Indian Constitution Preamble

Preamble

• Enacted on November 26, 1949
• Came into effect on January 26, 1950
• Outlines the objectives of the Constitution
• States that India is a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic

Features of the Indian Constitution

• Lengthiest written constitution: Consists of 395 Articles, 22 Parts, and 12 Schedules
• Borrowed features: Draws inspiration from constitutions of other countries, including the US, UK, and Ireland
• Federal system: Divides power between the Centre and States
• Parliamentary system: Prime Minister is the head of government
• Secular state: No official state religion
• Fundamental Rights: Guarantees six basic rights to citizens, including equality, freedom, and education
• Directive Principles: Non-justiciable principles guiding the government's policy-making
• Amendment procedure: Allows for changes to the Constitution through a complex process

Types of Governments

• Centre: Federal government with powers divided between the Union Parliament and the Union Executive
• States: 28 States with their own governments, each comprising a State Legislature and a State Executive
• Union Territories: 8 territories directly governed by the Centre

Key Organs of the Government

• Legislative: Parliament comprising the Lok Sabha (Lower House) and the Rajya Sabha (Upper House)
• Executive: President as the Head of State, supported by the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers
• Judiciary: Supreme Court as the highest court in the land, with the power of judicial review

Fundamental Rights

• Right to Equality: Equality before law, prohibition of discrimination, and equality of opportunity
• Right to Freedom: Freedom of speech, expression, and assembly, protection of life and personal liberty
• Right against Exploitation: Prohibition of trafficking, forced labor, and child labor
• Right to Freedom of Religion: Freedom to practice, profess, and propagate religion
• Cultural and Educational Rights: Protection of minority cultures and languages, and the right to education
• Right to Constitutional Remedies: Right to move the Supreme Court for enforcement of fundamental rights

Directive Principles of State Policy

• Welfare state: Government's responsibility to promote the welfare of citizens
• Social and economic democracy: Aim to establish a socialist society with equal opportunities
• International relations: Promotion of international peace and cooperation
• Economic development: Raise the standard of living and improve public health
• Environmental protection: Protect and improve the environment

Indian Constitution

• Enacted on November 26, 1949, and came into effect on January 26, 1950
• Defines India as a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic

Features of the Indian Constitution

• The longest written constitution, consisting of 395 Articles, 22 Parts, and 12 Schedules
• Draws inspiration from the US, UK, and Ireland constitutions
• Adopts a federal system, dividing power between the Centre and States
• Has a parliamentary system, with the Prime Minister as the head of government
• Declares India a secular state, with no official state religion
• Guarantees six fundamental rights, including equality, freedom, and education
• Includes non-justiciable Directive Principles guiding the government's policy-making
• Allows for amendments through a complex process

Government Structure

• Divided into three tiers: Centre, States, and Union Territories
• The Centre has a federal government, with powers divided between the Union Parliament and the Union Executive
• 28 States have their own governments, each comprising a State Legislature and a State Executive
• 8 Union Territories are directly governed by the Centre

Key Organs of the Government

• The Legislative branch consists of Parliament, comprising the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
• The Executive branch is headed by the President, supported by the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers
• The Judiciary branch is headed by the Supreme Court, with the power of judicial review

Fundamental Rights

• The Right to Equality ensures equality before law, prohibits discrimination, and guarantees equal opportunities
• The Right to Freedom includes freedom of speech, expression, and assembly, and protection of life and personal liberty
• The Right against Exploitation prohibits trafficking, forced labor, and child labor
• The Right to Freedom of Religion guarantees freedom to practice, profess, and propagate religion
• The Cultural and Educational Rights protect minority cultures and languages, and guarantee the right to education
• The Right to Constitutional Remedies allows citizens to move the Supreme Court for enforcement of fundamental rights

Directive Principles of State Policy

• The government has a responsibility to promote the welfare of citizens, establishing a welfare state
• Aims to establish a socialist society with equal opportunities, promoting social and economic democracy
• Seeks to promote international peace and cooperation
• Aims to raise the standard of living and improve public health, promoting economic development
• Seeks to protect and improve the environment