here, 'L' stands for Law in Article 14, 'A' stands for Article 15, which talks about no discrimination, 'W' stands for Article 16, which mentions equal opportunity in public employment, and so on. Another example of a mnemonic is "Lazy Elephants Jump Slowly And Sit Regularly", which helps you remember the different parts of the Constitution: Legislative, Executive, Judicial, States, Amendment Process, and Supremacy of Constitution, and Ratification.
Identify Number Patterns
You can also identify number patterns to help you remember specific articles. For instance, for articles related to Emergency Provisions, simply add 4 to the subsequent article numbers. Similarly, for articles from the Centre, add 90 to their numbers to get the corresponding article numbers for the states. For instance, 112+90=202, 113+90=203, and so on. Conversely, to find the corresponding article for the Centre, subtract 89 from the state article number.
Practice Consistently
Finally, the best way to memorise the Indian Constitution is to consistently practice and engage with the material. Solve mock tests and previous years' question papers to reinforce your understanding. Read the NCERT book multiple times, approaching it from different perspectives, such as that of an examiner. Make it a daily habit to engage with the content and try to understand each concept thoroughly.
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Mnemonic devices for remembering the laws regarding fundamental rights
Mnemonic devices are a great way to remember the laws regarding fundamental rights in the Indian Constitution. Here are some examples:
Articles 14-18: E-DOUT
E: Equality (Article 14)
"Law removes all doubt," where "law" stands for Article 14.
D: No Discrimination (Article 15)
"T stands for titles."
O: Equality of Opportunity in Public Employment (Article 16)
"Six-fix" for public employment.
U: Untouchability Abolished (Article 17)
"Seventeen ki age ke teens keep touching each other."
T: Titles Abolished (Article 18)
"You got entitled... a new title."
Articles 25-29: ME
M: Practice, Profess and Propagate One's Religion (Article 25)
"Religion" sees god as "पति" (pati) in Indian culture, e.g. Pashupati nath.
E: Manage Religious Affairs (Article 26)
Articles 27-28:
No Taxes for the Promotion of any Religion (Article 27)
Connect this to the previous two articles with a story.
No Religious Education in State-Run Institutions (Article 28)
Articles 32-35: SAME
S: Supreme Court Writ (Article 32)
A: Parliament Powers to Modify Armed Forces Rights (Article 33)
M: Martial Law (Article 34)
E: Legislation to Bring These into Effect (Article 35)
Additionally, here are some general tips and tricks to remember the articles of the Indian Constitution:
- Use acronyms and mnemonics to remember the order and names of the articles.
- Utilize visualization and storytelling techniques to make the content more engaging and memorable.
- Create mind maps and flashcards for visual cues.
- Chunk articles into themes or categories for better organization and comprehension.
- Use rhymes and keyword associations to create mental hooks for easier retrieval.
- Interleave studying different articles to reinforce memory.
- Practice regularly and repeat to retain information long-term.
- The unit-digit numbers of the articles following each other in sequence are 2, 3, and 4. The pattern of the tens-digit places is 5, 6, and 7. For example, Articles 52, 63, and 74.
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Understanding the union executives and union-state relations
Understanding the distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States is essential to comprehending the Indian Constitution. The legislative powers are divided under the Seventh Schedule of Part XI of the Constitution, with the Union List, State List, and Concurrent List outlining the areas of authority for each governing body.
The Union List, comprising 97 items, covers nationally significant matters such as defence, banking, foreign affairs, railways, and atomic energy. The Parliament holds supreme authority over this list and can make laws for the entire country or any part of it. Additionally, the Parliament can pass laws on any item not specified in the State or Concurrent List. In matters of national interest, the Parliament can exercise its power to legislate over the State List with a two-thirds majority.
The State List, on the other hand, includes 61 items, granting supreme power to the State Legislature in areas like liquor production, transport, and sale; public health; agricultural education and research; and state public services. The State Legislature can make laws for the entire state or any part of it.
The Concurrent List has 52 items, with both the Union and the States sharing power. This list covers criminal law and procedure, forests and their flora and fauna, industrial disputes, and population control.
The legislative relations between the Union and the States are outlined in Articles 245 to 255 of the Indian Constitution, while Articles 78 and 86 specifically discuss the legislative powers of the President. It is important to note that the Parliament's laws always hold precedence, even when the impact extends beyond the country's borders.
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The Constitution's power and how it can be used for the benefit of the people
The Constitution of India is the supreme legal document and the lengthiest written national constitution globally. It outlines the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out the fundamental rights and duties of citizens. The Constitution grants all citizens Fundamental Rights and empowers the judiciary to invalidate any legislation or government actions that violate it. The judiciary is independent and acts as a watchdog, preventing any legislative or executive act from overstepping constitutional bounds.
The Constitution establishes India as a 'Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic' with a Parliamentary form of government. It ensures a federal system of governance between the Union and the States, separation of powers between the three organs of the Government, and free and fair elections. The Constitution also recognises freedom of conscience and religion.
The Indian Constitution is unique in that it espouses constitutional supremacy, rather than parliamentary supremacy as found in the United Kingdom. This is because it was created by a Constituent Assembly rather than Parliament. The Constituent Assembly was elected by the members of the provincial assemblies, and it took them almost three years to draft the Constitution. The Constitution became effective on 26 January 1950, and India became a sovereign, democratic republic.
The Constitution has been deliberately worded in generalities to ensure its flexibility. It is so specific in outlining government powers that many amendments address issues typically dealt with by statute in other democracies. Despite the supermajority requirement for amendments, the Indian Constitution is the world's most frequently amended national governing document.
The Constitution benefits the people of India by providing a framework for governance that protects their fundamental rights and ensures a balance of power between the central government and the states. It also allows for local customs and conventions to be recognised and taken into account by courts when administering justice. The Constitution's power lies in its ability to provide a supreme legal authority that binds the legislative, executive, and judicial organs of the government, thereby ensuring a stable and democratic form of governance for the benefit of the people.
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Frequently asked questions
One way to learn the articles is by using mnemonics. For example, the mnemonic "Law removes all doubt" can be used to remember that Article 14 is about the law, Article 15 about no discrimination, Article 16 about equal opportunity in public employment, Article 17 about untouchability, and Article 18 about the abolition of titles.
There are 25 parts in the Indian Constitution.
Part 3 deals with fundamental rights, giving guaranteed rights against the state, and Part 4 provides direction to the state for the individual.
It is important to have a good strategy, take regular mock exams, and thoroughly go through the Constitution.
