Eleanor Finch
The Indian Constitution is the supreme law of the Republic of India and the lengthiest written constitution in the world. It was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950, making India a sovereign republic. The Constitution lays out the framework for the country's political system, defining the powers and responsibilities of government institutions, and outlining the rights and duties of citizens. It is a reflection of the nation's collective journey toward democracy, justice, and equality, and its spirit is one of unity, with a commitment to cultural autonomy, and the protection of basic privileges and rights for all citizens.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Lengthiest written constitution | 145,000 words |
| Drawn from various sources | Government of India Act 1935, Indian Independence Act 1947, Indian Councils Acts of 1861, 1892 and 1909, Government of India Acts 1919, etc. |
| Federal in nature | Three-tier governmental structure (central, state and local), division of powers, bicameralism |
| Unitary in spirit | Single constitution, single citizenship, an integrated judiciary, a flexible constitution, a strong central government |
| Supreme law | Defines the powers and responsibilities of government institutions, safeguarding fundamental rights, and outlining the principles of governance |
| Rights-based approach to governance | Empowerment of citizens, independent judiciary, free press |
| Democratic | Cultural autonomy, no suppression, political freedom, economic freedom and equity |
| Sovereign | Independent from British Crown |
| Participative governance | Popular assemblies and elective monarchies |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The constitution is the supreme law of the land
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of the Republic of India. It is the fundamental law of the land, embodying the values, principles, and governance framework of the country. With its roots in historical struggles, philosophical ideals, and societal aspirations, it reflects the nation's collective journey toward democracy, justice, and equality.
The Constitution lays down the framework for the country's political system, outlining the powers and responsibilities of government institutions, safeguarding fundamental rights, and defining the principles of governance. It is a set of rules and regulations that guide the administration of the country, ensuring citizens' rights and responsibilities. The Indian Constitution is one of the longest and most detailed written constitutions in the world, with about 145,000 words across 395 articles in 22 parts and 12 schedules.
The Constitution was drafted by a Constituent Assembly established in 1946, with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as its chairman. The drafting process took 166 days over nearly three years, and the final draft was passed by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, known as the "'Date of Adoption.'" The Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950, making India a sovereign republic. This date is celebrated annually as Republic Day in India.
The Constitution has undergone numerous amendments since its enactment, with over 100 amendments made to date. It has evolved over time and gained strength through these constitutional amendments, incorporating values such as 'socialism' and 'secularism' into the Preamble. The Indian Constitution is considered federal in nature, with features such as a codified constitution, a three-tier governmental structure, division of powers, and an independent judiciary. It also possesses unitary features, such as a single constitution, single citizenship, and a strong central government.
The spirit of the Indian Constitution is reflected in its commitment to ensuring citizens' basic privileges, cultural autonomy, and freedom from suppression. It promotes a democratic society, where political freedom leads to economic freedom and equity. The foundational principles of the Constitution, such as liberty, equality, and fraternity, are universal aspirations of humankind. The Constitution also addresses issues unique to Indian society and culture, such as special protections for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and minorities.
The Evolution of India's Supreme Court: Judge Count
You may want to see also
It is a quasi-federal document
The Indian Constitution is the supreme legal document of India and is the world's longest written national constitution for a sovereign nation. 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.
The Indian Constitution is considered quasi-federal in nature, meaning it combines the features of both a federal and a unitary government. It is federal in structure and unitary in spirit. It has features of a federation, including a codified, supreme constitution; a three-tier governmental structure (central, state, and local); division of powers; bicameralism; and an independent judiciary. It also possesses unitary features such as a single constitution, single citizenship, an integrated judiciary, a flexible constitution, a strong central government, appointment of state governors by the central government, All India Services (IAS, IFS, and IPS), and emergency provisions. This unique combination of federal and unitary features makes it quasi-federal in form.
The Constitution of India does not adhere strictly to the textbook rules of federalism. It is unique and tailored according to the specific needs of the country. Federalism is a basic feature of the Constitution, but it is not a traditional federal constitution. The Indian model of federalism is called the quasi-federal system as it contains major features of both a federation and a union. The Indian Constitution is regarded as a semi-federal state or a quasi-federal state, as described by Prof. K.C. Wheare, who said that it is \"quasi-federal in nature and not strictly federal".
Article 1 of the Constitution of India states that "India that is Bharat shall be a union of states". This expression of "Union" may have been added to give the impression of an indestructible union, as the Constituent Assembly may have feared the Balkanization of the Indian Union. This policy thus adopted by the Constituent Assembly was to have an inbuilt bias in favor of centralization, i.e., a unitary in spirit. A typical unitary system is governed constitutionally as one single unit, with one constitutionally created legislature. All power is top-down, and the central government is supreme. While the Indian Constitution has many federal features, there is an ultimate centralizing force existing in every federal feature.
Memorizing the Indian Constitution: Strategies for Recall
You may want to see also
It is the lengthiest written constitution
The Indian Constitution is the world's longest written constitution for a sovereign nation. It is approximately 145,000 words long, which makes it about 30 times longer than the US Constitution, which has only 4,400 words. The Indian Constitution has 448 articles divided into 25 sections, 12 schedules, and five appendices. The number of articles was 395 at the time of enactment, but this has increased due to amendments. The Constitution has been amended over 100 times since it was enacted, with the most recent changes occurring on 1 July 2017.
The Constitution of India is the supreme legal document of the country. It lays down the framework for the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out the fundamental rights, directive principles, and duties of citizens. It espouses constitutional supremacy, which means that it was created by a constituent assembly rather than Parliament. This is in contrast to the parliamentary supremacy found in the United Kingdom.
The Indian Constitution was composed between 1947 and 1950, and it came into effect on 26 January 1950, which is celebrated annually in India as Republic Day. The original 1950 Constitution is preserved in a nitrogen-filled case at the Parliament Library Building in New Delhi. Two copies of the Constitution were handwritten, one in English and one in Hindi, and each page was decorated by artists from Shantiniketan. The calligrapher was Prem Behari Narain Raizada. The original Constitution took nearly five years to produce, and the estimated cost of the Constituent Assembly was ₹6.3 crore.
The substance of the Constitution was derived from various sources, including previous legislation such as the Government of India Acts of 1858, 1919, and 1935, the Indian Councils Acts of 1861, 1892, and 1909, and the Indian Independence Act of 1947. The framers of the Constitution were mindful of India's specific needs and conditions and borrowed features from these sources accordingly. The Constitution was drafted by the Constituent Assembly, which was elected by the members of the provincial assemblies. The assembly's final session was convened on 24 January 1950, and it took almost three years to draft the Constitution, holding eleven sessions over a 165-day period.
A Multilingual India: Languages in the Constitution
You may want to see also
Explore related products
It upholds citizens' rights and responsibilities
The Indian Constitution is the supreme law of the Republic of India. It is the lengthiest written constitution in the world, with around 145,000 words. It is a very comprehensive and detailed document that outlines the rights and responsibilities of citizens, ensuring that all citizens realise their basic privileges, such as education, social and economic rights, are afforded to them. The Constitution also guarantees cultural autonomy and democratic freedom, with the ultimate goal of achieving economic freedom and equity.
The Constitution of India is unique in that it combines federal and unitary features. It establishes a three-tier governmental structure (central, state, and local) with a single constitution and citizenship. It outlines the organisation, powers, and limits of government institutions, including an independent judiciary, and defines the rights and duties of citizens.
The Constitution has evolved over time and gained strength through various constitutional amendments. It was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, and came into force on January 26, 1950, making India a sovereign republic. The anniversary of this day is celebrated as Republic Day in India. The Constitution has had more than 100 amendments since its enactment, with the most recent notable example being the 106th Constitution Amendment Act, which promoted gender justice.
The foundational principles of the Indian Constitution are liberty, equality, and fraternity, reflecting the universal and eternal aspirations of humankind. It is important to protect the spirit of the Constitution, ensuring that political considerations and ideologies do not take precedence over the duties outlined within it. The emergence of fundamentalist ideologies and their positioning at the political centre has posed dangers to the foundational principles of the Constitution, threatening the very idea of India.
Cow Slaughter: India's Constitutional Conundrum
You may want to see also
It is a source of national pride
The Indian Constitution is a source of national pride for several reasons. Firstly, it is the supreme legal document of India, serving as the fundamental law of the land. It is the lengthiest written constitution in the world, a comprehensive and detailed document that reflects the nation's collective journey toward democracy, justice, and equality. The constitution 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 is a set of rules and regulations that guide the administration of the country.
Secondly, the Indian Constitution was conceived, drafted, debated, negotiated, and adopted over three years entirely by Indians, which is a significant achievement and a testament to the country's independence and self-governance. The constitution has a unique combination of federal and unitary features, making it quasi-federal in form. It provides for a three-tier governmental structure (central, state, and local), division of powers, bicameralism, and an independent judiciary, ensuring that the rights and responsibilities of all citizens are upheld.
Thirdly, the Indian Constitution has evolved and gained strength over time through various constitutional amendments by 'responsible governments'. For example, the 42nd amendment incorporated the spirits of 'socialism' and 'secularism' into the preamble, and the 106th Constitution Amendment Act – the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam – promoted gender justice. The constitution has also been able to accommodate the vast diversity of the country, addressing issues unique to Indian society and culture, such as special protections for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and minorities.
Lastly, the Indian Constitution has instilled a sense of justice, ownership, and hope among all sections of society. It has deep roots in the country's historical struggles, philosophical ideals, and societal aspirations. The foundational principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity are a reflection of humankind's universal and eternal aspirations. The constitution also provides for cultural autonomy and ensures that nobody will be suppressed, allowing for the march from political freedom to economic freedom and equity. In conclusion, the Indian Constitution is a source of national pride because it embodies the values, principles, and aspirations of the Indian people, providing a framework for a fair and just society.
Evolution of the Indian Constitution: A Historical Overview
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The spirit of the Indian Constitution is a sense of justice, ownership and hope among all sections of society. It is the guiding spirit of the Nation-State called India.
The Indian Constitution is the supreme law of the Republic of India. Its foundational principles are liberty, equality and fraternity. It also enshrines the rights to education, social and economic privileges, cultural autonomy, and freedom from suppression.
The Indian Constitution has been amended over 100 times since its enactment. It has gained strength through several constitutional amendments by 'responsible governments'. For example, the 42nd amendment incorporated the principles of 'socialism' and 'secularism' into the preamble.
