Simone Lawson
The Constitution of India is the country's supreme legal document and the lengthiest written national constitution in the world. It outlines the fundamental rights and duties of its citizens and the powers and duties of government institutions. The Constitution of India is also known as the 'Basic Structure' Doctrine and came into effect on 26 January 1950, replacing the Government of India Act 1935. The date is celebrated as Republic Day in India.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the country | India, Bharat, Hindustan, Aryavarta |
| Type of government | Parliamentary form of government |
| System of government | Federal with certain unitary features |
| Structure | Union of States |
| Status | Sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic |
| Rights | Fundamental rights for all citizens |
| Judiciary | Integrated and independent |
| Powers | Separation of powers between the three organs of the government |
| Elections | Free and fair |
| Equality | Equality before the law |
| Secularism | Freedom of conscience and religion |
| Legislation | Subordinate legislation in the form of rules, regulations, and by-laws |
| Amendments | More than 100 amendments since it was enacted |
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What You'll Learn
- The Constitution of India is the country's supreme legal document
- It is the world's longest written national constitution
- The constitution declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic
- It was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November 1949
- The original 1950 constitution is preserved in a nitrogen-filled case at the Parliament Library Building in New Delhi
The Constitution of India is the country's supreme legal document
The constitution-making process in India was a collaborative effort, involving members of the Constituent Assembly, legal experts, and luminaries. The assembly, originally consisting of 389 members, took almost three years to draft the constitution, holding eleven sessions over a 165-day period. The final session convened on 24 January 1950, and each member signed two copies of the constitution, one in Hindi and the other in English. The original constitution is hand-written, with each page decorated by artists from Shantiniketan and calligraphed by Prem Behari Narain Raizada.
The Constitution of India is a comprehensive and detailed document that accommodates the vast diversity of the country. It is a blend of rigidity and flexibility, borrowing provisions from the Government of India Act of 1935 and the constitutions of various other countries. The constitution establishes an integrated and independent judicial system, with the Supreme Court of India as the highest judicial authority. It empowers the judiciary to invalidate legislations or government actions that violate the constitution, ensuring the protection of individual liberties and the maintenance of social order.
The constitution also provides for a parliamentary form of government, with the President as the constitutional head of the Executive of the Union. It outlines the structure and functions of the Parliament of the Union, which consists of the President and two Houses: the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha). The constitution further provides for a Council of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister, to aid and advise the President in exercising his/her functions.
The Constitution of India is a living document that has evolved over time to meet the changing needs of the country. It has had more than 100 amendments since its enactment and continues to be a source of pride and unity for the nation.
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It is the world's longest written national constitution
The Constitution of India is the country's supreme legal document. It is the world's longest written national constitution for a sovereign nation. At 145,000 words, it is the second-longest active constitution in the world, after the Constitution of Alabama. The US Constitution, for example, has only 4,400 words.
The Constitution of India was composed between 1947 and 1950, and it came into effect on 26 January 1950, the day that India celebrates each year as Republic Day. The Constituent Assembly, consisting of 389 members (reduced to 299 after the partition of India), took almost three years to draft the constitution, holding eleven sessions over a 165-day period. The original text of the Constitution contained 395 articles in 22 parts and eight schedules. The number of articles has since increased to 448 due to over 100 amendments.
The Constitution of India lays down 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. It declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic, assuring its citizens justice, equality, and liberty, and promoting fraternity.
The Constitution of India is a blend of rigidity and flexibility. Certain provisions can be amended by a simple majority in Parliament, while others require a special two-thirds majority. The Constitution does not contain a provision to limit the powers of Parliament to amend it. However, the Supreme Court has ruled that certain features of the Constitution are integral and cannot be removed.
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The constitution declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic
The Constitution of India is the country's supreme legal document and the world's longest written national constitution for a sovereign nation. It was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November 1949 and became effective on 26 January 1950, replacing the Government of India Act 1935 as the country's fundamental governing document. The Constitution of India declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic, assuring its citizens justice, equality, and liberty, and promoting fraternity.
The term "sovereign" signifies India's independence and its right to govern itself without external interference. It indicates India's departure from its status as a dominion in the British Commonwealth, as established by the Indian Independence Act of 1947, to a free nation when the Constitution came into effect. Sovereignty denotes the supreme and ultimate power of a state, with both external and internal aspects. External sovereignty refers to a state's independence in its conduct with other nations, while internal sovereignty relates to the relationship between the state and individuals within its territory, encompassing the executive, legislature, judiciary, and administration.
The term "socialist" in the Constitution reflects the socialist character of the Directive Principles of State Policy. While the term itself is not explicitly defined, it embodies the philosophy that the welfare of society as a whole takes precedence over individual interests. It advocates for the equal distribution of wealth and the reduction of socio-economic inequalities through government regulation of land and industry ownership.
The inclusion of the word "secular" in the Constitution signifies that India is not a theocratic state and does not have an official religion. It implies equal freedom and respect for all religions, with the relationship between the government and religious groups determined by the Constitution and law.
By declaring India a "democratic republic," the Constitution establishes a representative form of government, with the people of India electing their representatives through universal adult franchise, often referred to as "one person, one vote." This system is particularly suitable for governing a country with a large and diverse population like India. Additionally, the Constitution provides for a parliamentary form of government with a federal structure and certain unitary features. The President serves as the constitutional head of the Executive of the Union, and the council of 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).
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It was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November 1949
The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November 1949 and became effective on 26 January 1950, when India ceased to be a dominion of the British Crown. The Constituent Assembly was elected by elected members of the provincial assemblies. The 389-member assembly (reduced to 299 after the partition of India) took almost three years to draft the constitution, holding eleven sessions over a 165-day period. The constitution is the supreme legal document of India and the longest written national constitution in the world. It lays down the framework that demarcates 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 declares India a 'Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, and Democratic Republic', assures its citizens justice, equality, and liberty, and endeavours to promote fraternity.
The constitution replaced the Government of India Act 1935 as the country's fundamental governing document. The framers of the constitution repealed prior acts of the British parliament to ensure constitutional autochthony. The constitution was also influenced by the Indian Independence Act 1947, which divided the former Constituent Assembly in two. The new assemblies had sovereign power to draft and enact a new constitution for the separate states.
The original 1950 constitution is preserved in a nitrogen-filled case at the Parliament Library Building in New Delhi. Each member of the assembly signed two copies of the constitution, one in Hindi and the other in English. The original constitution is hand-written, with each page decorated by artists from Shantiniketan, and its calligrapher was Prem Behari Narain Raizada. The constitution was published in Dehradun and photolithographed by the Survey of India. It has had more than 100 amendments since it was enacted.
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The original 1950 constitution is preserved in a nitrogen-filled case at the Parliament Library Building in New Delhi
The Constitution of India is the country's supreme legal document. It is the longest written national constitution in the world. The document lays down the framework that demarcates the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens.
The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November 1949 and became effective on 26 January 1950. The constitution replaced the Government of India Act 1935 as the country's fundamental governing document, and the Dominion of India became the Republic of India. India celebrates its constitution on 26 January as Republic Day.
The constitution has had more than 100 amendments since it was enacted. It had 395 articles in 22 parts and 8 schedules at its enactment. At about 145,000 words, it is the second-longest active constitution in the world.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution of India.
The Constitution of India does not have a nickname, but the country it governs has several. The Republic of India has two significant short names, "India" and "Bharat," each being historically significant. A third name, "Hindustan," is often used as an alternative name for the country when Indians speak among themselves.
The Constitution of India is the supreme legal authority that binds the legislative, executive, and judicial organs of government. It is the fundamental law of the land.
The Constitution of India lays down the framework for the country's political system, defining the powers and responsibilities of government institutions, safeguarding fundamental rights, and outlining the principles of governance. It establishes India as a 'Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic' with a Parliamentary form of Government.
The Constitution of India is the lengthiest of all the written constitutions of the world, with about 145,000 words.
