Indian Constitution Basics

Constitution

• Adopted on November 26, 1949
• Came into effect on January 26, 1950
• Lengthiest written constitution in the world
• Divided into 22 parts, 395 articles, and 12 schedules

Preamble

• Enshrines the objectives of the Constitution
• Sets out the philosophy of the Constitution
• Defines the nature of the Indian State
• Guarantees justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity to all citizens

Fundamental Rights

• Enshrined in Part III of the Constitution (Articles 12-35)
• 6 fundamental rights:
  1. Right to Equality (Articles 14-18)
  2. Right to Freedom (Articles 19-22)
  3. Right against Exploitation (Articles 23-24)
  4. Right to Freedom of Religion (Articles 25-28)
  5. Cultural and Educational Rights (Articles 29-30)
  6. Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32)

Directive Principles of State Policy

• Enshrined in Part IV of the Constitution (Articles 36-51)
• Guidelines for the government to implement its policies
• Non-justiciable, but influences policy-making
• Covers areas like social welfare, economic development, and international relations

Federal Structure

• India is a federal republic with a parliamentary system
• Division of powers between the Centre and States (Articles 245-255)
• Three lists: Union List, State List, and Concurrent List
• Centre-State relations: legislative, administrative, and financial

Union Government

• Parliamentary system: President, Prime Minister, and Council of Ministers
• President:
  • Head of the State
  • Symbolic head
  • Powers: executive, legislative, and judicial
• Prime Minister:
  • Head of the Government
  • Real executive power
  • Responsible to the Lok Sabha

Legislature

• Bicameral: Lok Sabha (Lower House) and Rajya Sabha (Upper House)
• Lok Sabha:
  • Directly elected by the people
  • 545 members (up to 530 from states and up to 15 from UTs)
• Rajya Sabha:
  • Indirectly elected by the state legislatures
  • 245 members (up to 233 from states and up to 12 from UTs)

Judiciary

• Supreme Court:
  • Highest court in India
  • Final interpreter of the Constitution
  • Original jurisdiction in cases involving the Centre and States
• High Courts:
  • Highest court in a state
  • Appellate jurisdiction in cases involving the state government
  • Writ jurisdiction to protect fundamental rights

Constitution

• Adopted on November 26, 1949, and came into effect on January 26, 1950
• The lengthiest written constitution in the world, divided into 22 parts, 395 articles, and 12 schedules

Preamble

• Enshrines the objectives of the Constitution, setting out its philosophy
• Defines the nature of the Indian State, guaranteeing justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity to all citizens

Fundamental Rights

• Enshrined in Part III of the Constitution, comprising Articles 12-35
• Six fundamental rights are guaranteed to citizens, including:
  • Right to Equality, ensuring equal treatment and protection under the law
  • Right to Freedom, protecting individual liberties and freedoms
  • Right against Exploitation, prohibiting human trafficking and forced labor
  • Right to Freedom of Religion, ensuring freedom of conscience and religious practice
  • Cultural and Educational Rights, protecting cultural and linguistic diversity
  • Right to Constitutional Remedies, providing judicial remedies for violation of fundamental rights

Directive Principles of State Policy

• Enshrined in Part IV of the Constitution, comprising Articles 36-51
• Guidelines for the government to implement its policies, influencing policy-making in areas like:
  • Social welfare, ensuring the well-being of citizens
  • Economic development, promoting economic growth and stability
  • International relations, guiding India's foreign policy

Federal Structure

• India is a federal republic with a parliamentary system, dividing powers between the Centre and States
• Three lists define the distribution of powers: Union List, State List, and Concurrent List
• Centre-State relations involve legislative, administrative, and financial interactions

Union Government

• The parliamentary system consists of the President, Prime Minister, and Council of Ministers
• The President serves as:
  • Head of the State, symbolizing national unity
  • Symbolic head, representing the nation internationally
  • Holding executive, legislative, and judicial powers
• The Prime Minister is:
  • Head of the Government, exercising real executive power
  • Responsible to the Lok Sabha, ensuring accountability

Legislature

• The bicameral legislature consists of the Lok Sabha (Lower House) and Rajya Sabha (Upper House)
• The Lok Sabha is:
  • Directly elected by the people, comprising 545 members (up to 530 from states and up to 15 from UTs)
• The Rajya Sabha is:
  • Indirectly elected by the state legislatures, comprising 245 members (up to 233 from states and up to 12 from UTs)

Judiciary

• The Supreme Court is:
  • The highest court in India, interpreting the Constitution
  • Holding original jurisdiction in cases involving the Centre and States
• High Courts are:
  • The highest court in a state, exercising appellate jurisdiction in cases involving the state government
  • Holding writ jurisdiction to protect fundamental rights

Test your knowledge of the Indian Constitution, including its adoption, structure, and fundamental rights. Learn about the Preamble, the longest written constitution in the world, and more!