Jonah Patel
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of the Republic of India. It is the world's longest written constitution for a sovereign nation, with 145,000 words, a preamble, and 470 articles, which are grouped into 25 parts. It outlines the fundamental rights and duties of its citizens and the rules and guidelines that the government must follow. It is a set of rules and regulations that guide the administration of the country and is considered the pride of the nation.
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What You'll Learn
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of the land
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of the Republic of India. It is the world's longest constitution for a sovereign nation, with 145,000 words, 470 articles, 12 schedules, and 5 appendices. It has been amended 104-106 times, the latest of which occurred in 2020 or 2023, depending on the source. The Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, and came into force on January 26, 1950, making India a sovereign republic.
The Constitution of India is a fundamental set of principles and established precedents according to which the state is governed. It outlines the organisation, powers, and limits of government institutions, as well as the rights and duties of citizens. It serves as the supreme law of the land, providing a framework for the functioning of the government, the protection of individual liberties, and the maintenance of social order. The Constitution declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic. It ensures that all citizens of the country will get equality, liberty, and justice.
The Constitution provides for a parliamentary form of government which is federal in structure with certain unitary features. The constitutional head of the Executive of the Union is the President, who exercises his or her functions with the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, with the Prime Minister as its head. The President of India is also the head of state. The Parliament of the Union consists of the President and two Houses: the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha).
The Constitution also provides for a Parliament for the Union, consisting of the President and the two Houses, the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. The Union Executive is drawn from both Houses of Parliament and is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. This ensures an intimate relationship between the Union Executive and Parliament. The Constitution also outlines the legislative prerogative over taxation, legislative control over expenditure, and executive initiative in financial matters.
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It outlines the fundamental rights of the people
The Constitution of India is a social document that outlines the fundamental rights of its citizens. These rights are guaranteed to all citizens and are enforceable by the courts, subject to certain conditions and restrictions. The six fundamental rights are:
- Right to Equality, including equality before the law, and the prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.
- Right to Freedom, including 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, including freedom of conscience, profession, practice and propagation of religion.
- Cultural and Educational Rights, protecting the rights of religious, cultural and linguistic minorities, and ensuring education for everyone without discrimination.
- Right to Constitutional Remedies, guaranteeing citizens the right to constitutional remedies for the protection of their civil rights.
These rights are enshrined in Part III (Articles 12-35) of the Constitution and are justifiable, meaning that if they are violated, the Supreme Court and High Courts can issue writs under Articles 32 and 226 of the Constitution, respectively, directing the State Machinery to enforce them.
The Fundamental Rights in the Indian Constitution are influenced by various sources, including England's Bill of Rights, the United States Bill of Rights, and France's Declaration of the Rights of Man. They are also aimed at overturning the inequalities of pre-independence social practices, such as abolishing untouchability and prohibiting discrimination.
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It lays down the framework for the country's political system
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of the Republic of India. It lays down the framework for the country's political system, defining the powers and responsibilities of government institutions, and outlining the principles of governance. It is a set of rules and regulations that guide the administration of the country.
The Constitution of India is the lengthiest written constitution for a sovereign nation. It consists of a preamble and 470 articles, which are grouped into 25 parts. It also has 12 schedules and 5 appendices. The amended constitution has been amended 104-106 times, with the latest amendment being made in 2020 or 2023. The Constitution is deliberately worded in generalities to ensure its flexibility.
The Constitution provides for a parliamentary form of government, which is federal in structure with certain unitary features. It declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic. It ensures that all citizens of the country will get equality, liberty, and justice. The Constitution also provides for a Parliament for the Union consisting of the President and two Houses: the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People).
The Constitution vests power over the purse in the hands of chosen representatives of the people, sanctifying the principle of 'no taxation without representation'. It also provides for a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister as its head to aid and advise the President, who shall exercise his/her functions in accordance with the advice of the Council.
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It defines the powers and responsibilities of government institutions
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of the Republic of India. It defines the powers and responsibilities of government institutions, while also outlining the principles of governance and safeguarding the fundamental rights of citizens.
The Constitution of India is the lengthiest written constitution in the world, consisting of a preamble and 470 articles, which are categorised into 25 parts. It also has 12 schedules and 5 appendices. It has been amended 104-106 times, with the latest amendment being added in 2020 or 2023, according to different sources. The Constitution is a very comprehensive and detailed document, reflecting the vast diversity of the country.
The Constitution of India is federal in structure with certain unitary features. It provides for a Parliament for the Union, consisting of the President and two Houses: the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People). The Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha form the legislative branch of the government. The Constitution also provides for a Union Executive, drawn from both Houses of Parliament and collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. The President of India is the constitutional head of the Executive of the Union and the Union Council of Ministers aids and advises the President.
The Constitution also establishes a Council of Ministers, with the Prime Minister as its head, to aid and advise the President. The President exercises his or her functions in accordance with the advice of the Council of Ministers.
The Constitution gives the Union (the central government) significant powers over the States. The most direct power is the Union's ability to unilaterally create new states out of territories or existing states and to modify and diminish the boundaries of existing states. To do so, Parliament must pass a simple law, and while the State Legislature must be asked to comment, the States involved do not have a say in the outcome.
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It is a blend of rigidity and flexibility
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of the Republic of India. It is the lengthiest written constitution in the world, with 145,000 words, 470 articles, 12 schedules, and 5 appendices. It has been amended 104-106 times, the latest of which occurred in 2020 or 2023. The Constitution outlines the framework for India's political system, defining the powers and responsibilities of government institutions, and safeguarding the fundamental rights of its citizens.
The Constitution of India is a blend of rigidity and flexibility. It is rigid in that it serves as the supreme law, providing a framework for the functioning of the government, the protection of individual liberties, and the maintenance of social order. It is also deliberately worded in generalities to ensure its flexibility. This flexibility allows the Constitution to accommodate the vast diversity of India, with its many cultures and religions. The Constitution has been amended numerous times to reflect the changing needs and aspirations of the nation.
The Constitution declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic. It ensures that all citizens of the country will be treated with equality, liberty, and justice. It provides every Indian with equality of status and opportunity, guaranteeing freedom to every Indian. The Constitution also gives every citizen six fundamental rights, including the right to equality, irrespective of colour, caste, religion, and gender.
The Constitution provides for a parliamentary form of government, which is federal in structure with certain unitary features. The constitutional head of the Executive of the Union is the President, who exercises his or her functions with the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister. The President also has the power to unilaterally create new states out of territories or existing states and to modify and diminish the boundaries of existing states.
The Constitution of India is a source of pride for the nation, as it is the result of a long and deliberate process by the Constituent Assembly to create a document that reflects the country's diverse cultures and religions and sets out the rules and guidelines that the government must follow.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of the Republic of India. It is the world's longest constitution for a sovereign nation, consisting of 145,000 words, a preamble and 470 articles, which are grouped into 25 parts.
The Constitution of India lays down the framework for the country's political system, defining the powers and responsibilities of government institutions, and safeguarding the fundamental rights of its citizens. It ensures that all citizens of India will get equality, liberty, and justice.
The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India on 26 November 1949, and it came into force on 26 January 1950.
The Constituent Assembly formed in 1946 drafted the Constitution of India. Dr Rajendra Prasad was the President of this Assembly, and Dr B. R. Ambedkar, regarded as the 'Father of the Constitution of India', was the chairman of the Drafting Committee.
