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The task of framing the Constitution of India was given
to the Constituent Assembly, formed under the Cabinet
Mission Plan
of 1946. The inaugural meeting of the Constituent Assembly
was held
on December 9, 1946. Dr Sachidananda Sinha was dected
provisional
Chairman of the Constituent Assembly. On December 11, 1946,
Dr. Rajendra
Prasad was elected as the permanent chairman of the
Constituent Assembly.
The Constitution of India was enacted, signed and adopted by
the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949.
On January 26, 1950, the Constitution of India came into
force on
which date India also became a Republic. Our constitution
makes detailed
provisions for the following:
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Citizenship,
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Fundamental Rights,
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Directive Principles of State Policy,
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Structure of the Government,
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Parliament and State Legislatures,
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Supreme Court and High Courts,
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Relationship between the Union and the States,
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Services,
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Official Language and various other matters of basic
importance
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It is the longest written constitution in the world.
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Consisting of 22 Chapters, over 395 Articles and 12
Schedules.
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It proclaims India a Sovereign Democratic Republic.
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Fundamental Rights are guaranteed to all citizens of
India.
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Directive Principles of State Policy are incorporated.
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It established the parliamentary system of government,
i.e., the President of the Union is the constitutional head,
the Council of Ministers or the Union Cabinet is the real
executive and is responsible to the Lok Sabha.
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It is federal in form (in normal times) but unitary in
spirit (in
emergencies).
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It is neither too rigid (as some provisions can be
amended by a
simple majority) nor flexible (as some provisions require
special
majority for amendment).
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It declares India a secular state.
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It guarantees single citizenship to all citizens.
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It introduced adult franchise,
i.e., every adult above
18 years has the right to vote and the system of joint
electorates.
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It established an independent judiciary; the Supreme
Court
acts as a guardian of the Constitution in place of the Privy
Council.
The draft of the Preamble was prepared by Jawaharlal Nehru
and is based on the American model. The 42nd Amendment added
the words ``Secular and Socialist'' and now the preamble
reads as follows.
``We the People of India, having solemnly resolved to
constitute India into a Sovereign Socialist Secular
Democratic Republic and to secure to all its 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, November 26, 1949, do hereby adopt, enact and
give to ourselves this constitution. |
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| Part I |
Articles 1-4 |
Territory of India,,
admission,, establishment or formation of new states |
| Part II |
Articles 5-11 |
Citizenship |
| Part III |
Articles 12-35 |
Fundamental Rights |
| Part IV |
Articles 36-51 |
Directive Principles of
State Policy |
| Part IV A |
Article 51-A |
Duties of a citizen of
India. It was added by the 42nd Amendment in 1976 |
| Part V |
Articles 52-151 |
Government at the Union
level |
| Part VI |
Articles 152-237 |
Government at the State
level |
| Part VII |
Article 238 |
Deals with states in
Part B of the First Schedule. It was repealed by 7th
Amendment in 1956 |
| Part VIII |
Articles 239-241 |
Administration of Union
Territories |
| Part IX |
Article 242-243 |
Territories in Part D
of the First Schedule
and other territories. It was repealed by 7th Amendment
in 1956 |
| Part X |
Articles 244-244 A |
Scheduled and tribal
areas |
| Part XI |
Articles 245-263 |
Relations between the
Union and States |
| Part XII |
Articles 264-300 |
Finance,, property,,
contracts and suits |
| Part XIII |
Articles 301-307 |
Trade,, commerce and
travel within the
territory of India |
| Part XIV |
Articles 308-323 |
Services under the
Union and States |
| Part XIV-A |
Articles 323A-323B |
Added by the 42nd
Amendment in 1976
and deals with administrative tribunals to hear disputes
and other complaints |
| Part XV |
Articles 324-329 |
Election and Election
Commission |
| Part XVI |
Articles 330-342 |
Special provision to
certain classes ST/SC
and Anglo Indians |
| Part XVII |
Articles 343-351 |
Official languages |
| Part XVIII |
Articles 352-360 |
Emergency provisions |
| Part XIX |
Articles 361-367 |
Miscellaneous provision
regarding exemption of the President and governors from
criminal proceedings |
| Part XX |
Article 368 |
Amendment of
Constitution |
| Part XXI |
Articles 369-392 |
Temporary,,
transitional and special provisions |
| Part XXII |
Articles 393-395 |
Short title,
commencement and repeal
of the Constitution |
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FIRST SCHEDULE : I. The State, II. The Union Territories.
SECOND SCHEDULE :
PART A. Provisions to the President and the Governors
of States
PART B. (Repeated)
PART C. Provisions as to the Speaker and the
Deputy Speaker of the House of the People and the Chairman
and the
Deputy Chairman of the Council of States and the Speaker and
the Deputy
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the Chairman and the
Deputy
Chairman of the Legislative Council of a State.
PART D. Provisions as to the Judges
of the Supreme
Court and of the High Courts.
PART E. Provisions as to the Comptroller
and Auditor-General
of India.
THIRD SCHEDULE : Forms of Oaths or
Affirmations.
FOURTH SCHEDULE : Allocation of Seats
in the
Council of States.
FIFTH SCHEDULE : Provisions as to the administration
and Control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes.
PART A. General
PART B. Administration and Control of Scheduled
Areas and Scheduled Tribes
PART C. Scheduled Areas
PART D. Amendment of the Schedule
SIXTH SCHEDULE :
Provisions as to the
administration
of Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura
and Mizoram.
SEVENTH SCHEDULE :
LIST I. Union List
LIST II. State List
LIST III. Concurrent List
EIGHTH SCHEDULE :
Languages
NINTH SCHEDULE : Article 31B
TENTH SCHEDULE : Provisions as to
disqualification on the ground of defection
ELEVENTH SCHEDULE : Article 243G
TWELFTH SCHEDULE : Article 243W |
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