Omar Bennett
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India and is the world's longest written constitution. It is an extremely important document for IAS aspirants as polity is a major component of the UPSC syllabus and, as future civil servants, they will have to work within the confines of the Constitution of India. The constitution establishes a federal government system in India, with two government levels, a division of powers, and a written constitution. It also contains many features of a unitary form of government, such as single citizenship and a strong centre. The Indian Constitution is not a rigid constitution and can be amended by Parliament following a few rules. It initially provided 7 basic fundamental rights, but this has since been amended to 6. Important articles of the Indian Constitution include Article 14, Equality before the Law, and Article 15, Prohibition of Discrimination on the Grounds of Religion, Race, Caste, Sex, or Place of Birth.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Articles | 395 |
| Number of Parts | 22 |
| Rights | Equality before the law, prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth, equality of opportunity in matters of public employment, abolition of untouchability, abolition of titles, protection in respect of conviction for offences, protection of life and personal liberty, protection against arrest and detention in certain cases |
| Citizenship | Rights of citizenship of certain persons who have migrated to India from Pakistan, rights of citizenship of certain migrants to Pakistan, rights of citizenship of certain persons of Indian origin residing outside India, persons voluntarily acquiring citizenship of a foreign state not to be considered citizens, continuance of the rights of citizenship, parliament to regulate the right of citizenship by law |
| Amendments | The 42nd Amendment, also known as the "Mini Constitution", made several changes during the Emergency in 1976 |
| Preamble | The Preamble is the introduction or preface to the constitution and sums up its essence |
| Federalism | Two levels of government, division of power, written constitution, bicameralism, single citizenship, strong centre, single constitution, flexibility of constitution, all-India services, integrated judiciary, appointment of state governor by the Centre, emergency provisions |
| Important Articles | Article 14, Article 15, Article 16, Article 17, Article 18, Article 19, Article 20, Article 21, Article 22, Article 30, Article 360, Article 361, Article 368, Article 370, Article 371A, Article 371J, Article 378, Article 378A, Article 393, Article 394A |
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What You'll Learn
The Basics of the Constitution of India
The Constitution of India is the supreme legal document of India and the world's longest written national constitution. It lays down the framework for the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens. It is not a rigid constitution and can be amended by the Parliament following certain rules.
The Constitution of India establishes a federal government system in the country, with two government levels, a division of powers, the supremacy and rigidity of the constitution, a written constitution, and bicameralism. However, it also contains many features of a unitary form of government, such as single citizenship, a strong centre, a single constitution, flexibility of the constitution, all-India services, an integrated judiciary, and the appointment of state governors by the Centre.
The Constitution of India initially provided seven basic fundamental rights, but now there are only six after the right to property was removed in 1978. The remaining fundamental rights include equality before the law, the prohibition of discrimination on various grounds such as religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth, equality of opportunity in public employment, the abolition of untouchability, the abolition of titles, and the protection of life and personal liberty.
The Constitution of India is an essential document for IAS aspirants as it is a major component of the UPSC syllabus, and future civil servants will have to work within its confines. It is important to understand the Indian Constitution, along with its features, amendments, and preamble, to prepare for the IAS Exam.
Languages Recognized by the Indian Constitution
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The Preamble and Related Topics
The Preamble of the Indian Constitution is a brief introductory statement that sets out the guiding purpose, principles, philosophy, and objectives of the document. It indicates that the source of authority of the Constitution is the people of India. The Preamble is an important topic for the IAS exam and is considered the heart and soul of the Constitution. It can be referred to as the preface that highlights the entire Constitution.
The Preamble is based on Pandit Nehru's Objective Resolution, which was moved by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1946 and adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 22 January 1947. It shaped the Constitution of India and its modified version is reflected in the Preamble. The Preamble was adopted on 26 November 1949 by the Constituent Assembly of India and came into effect on 26 January 1950.
The Preamble declares India to be a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic. The objectives stated by the Preamble are to secure justice, liberty, equality for all citizens, and promote fraternity to maintain the unity and integrity of the nation. The ideals and aspirations of the people, as well as the ideals before the nation, are described in the Preamble. The Preamble also acts as an aid during the interpretation of Articles when language is found to be ambiguous.
The Indian Constitution is not a rigid constitution and can be amended by Parliament following certain rules. The 42nd Amendment, also known as the "Mini Constitution", made several changes to the Preamble during the Emergency in 1976. The terms "socialist", "secular", and "integrity" were added, and "unity of the nation" was changed to "unity and integrity of the nation".
The Constitution establishes a federal government system in India with two government levels, division of powers, written constitution, and bicameralism. However, it also contains features of a unitary form of government, such as single citizenship, strong centre, flexibility of the constitution, and integrated judiciary.
Some important amendments to the Indian Constitution include:
- Article 360 – Financial Emergency
- Article 361 – Protection of President and Governors
- Article 368 – Powers of Parliaments to amend the constitution
- Article 370 – Temporary Provision for the erstwhile State of J&K (diluted in 2019)
- Article 371A – Special provision with respect to the State of Nagaland
- Article 371J – Special Status for Hyderabad-Karnataka region
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Important Articles
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India and is an extremely important document for IAS aspirants. It is a part of the Indian Polity subject in the Mains General Studies Paper-II syllabus and the General Studies Paper-I of the UPSC Prelims Syllabus. The Constitution of India is not rigid and can be amended by the Parliament following a few rules. It establishes a federal government system in India, with two government levels, a division of power, written constitution, and bicameralism. It also contains features of a unitary form of government such as single citizenship, a strong centre, and an integrated judiciary.
- Article 1: Name and territory of the Union.
- Article 3: Formation of new states and alteration of areas, boundaries, and names of existing states.
- Article 10: Continuance of the rights of citizenship.
- Article 11: Parliament to regulate the right of citizenship by law.
- Article 13: Laws inconsistent with or in derogation of fundamental rights.
- Article 14: Equality before the law.
- Article 15: Prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.
- Article 16: Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment.
- Article 17: Abolition of untouchability.
- Article 18: Abolition of titles.
- Article 19: Guarantees to all citizens the six rights, including freedom to practise any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade, or business.
- Article 20: Protection in respect of conviction for offences.
- Article 21: Protection of life and personal liberty.
- Article 22: Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases.
- Article 30: All minorities, whether based on religion or language, shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
- Article 360: Financial Emergency.
- Article 361: Protection of President and Governors.
- Article 368: Powers of Parliaments to amend the constitution.
- Article 370: Temporary Provision for the erstwhile State of J&K (diluted on August 5 & 6, 2019).
- Article 371 A: Special provision with respect to the State of Nagaland.
- Article 378: Provisions as to Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
- Article 393: Short title – This Constitution may be called the Constitution of India.
The Evolution of the Indian Constitution: Acts and Amendments
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Amendments
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India and is an extremely important document for IAS aspirants. It is the world's longest written constitution and has been amended numerous times since it was first enacted in 1950. As of February 2025, there have been 106 amendments, making it the most amended national constitution in the world. The Constitution can be amended by the Parliament following a few rules, and the procedure varies depending on the types of changes required.
There are three types of amendments to the Constitution of India:
- The first type of amendment must be passed by a simple majority in each house of the Parliament of India. An example of this type is an amendment to change the number of seats in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
- The second type of amendment must be passed by a prescribed "special majority" of each house of Parliament.
- The third type of amendment must be passed by a "special majority" in each house of Parliament and ratified by at least half of the state legislatures. An example of this type is an amendment to change the basic structure of the Constitution.
Some important amendments to the Indian Constitution include:
- The 42nd Amendment, also known as the "Mini Constitution", made several sweeping changes during the Emergency in 1976.
- The 105th Amendment Act of 2021 clarified that states can maintain the "state list" of OBCs.
- The Eighty-sixth Amendment provided for the Right to Education for children aged six to fourteen and Early Childhood Care until the age of six.
- The 122nd Amendment introduced the Goods and Services Tax.
- The 44th Amendment Act of 1978 removed the Right to Property from the list of fundamental rights.
Aspirants should be aware of the important articles of the Indian Constitution and their amendments, as they are frequently tested in the IAS exam.
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The Constitution-Making Process
The Constituent Assembly, with over 30 representatives of the scheduled classes, played a pivotal role in this process. B.R. Ambedkar, a key figure in the assembly, presented the Draft Constitution of India and delivered a landmark speech during the first sitting. The assembly worked meticulously, drawing on historical struggles, philosophical ideals, and societal aspirations to craft a constitution that embodied the nation's values, principles, and governance framework.
The Indian Constitution borrowed features from different nations, moulding them to suit India's unique context. It established a federal government system with two levels, a division of powers, a written constitution, and bicameralism. However, it also incorporated aspects of a unitary form of government, including single citizenship, a strong central government, a flexible constitution, and emergency provisions. This unique combination of federal and unitary features makes India's constitution quasi-federal in form.
The Constitution provided for a three-tier governmental structure, including central, state, and local governments, with each state and union territory having its own government. The role of the President, analogous to the governor in states, is largely ceremonial, with executive power resting with the Prime Minister. The legislative power resides with Parliament, which can make laws to implement international agreements and treaties, and the judiciary serves as the guardian of the Constitution, ensuring that parliamentary actions adhere to constitutional norms and protect fundamental rights.
The Constitution of India, as the fundamental law of the land, stands as a testament to the nation's democratic ideals and aspirations. It is the world's longest written constitution and can be amended by Parliament following specific rules. It has undergone several important amendments, including the 42nd Amendment during the Emergency in 1976, which made sweeping changes, and the removal of the Right to Property from the list of fundamental rights by the 44th Amendment Act in 1978.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution of India is an extremely important document for IAS aspirants because polity is a major component of the UPSC syllabus, and as future civil servants, IAS officers will have to work within the confines of the Constitution of India.
Here are some important articles of the Indian Constitution:
- Article 14: Equality before the law.
- Article 15: Prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.
- Article 16: Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment.
- Article 17: Abolition of untouchability.
- Article 30: All minorities, whether based on religion or language, shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
- Article 360: Financial Emergency.
- Article 368: Powers of Parliaments to amend the constitution.
- Article 371A: Special provision with respect to the State of Nagaland.
Some key facts about the Indian Constitution include:
- It is the world's longest written constitution.
- It is not a rigid constitution and can be amended by the Parliament following certain rules.
- It establishes a federal government system in India with two government levels, division of powers, written constitution, and bicameralism.
- It contains borrowed features from other nations' constitutions, moulded to suit India.
- It initially provided 7 basic fundamental rights, but now there are only 6 after the Right to Property was removed in 1978.
IAS aspirants can refer to the following resources to prepare for questions related to the Constitution of India:
- Previous years' UPSC question papers to identify the types of questions asked and the important topics.
- Online platforms such as BYJU's and ClearIAS, which offer free IAS prep materials, articles, and notes on the Indian Constitution.
- The official website of the Constitution of India, which provides access to the constitution's history, plenary debates, committee reports, and more.
