3. IMPORTANT FEATURES AT A GLANCE
• Prepared in 2 years, 11 months and 7 days
• From 9th Dec 1946- 26th November 1949
• Drafting Committee, headed by Dr BR
Ambedkar sat for 141 days
• Constituent Assembly, headed by Dr Rajendra
Prasad, took 11 sessions or 165 days to
formulate
TIME AND
DURATION
• Written as lengthiest and most elaborate in
the world
• Socialist, Democratic and Republic in nature
• Supreme in nature
• A healthy mixture of good pints from different
constitutions around the world
• Partially Rigid
KEY
ELEMENTS
5. WRITTEN FORM
Contains 395 Articles and 12 schedules
Fulfils the basic requirement of a federal
government
Has been amended 99 times till now
6. SUPREMACY
Supreme and not the hand-made of either
the Centre or of the States
If for any reason any organ of the State
dares to violate any provision of the
Constitution, the courts of laws are there
to ensure that dignity of the Constitution
is upheld at all costs
7. RIGID YET FLEXIBLE
All the provisions of the Constitution
concerning Union-State relations can be
amended only by the joint actions of the
State Legislatures and the Union Parliament
Such provisions can be amended only if the
amendment is passed by a two-thirds
majority of the members present and voting
in the Parliament (which must also
constitute the absolute majority of the total
membership) and ratified by at least one-half
of the States
8. DIVISION OF POWERS
Clear division of powers so that the units and the centre are
required to enact and legislate within their sphere of activity
with defined limits
Division of subjects of administration under- Union, State
and Concurrent Legislative Lists
Union List consisted of 97 subjects- defence, foreign affairs,
railways, posts and telegraphs, currency, etc., power to
legislate exclusively to union government
State List consisted of 66 subjects - inter-alia public order,
police, administration of justice, public health, education,
agriculture etc., taken care by State government under
normal circustances
Concurrent List embraced 47 subjects - criminal law,
marriage, divorce, bankruptcy, trade unions, electricity,
economic and social planning, etc.
The residuary powers have been vested in the Central
Government.
9. INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY
Supreme Court of India can declare a law
as unconstitutional or ultra Vires, if it
contravenes any provisions of the
Constitution
Hierarchical order follows with State High
Courts, District Courts and Subordinate
Courts
To ensure the impartiality of the judiciary,
our judges are not removable by the
Executive and their salaries cannot be
10. BICAMERAL LEGISLATURE
Lok Sabha (Lower House) consists of
552members- 530 elected state
representatives, 20 from Union Territories
and 2 Anglo-Indian
Rajya Sabha (Upper House) consists 245
members, 12 members appointed by
President
Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha)
Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad)
11. FEDERAL STRUCTURE
There are two governments—the national
or federal government and the
government of each component unit
By 73rd and 74th Amendment Act, 1992
three tier government has been
established (Centre, state & local self
government)
Fragmentation continues at district
administrative levels and Panchayats for
village
12. DRAWN FROM VARIOUS SOURCES
Parliamentary form has been taken from
Britain
Division of powers format has been
adopted by America
13. OTHER IMPORTANT FEATURES
Universal Adult Franchise
Single Citizenship
Autonomous and Independent Bodies
like Election Commission, Comptroller
and Auditor General of India, Union Public
Service Commission, State Public Service
Commission, etc.
15. FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
Affirms the basic principle that every
individual is entitled to enjoy certain basic
rights and part
Total of six in number, originally 7
Justifiable and the individual can move the
higher judiciary, that is the Supreme Court
or the High Courts, if there is any
encroachment
Fundamental rights in India are not absolute,
reasonable restrictions can be imposed
keeping in view the security-requirements of
16. Right to
Equality
Right To
Freedom of
speech and
expression
Right against
Exploitation
Right to
freedom of
religion
Cultural and
educational
rights
Right to
constitutional
remedies
17. DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES
Directives to the government to implement them
for establishing social and economic democracy
in the country
Principles like adequate means to livelihood,
equal pay for both men and women, distribution
of wealth so as to serve the common good, free
and compulsory primary education, right to work,
public assistance in case of old age,
unemployment, sickness and disablement, the
organisation of village Panchayats, special care
to the economically back ward sections of the
people etc.
Not justiciable by the court
18. FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES
To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the
National Flag and the National Anthem;
To cherish and follow the noble ideals, which inspired our national
struggle for freedom;
To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do
so;
To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all
the people of India transcending religious, linguistic, regional or sectional
diversities, to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of woman;
To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
To protect and improve the natural environments including forests, lakes,
rivers and wild life and to have compassion for living creatures;
To develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and
reform;
To safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective
activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of Endeavour
and achievement.
19. EMERGENCY PROVISIONS
• Proclaimed on the ground of war or
external aggression or armed rebellion
ARTICLE 352
NATIONAL EMERGENCY
• Proclaimed on the ground that
constitutional machinery has broken
down in a state -
ARTICLE 356
STATE EMERGENCY
• Proclaimed on the ground that a
particular state has failed to follow the
directions of the Centre
ARTICLE 365
STATE EMERGENCY
• Proclaimed on the ground that there is
threat to the financial stability or Credit
of India
ARTICLE 360
FINANCIAL EMERGENCY