This document provides an overview of key aspects of the Constitution of India. It notes that the Indian Constitution is the longest written constitution of any sovereign country, with 448 articles across 25 parts and 12 schedules. It draws from various international precedents and was drafted in the mid-20th century to suit India's political, social, and economic conditions. Key features discussed include its federal structure, parliamentary democracy, sovereignty of parliament and judiciary, fundamental rights and duties of citizens, and establishment of a secular and socialist republic with single citizenship and an independent judiciary.

1. SANDEEP
THONIPARAMBIL

2.  Constitution of India is the supreme law.
 It lays down the framework defining political
principles
 Establishes the structure, procedures, powers
and duties of government institutions
 Sets out fundamental rights, directive
principles and duties of citizens.


3. 1. SIZE
 Longest written constitution of any
sovereign country
 It has 448 articles in 25 parts, 12 schedules, 5
appendices and has been amended 98 times
(out of 120 constitution amendment bills)


4. 2. MODERN CONSTITUTION
 Since it was drafted in the mid-twentieth
century, it gave an advantage to take
cognizance of various constitutional
processes operating in different countries
 Rich fund of human experience, wisdom,
heritage and traditions in area of
governmental process was drawn
 It suited the political, social and economic
conditions in india
 Thus, it turned out to be a very interesting
and unique document

5. 3. WRITTEN CONSTITUTION
 It is a lengthy, elaborate and detailed
written document
 Originally it consisted of 395 Articles
arranged under 22 Parts and 8 Schedules.
 Now, after 98 amendments, it has 448
Articles and 12 Schedules.

6. 4. PREAMBLE
 Unlike Australia, US or Canada, the Indian
Constitution has an elaborate Preamble
 Its purpose is to clarify: who has made the
constitution, what is its source, who is the
ultimate sanction behind it, what is the
nature of polity and what are its goals and
objectives
 It lays emphasis on principle of equality
which is basic to the Constitution

7. 5. FEDERAL
 Federalism is when all powers of
governance are divided into central and
state governments.
 Existence of Union Territories
 Appointment of Governors by President
 Emergency Provisions
 Common All India Services

8. 6. PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM
 India is a Republic
 Unlike US President, Indian President is
only a nominal or constitutional head of the
executive
 He acts only on aid and advice of the
Council of Ministers

9. 7. PARLIAMENTARY SOVEREIGNITY
AND JUDICIAL SUPREMACY
 We are governed by the rule of law and
judicial review of administrative action
 Since powers and functions of every organ
are defined and delimited by the
Constitution; there is no question of any
organ being Sovereign
 Both Parliament and Supreme Court are
supreme in their respective spheres

10. 8. ADULT FRANCHISE
 By Parliamentary democracy we mean ‘one
man, one vote’
 Indian Constitution provides for ‘Universal
Adult Suffrage’
 Every adult Indian without any distinction
at once has equal voting rights.

11. 9. SOCIALISM AND SECULARISM
 Preamble establishes the concept of
Socialism and Secularism
 Principle of socialism is to eliminate
inequality of income, status/standards of
life

12. 10. FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
 They are incorporated in Part III of the
Constitution
 It has been adopted from U.S.A.
 The Constitution guarantees certain basic
human rights and freedoms to the people of
India

13. 11. DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES
 The Directive Principles of State Policy are
inspired from the Irish Precedent
 It’s a unique feature of our Constitution
 Socio-economic rights are included under
this head

14. 12. FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES
 42nd Amendment to the Constitution added
‘Fundamental Duties’
 Inspiration is from the U.S.S.R.
 It lays down 11 duties for all the citizens

15. 13. SINGLE CITIZENSHIP
 The founding father provided for ‘single-
citizenship’ despite the federal structure
 Unlike US, Indian Constitution has single
citizenship where all citizens are entitled to
same rights all over the country

16. 14. INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY
 Independent judiciary is established with
powers of judicial review which strengthens
the rule of law