The Constitution of INDIA:

Document for all ages

Presentation by:Pattan Imran KhanNIIT University

Constitution of India

The Supreme law of India A living document, an instrument which makes the

government system work Passed by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949, it

came into effect on 26 January 1950 Contain 395 articles in 22 parts, 12 schedules and 94

amendments, for a total of 117,369 words.

Preamble

Principles of our Constitution

The Preamble has clearly states that our country is now Sovereign in all matters. The ultimate source of all power is ‘ THE PEOPLE ’

The basic principles of our constitution are:i. Sovereigntyii. Democracyiii. Secularism &iv. Socialism.

Structure of Constitution of India The Constitution, in its current form (Nov 2015), consists of 1

preamble, 25 parts containing 448 articles, 12 schedules, 5 appendices and 100 amendments to date.

Constitution of India

Preamble 1 Parts 25

Articles 448

Amendments 100 Appendices 5Schedules 12

Fundamental Rights

Directive Principles

Fundamental Duties

Different elements of constitution are described as follows:-

Preamble(1): The Preamble to the Constitution of India is a

brief introductory statement that sets out the guiding purpose and principles of the document.

Parts(25): The individual Articles of the Constitution are

grouped together into the following Parts-1. Part I – Union and its Territory2. Part II – Citizenship

3. Part III – Fundamental Rights4. Part IV – Directive Principles of State Policy5. Part IVA – Fundamental Duties6. Part V – The Union7. Part VI – The States8. Part VII – States in the B part of the First schedule(Repealed)

9. Part VIII – The Union Territories10. Part IX – The Panchayats11. Part IXA – The Municipalities12. Part X – The scheduled and Tribal Areas13. Part XI – Relations between the Union and the States14. Part XII – Finance, Property, Contracts and Suits15. Part XIII – Trade and Commerce within the territory of India16. Part XIV – Services Under the Union, the States

17. Part XIVA – Tribunals18. Part XV – Elections19. Part XVI – Special Provisions Relating to certain Classes20. Part XVII – Languages21. Part XVIII – Emergency Provisions

Articles(1-448): It is subcategory of different Parts in the constitution

which contains detail information of the subject or the Title which an Article represents.

Amendments(100): Amendment of the Constitution of India is the process

of making change to the nation's fundamental law.

Schedules(12): Schedules are lists in the Constitution that

categorize and tabulate bureaucratic activity and policy of the Government.

Appendices(5): They are extension to the constitution. Fundamental Rights(Part III- Article12-35): The word fundamental suggests that these rights

are so important that the Constitution has separately listed them and made special provisions for their protection.

The Constitution of India recognizes certain basic fundamental rights for every citizen of India, such as:

a) Right to Equality

b) Right to Freedom

c) Right to Freedom of Religion

d) Right against Exploitation

e) Cultural & Educational Rights

f) Right to Constitutional Remedies

Right to Equality: Equality before law (Article 14) Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex

or place of birth (Article 15) Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment (Article

16) Abolition of Untouchability (Article 17) Abolition of titles (Article 18)

Right to Freedom: Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc.

(Article 19) Protection in respect of conviction for offences (Article 20)

Protection of life and personal liberty (Article 21) Right to education (Article 21A)

Right against Exploitation: Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labor (Article

23) Prohibition of employment of children in factories, etc. (Article

24) Right to Freedom of Religion:

Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion (Article 25)

Freedom to manage religious affairs (Article 26)

Cultural and Educational Rights : Protection of interests of minorities (Article 29) Right of minorities to establish and administer educational

institutions (Article 30) Right to Constitutional Remedies :

Remedies for enforcement of rights conferred (Article 32)

Fundamental Duties(Part IV Article 51A ):i. These are considered as the duties that must be and

should be performed by every citizen of Indiaii. These fundamental duties are defined as- It shall be the duty of every citizens of India: - a. To abide by the Constitution.b. To uphold & protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of

India.

c. To Cherish & follow the noble ideas which inspired our national struggle for freedom

d. To defend the country & render national service when called upon to do so

e. To promote harmony & the spirit of common brotherhoodf. To value & preserve the rich heritage of our composite

cultureg. To protect & improve the national environmenth. To safeguard public property & to abjure violence.

Directive Principles(Part IV- Article36-51): It provides the social and economic base of a

genuine democracy. The classification of these are as follows –

i. Socio-economic Principlesii. Liberal Principlesiii. Gandhian Principles &iv. International Principles

The First Book of Constitution of India is Located at Parliament Library Building, New Delhi, India.

Influence of other constitutions British Constitution:

Parliamentary form of government The idea of single citizenship Lawmaking procedure

French Constitution: Ideals of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity

Constitution of Soviet Union: Fundamental Duties (51-A) The concept of five year plans

Irish Constitution: Directive principles of state policy

Australian Constitution: Terminology for the Preamble Freedom of trade and commerce within the country and

between the states US Constitution:

Charter of Fundamental Rights President as supreme commander of armed forces Equal Protection under law

Other Constitutions: Emergency Provision u/a 356, Weimar

Constitution(Germany) Amendment of Constitution, South Africa Due Procedure of Law, Japan

Facts on the Constitution of India: The Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949, while it

came into force on January 26, 1950 Dr B R Ambedkar is regarded as the chief architect of the Indian

Constitution. He is also known as the Father of Constitution of India.

The Constitution of India was not typeset or printed but was handwritten and calligraphed in both English and Hindi

The original copies of the Constitution of India are kept in special helium-filled cases in the Library of the Parliament of India

It is the longest written constitution of any independent country in the world

Rs.1,00,00,000 was official estimate of expenditure on constituent assembly

The Constituent Assembly had 284 members, out of which 15 were women

The draft was submitted in November 1949. After the submission, it took three more years to complete it

Indian constitution is known as one of the world's best constitution especially since it has only seen 100 amendments.

Jan 25, 1950: Key members of the Constituent Assembly sign the first copies of the Constitution.

If India were to try and draft a Constitution today she would almost certainly fail

The significant achievement of India’s Constituent Assembly is that it created a Constitution which has survived

Pakistan’s assembly took seven years to draft the country’s Constitution (1956), which collapsed in 1958 and again in 1969, 1978 and so on

India’s Constituent Assembly had men of genius with vision, passion, integrity and patience who were not angling for power

Let no one make light of their foundational achievement.

Conclusion

The constitution - a living document

In the conclusion of his Making of India's Constitution, Justice Hans Raj Khanna writes:

“A constitution is not a parchment of paper, it is a way of life and has to be lived up to. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty and in the final analysis, its only keepers are the people.”

References https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_India http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/the-constitution-of-ind

ia-66-yrs-of-change-and-progress/story-ngDCPtxWjXXO6LwDlUzBZL.html

http://www.iamin.in/en/south-delhi/news/ten-facts-about-constitution-india-you-should-know-76846

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/constitution-day/1/531739.html

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