The Indian Constitution is the world’s longest and most comprehensive written constitution, a one-of-a-kind document crafted to find the correct balance between the vast aspirations of the Indian people and preserving institutional stability. Often referred to as a “bag of borrowings,” it is the result of extensive research, drawing essential concepts from the Government of India Act, 1935, as well as other global constitutions.

Structure, Nature, and Sovereignty

Feature	Description	Relevance
Longest Written Constitution	Commencing with 395 Articles, 22 Parts, and 8 Schedules (now over 470 Articles, 25 Parts, 12 Schedules), its bulk is due to detailed administrative, federal, and fundamental provisions.	Highlights the comprehensiveness and necessity for a detailed study of the Articles.
Blend of Rigidity and Flexibility	It is neither purely rigid (difficult to amend) nor purely flexible. Some provisions require a simple majority, while core federal provisions require a special majority plus state ratification.	Focuses on the amending procedure (Article 368) and the balance between stability and evolution.
Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic	The Preamble declares India’s political goals, with ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ added by the 42nd Amendment (1976).	Understanding the Preamble as the “identity card” and philosophy of the Constitution.
Single Citizenship	Provides for uniform citizenship across the nation, fostering national unity and promoting the idea of one India.	Contrast with the dual citizenship in federal systems like the USA.

Federal System with Unitary Bias (Federalism)

The Constitution defines India as a “Union of States,” characterised by multiple levels of governance.

• Federal features: There is a defined division of authorities (Union, State, and Concurrent Lists), a written constitution, and an independent judiciary.

• Unitary Features: The Centre holds more power (a strong Centre), a single integrated judiciary, and the Centre’s ability to intervene in state affairs during emergencies (Article 356).

• Three Tiers: In India, there are three tiers of government: the Centre, the States, and the Panchayati Raj (local bodies), which promotes governance at the grassroots level (added by the 73rd and 74th Amendments).

Parliamentary Form of Government

India follows the Westminster model, in which the Executive is responsible to the Legislature.

• Elected Representatives: The representatives at each level of government are chosen by the electorate. All citizens over the age of eighteen are guaranteed universal adult suffrage under the Constitution.

• Executive Accountability: The Council of Ministers (the executive) is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha (the legislative), ensuring that the government remains accountable to the people’s representatives.

Separation of Powers

The Constitution ensures a balance of power by dividing the functions of the government into three distinct organs:

• Legislature: Our elected representatives who enact laws.

• Executive: A smaller body (Council of Ministers) in charge of enacting legislation and operating the administration.

• Judiciary: The system of courts responsible for interpreting laws and administering justice.

Each organ has distinct powers, ensuring that no single organ gets overly powerful.

Integrated and Independent Judiciary

The Supreme Court is the pinnacle of a unified legal system. Provisions such as fixed tenure and charges on the Consolidated Fund of India ensure the judiciary’s independence from the government and legislature, allowing it to serve as the guardian of the Constitution.

Fundamental Rights

Often termed the “conscience” of the Indian Constitution, Fundamental Rights protect citizens against the arbitrary and absolute exercise of power by the State. These rights are justiciable (enforceable by the Supreme Court and High Courts). They guarantee the rights of individuals against the State as well as against other individuals.

Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)

These are non-justiciable guidelines for the State. DPSP aims to ensure greater social and economic reforms and serves as a guide for the independent Indian State to institute laws and policies that establish a welfare state and reduce the poverty of the masses.

Secularism

The Indian state is a Secular State, meaning the state does not officially promote any one religion as the state religion. It emphasizes the dissociation of the state from religion and guarantees full freedom to all religions, standing for equal opportunities for followers of all faiths without discrimination or partiality on grounds of religion.

Universal Adult Franchise

Every citizen who has attained the age of 18 has the constitutional right to vote, irrespective of social background, caste, gender, or wealth. This principle forms the foundation of India’s political democracy.

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Mention three federal features of the Indian Constitution. (MPPSC 2024)

Write a note on the Salient Features of the Indian Constitution. (MPPSC 2024)

Analyze the “unity and integrity of the nation” as a feature of the Constitution, highlighting the provisions that give it a strong centralizing tendency. (RPSC 2022-23)