All You Need to Know about Indian Constiotition.

       Indian Constitution 

Today, We will learn about the Indian constitution. 

The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. It frames fundamental political principles, procedures, practices, rights, powers, and duties of the government. It imparts constitutional supremacy and not parliamentary supremacy, as it is not created by the Parliament but, by a constituent assembly, and adopted by its people, with a declaration in its preamble. Parliament cannot override it.

The final draft of the Indian Constitution which is the longest in the world was adopted on 26 November 1949 after almost 2 years, 11 months 17 days. It was legally enforced on 26 January 1950, the day that we celebrate as Republic Day ever since. 

Here are some important points about Indian constitution which are commonly asked in competitive examinations:-

1. The constitution of India was adopted on the 26th of November, in the year 1949. However, it came to effect on the 26th of January, 1950.
2. It was adopted by the Constitution Assembly. Dr B. R. Ambedkar was the chairman of the Drafting Committee. The 389-member assembly (reduced to 299 after the partition of India) held eleven sessions over a 165-day period.
3. Indian Constitution is a written Constitution. As mentioned above, it took almost 2 years, 11 months 17 days to complete it.
4. The Indian Constitution is the longest Constitution of the world. 
5. A constitution may be called rigid or flexible on the basis of its amending procedure. In a rigid constitution, amendment of the constitution is not easy. The Constitutions of the USA, Switzerland and Australia are considered rigid constitutions. While the British Constitution is considered flexible because the amendment procedure is easy and simple. The Constitution of India is partly rigid and partly flexible. 
6. The constitution declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic, assuring its citizen's justice, equality and liberty, and endeavours to promote fraternity.
7. The words "secular" and "socialist" were added to the preamble in 1976 during the Emergency.
8. B. R. Ambedkar was a wise expert of the constitution. He studied constitutions of around 60 countries. B. R. Ambedkar is recognised as “Father of the Constitution of India.”
9. Thus, the Indian Constitution is said to be influenced by other constitutions like the United Kingdom, United States, Ireland, Australia, France, Canada, the Soviet Union and more. 
10. The Indian Constitution has a Preamble and 470 articles which are grouped into 25 parts with 12 schedules and 5 appendices. It has been amended 104 Times. 
11. The Constitution of India provides its citizens with six fundamental rights. These rights are the Right to Freedom, Right to Equality, Cultural and Educational Rights, Right to Constitutional Remedies, Right against Exploitation, Freedom of Religion. Recently, the Right to Privacy has also been added to fundamental rights.

Influence of Other Countries:-


United Kingdom

• Parliamentary Government.
• Concept of Single Citizenship.
• Rule of law.
• Legislative process (the legislative speaker and their role).

Ireland 

• Directive Principles of State Policy.

Australia

• Freedom of trade between States.
• National legislative power to implement treaties, Even on matters outside normal Federation Jurisdiction.
• Concurrent List.
• Preamble terminology.

The United States

• Equal protection under the law.
• President as commander in chief of the armed forces.
• Bill of rights.
• The federal structure of government.
• Judicial review.
• Electoral college.
• Independent Judiciary and separation of powers.

Canada

• Quasi-Federal Government(a federal system with the strong central government). 
• Residual powers retained by the central government.
• Distribution of powers between the central and the state governments.

Soviet Union

• Fundamental duties under article 51-A.
• Mandated Planning Commission to oversee economic development.  

Others 

• The due process from Japan.
• Amending the constitution from South Africa.
• The emergency provision under article 356 from the Weimar constituency.