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Evolution of Indian Constitution Our Constitution : Our present constitution – the first constitution of India framed and given to themselves by the people of India was adopted by the constituent Assembly on 26 November, 1949. It came into full operation with effect from 26 January, 1950. The const...

Evolution of Indian Constitution Our Constitution : Our present constitution – the first constitution of India framed and given to themselves by the people of India was adopted by the constituent Assembly on 26 November, 1949. It came into full operation with effect from 26 January, 1950. The constitution as originally adopted had 22 parts, 395 articles and 8 schedules. A concise and chronological description of the Acts, documents and event that culminated in the framing of the world’s largest written constitution is given here. Text of the preamble We, the people of India having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic and to source to all citizens : Justice, social, economic and political; Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; Equality of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all; Fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation; In our constituent Assembly this twenty sixth day of November, 1949, do hereby adopt, enact and give to ourselves this constitution The Fundamental Duties (recommended by Sardar Swarn Singh Committee) are eleven in number, incorporated in Art. 51A [Part IVA], which has been incorporated by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976. The president (Art 52) Qualifications for election as President are : ❖ Be a citizen of India; ❖ Have completed the age of thirty-five (35) years; ❖ Be qualified for election as a member of the House of the people. ❖ The president’s term of office is five years from the date on which he enters upon his office. ❖ president is indirectly elected by means of single transferable vote. The Parliament of India The Parliament of India consists of the President, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The main functions of Parliament are : ❖ Providing the cabinet. ❖ Control of the Cabinet. ❖ Criticism of the Cabinet and of individual Minister. ❖ Parliament secures the information authoritatively. ❖ Legislation i. e. making laws ❖ Financial control. composition of the RajyaSabha -: The Rajya Sabha is composed of not more than 250 members of whom 12 are nominated by the president and 238 are representatives of the states and the Union Territories elected by the method of indirect election. Rajya sabha can not be dissolve. It is also called upper chamber. minimum age for lokasabha member should not less than 30 years. composition of the LokSabha -: ❖ Not more than 530 representatives of the states; ❖ Not more than 20 representatives of Union Territories. ❖ The Lok Sabha at present consists of 543 members (530 members are directly elected from the states and 13 from UTs). ❖ minimum age for lokasabha member should not less than 25 years. ❖ Every citizen who is not less than 18 years of age and is not otherwise disqualified is entitled to vote at such election. ❖ It can be subjected to dissolve The Prime Minister and The Union Council of Ministers Prime Minister is appointed by the President. Other ministers are appointed and /or dismissed by the president on the advice of the prime minister. Prime Minister, must be the leader of the party in majority in the Lok Sabha or a person who can win the confidence of the majority in that House. Prime Minister + Cabinet Ministers = The Council of Ministers. There are three types of ministers- (a) Cabinet Minister (b) Minister of State and (c) Deputy Minister. The High Court The High Court is the head of the Judiciary in the State. There are 24 High Courts in the Country, three having jurisdiction over more than one state. Every judge of a High Court is appointed by the president. The qualification for being a judge of the High Court are: ❖ Be a citizen of India. ❖ Not above 62 years of age Election Commission ❖ Election Commission is a permanent and independent body. ❖ The formation of EC is prescribed by article 324 of the constitution. ❖ It is common to both central and state governments. ❖ The elections to parliament, state legislatures, the office of president, and vice president are looked after by EC. Union Public Service Commission ❖ UPSC is the central recruiting agency of the country. ❖ Articles 315 to 323 in Part XIV of the constitution talk about UPSC. ❖ UPSC is visualized as the watchdog of the merit system of the country. Finance Commission ❖ The formation of FC is provided by the constitution under article 280. ❖ It is constituted every fifth year or at such an earlier time as the president of India considers necessary. ❖ FC consists of a chairman and four other members appointed by the president. ❖ Finance Commission is envisaged as the balancing wheel of fiscal federalism in India. NITI AAYOG On the 1st January 2015, by resolution the Government of India constituted a ‘NITI Aayog’ (NITI stands for National Institution for Transforming India). Chairperson of niti aayog is always prime minister.