Constitution of India Essay

The Constitution of India is a document containing the framework of the political system, the duties, rights, limitations, and structure of the government that this nation ought to follow. It also spells out the rights and duties of the Indian citizens. Nobody in India - not even the Prime Minister or the President - has the power to do anything that violates the constitutional rule.

Every year, on 26th January, we celebrate Republic Day. It was on this day in 1950 that the Constitution of India became effective. Although Dr Ambedkar is known for his prominent role in drafting the constitution, it was the fruit of the hard work of 299 people. 

How Big Is Our Constitution?

The Indian constitution is the lengthiest constitution in the world. It has 448 articles organised into 25 parts and 12 schedules. Our country is so big with so many cultures, castes and religions, and with so many states that people who drafted the Constitution had to focus on the minutest of detail. Besides, the Constitution has been amended many times and new rules and laws have been added. As a result, the Constitution of India became the lengthiest constitution in the world.

Is Our Constitution Flexible or Rigid?

The beautiful thing about our Constitution is it can be modified if a political party has a supermajority and yet it is not easily modifiable. The Supreme Court has ruled that no provision of the Constitution can be with the aim to destroy that provision. At the same time, nobody has the right to tweak the basic structure of the Constitution. As a result, on one hand, our Constitution remains updated and on the other, no political party with evil intentions can deface it to establish a monopoly.

Crystal clear Notion

Unlike the British constitution, our Constitution is completely written with no ambiguity. It focuses on the minutest aspects of the political, executive and legal systems of the country and it also focuses on the fundamental rights and duties of the citizens of India. 

Federal and Unitary Features

The Indian Constitution prescribes that India should have dual governance - the Centre and the regional states. It also ruled that the country must have the three pillars of democracy - legislative system, executive system and the judiciary. Hence, the Indian Constitution supports a federal structure. However, the Constitution has also given some extra power to the Centre. The Centre has the power to preside over matters that concern both the Centre as well as the states; it has the power to announce an emergency; it can modify the Constitution and the state has no power to oppose that modification. Hence, the Constitution has unitary features too.

By the Indians, for the Indians, of the Indians

The Constitution of India was created by the Indians. There is no foreign hand whatsoever. The due democratic process was followed in the form of debates before enforcing the Constitution. And last but not the least, it stands to protect the fundamental rights of every Indian. 

The Preamble

The Preamble to the constitution is the soul of it. The preamble says that India is a sovereign country - it is ruled and managed by the Indians and Indians only. It further says that India is a secular country. Unlike our neighbouring country, India, all the citizens of the country can practise their religions without any fear. Ours is a socialist country as per the Constitution- that means that her resources are owned by the community of the people - neither by the State nor by private corporations. Lastly, the preamble says that India is a democratic country where the citizens have the right to choose the members of the government.

A constitution is a bunch of rules and guidelines that oversee a nation's administration. The Constitution is the foundation of the nation's democratic and secular structure. The Indian Constitution is the world's longest, describing the foundation for political ideas, procedures, and government authorities. The Indian Constitution was drafted on November 26, 1949, and went into effect on January 26, 1950. Students will learn about the prominent aspects of India's Constitution and how it was developed in this essay about the Indian Constitution.

The Indian Constitution went into force on January 26, 1950. As a result, the 26th of January is observed as Republic Day in India.

How was India's Constitution Created?

After many debates and deliberations, representatives of the Indian people drafted the Indian Constitution. It is the world's most thorough Constitution.

The Indian Constitution was made by a Constituent Assembly, which was formed in 1946. Dr Rajendra Prasad was chosen as the Constituent Assembly's President. A Drafting Committee was formed to design the Constitution, with Dr B.R. Ambedkar served as Chairman. The creation of the Constitution took a total of 166 days, divided across a two-year, eleven-month, and eighteen-day period.

Characteristics of India's Constitution

The Indian Constitution opens with a Preamble that includes the fundamental aims and values of the Constitution. It establishes the Constitution's goals.

The World's Longest Constitution

The Indian Constitution is the world's longest constitution. When it was initiated, it included 395 things isolated into 22 divisions and eight schedules. It now comprises 448 items divided into 25 divisions and 12 schedules. So far, 104 amendments to the Indian Constitution have been made (the last of which took place on January 25, 2020, to extend the reservation of seats for SCs and STs in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies).

The Indian Constitution's Rigidity and Flexibility

One of our Constitution's distinguishing traits is that it is neither as rigorous as the American Constitution. It indicates it is both stiff and flexible. As a result, it may readily change and expand with the passage of time.

The Preamble

The Preamble was eventually included in the Indian Constitution. There is no preface in the original Constitution. The Preamble's declared goals are to achieve justice, liberty, and equality for all people, as well as to foster brotherhood in order to safeguard the nation's unity and integrity.

Federal System with Unitary Characteristics

The government's powers are shared between the central government and the state governments. The powers of three governmental institutions, namely the executive, judiciary, and legislature, are divided under the Constitution. As a result, the Indian Constitution advocates for a federal structure. It has several unitary traits, such as a strong central power, emergency measures, the President appointing Governors, and so on.

Fundamental rights and fundamental responsibilities

The Indian Constitution outlines a comprehensive set of Fundamental Rights for Indian citizens. The Constitution also includes a list of 11 responsibilities for citizens, known as the Fundamental Duties. Some of these responsibilities include respect for the national flag and anthem, the country's integrity and unity, and the protection of public property.

Republic

India is a republic, which implies that the country is not ruled by a dictator or king.The public authority is composed of, by, and for individuals. Every five years, citizens propose and elect their leader.

The Constitution provides instructions for all citizens. It aided India in achieving the status of a Republic across the world. Atal Bihari Vajpayee once stated that "governments will come and go, political parties would be created and disbanded, but the country should persist, and democracy should exist indefinitely."

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