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Main Features of Indian Constitution

On August 24, 2013 By Vijay Jaiswal
Category: Indian Constitution

Main Features of Indian Constitution

The constitution of India has many distinctive features of its own. The main features of Indian Constitution
are discussed in this article.
The key person behind the Constitution of India was Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. He was a learned person had good
vision of future India.

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One of repeated criticism of the Indian constitution is that it is very little original and mostly borrowed from
other constitutions. Even Dr. Ambedkar admitted in the Constituent Assembly that many elements were
borrowed from foreign constitutions but they were not slavish imitations but adoption of time-tested
constitutional principles like the Rule of Law or Equality before Law to serve the interests of the people.
The 1rst feature of Indian constitution is the most voluminous constitution ever created in human history.
In its original shape the constitution had 395 articles and several schedules. Our constitution have been
amended from time to time.There 99odd amendments (as on Dec 2014) since 1950 only add to the bulk
of the constitution. When contrasted with the six effective articles and 27 rati1ed amendments of the U. S.
constitution, one appreciates how bulky our constitution is.
Again drafting of the constitution has not been in a very easy and lucid language. The Constituent Assembly
was pre-dominated by lawyers. The constitution is drafted in legalistic terms making it a lawyers paradise.
This stands in sharp contrast with the U. S. constitution which is acclaimed as specimen of lucid
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constitutional drafting. However, the fact that our constitution has endured for over sixty years and during
periods of acute crisis, shows its inherent strength and resilience. When constitutions of neighboring
countries like Pakistan, Burma or Bangladesh were crumbling like houses of cards, our constitution stood
steady like a rock.
The great bulk of the Indian constitution is due to several factors.
The framers of our constitution have borrowed some of the great constitutional principles from the
foreign constitutions. The loopholes of these foreign constitutions were properly avoided to ensure
healthy political life to the citizens. Thus, theParliamentary formof government were adopted from
the British, the fundamental rights from the U. S. constitution, the Directive principles from the Irish
constitution and the idea of emergency from the German Constitution and the Government of India
Act of 1935.
Unlike other constitutions, the Indian constitution provides not only the basic law. It also provides very
detailed and minute administrative provisions. This was to prevent subversion of the constitution
through legislative process. These details saves a lot of time.
The vastness of the country and its population size and diversity, compelled the framers of the
constitution to make provisions for the protection and promotion of the interests of different regions
and groups in the country. Thus, the constitution has elaborate provisions for the minorities,
scheduled castes and tribes, etc.
Finally, the Indian constitution is an omnibus constitution. It is at the same time a constitution for the
whole nation as well as for the component states of the Union.
Second main feature of the Indian constitutionis that it is a federal constitution. The term federal has not
been used in the constitution. Instead India has been described as a Union of States. However all the
characteristics of a federation viz. two sets of governmentnational government and a number of
governments of the component units, and the division of powers between the national government and the
governments of the units. The constitution is the supreme and both the centre and the state government
derive its power from it. There is a federal judiciary to act as the guardian of the constitution and to settle
disputes between the centre and the unitsare all present in the Indian constitution. However, the nature of
the Indian federation is different from the nature of older federations like the U.S.A. (Also read:Federalism in
Indian Constitution.)
Third feature of the Indian constitutionit that it provides for parliamentary form of governmentboth at the
centre and in the states. This is borrowed from the Westminster model. The adoption of this model is partly
due to Indias long familiarity with it during the British rule. However, in the face of existence of multiplicity of
parties in India, some political scientists question the wisdom of this step.

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Fourth feature of Indian Constitution is that though India has a written constitution which is a federal
necessity, Indias constitution is far less rigid than a normal federal constitution. Truly, it is more exible than
rigid. Because of this exibility, it has been possible to amend the constitution 99 times in less than sixty1ve years. By contrast the U. S. constitution could be amended only 27 times in about 200 years.
Fifth important feature of Indian Constitution is that the constitution like any modern written constitution
has a preamble before it. The preamble is very lucid exposition of the philosophy of the constitution. The
original preamble declared India to be a Sovereign Democratic Republic. The 42nd amendment makes India
a Sovereign, Secular Socialist Democratic Republic.
Justice, liberty, equality and fraternity are set as the ideas to be achieved by India as a nation. The preamble
to the Indian constitution is praised by all critics for its lucid exposition of lofty political ideals. (Also
read:Importance of Preamble In Indian Constitution.)
Sixth important feature of Indian Constitution is that the constitution guarantees fundamental rights of the
citizens. Rights to equality, freedom, religion and constitutional remedies are the enumerated fundamental
rights of Indian citizens. Originally right to property was also a fundamental right. Subsequently right to
property was removed from the list of fundamental rights. Hence right to property is now a legal rather than
constitutional right. The status property has been altered to give substance to Indias socialist aspirations.
Seventhly, taking cue from the Irish constitution, our constitution also provides a number of Directive
Principles. Such principles do not constitute any constitutional obligation for the government to ful1ll; rather
they are guide-lines to the government.
Upholding secularism is another lofty aspect of our constitution. India is a secular nation and does not have
any state religion. In a country inhabited by people of all faiths, it is essential that the state remains neutral
between religions. Acceptance of secularism as a political ideal was an act of wisdom and boldness
particularly after the traumatic experience of Indias partition on religious lines.
Finally, Indian constitution does not sanction double citizenship as in federations like the U.S.A. There is
only one uniform Indian citizenship.
Our constitution was carefully tailored to suit the needs of the Indian people. It is a tribute to the founding
fathers that their work has endured in spite of strains and stresses.
Last updated: 16.05.2015

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1. Article on Fundamental Rights Guaranteed by the Indian Constitution

2. Importance of Preamble In Indian Constitution
3. List of Fundamental Duties in Indian Constitution
4. Federalism in Indian Constitution
5. Short Paragraph on Constitution
6. Right To Constitutional Remedies in Indian Constitution
7. 60 questions and answers on Constitution of India
8. Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution
9. Paragraph on Socialism in Indian Constitution
Category: Indian Constitution
Tagged With: Indian Constitution

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RELATED POSTS
1. Article on Fundamental Rights Guaranteed by
the Indian Constitution
2. Importance of Preamble In Indian Constitution
3. List of Fundamental Duties in Indian
Constitution
4. Federalism in Indian Constitution
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5. Short Paragraph on Constitution

6. Right To Constitutional Remedies in Indian
Constitution
7. 60 questions and answers on Constitution of
India
8. Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian
Constitution
9. Paragraph on Socialism in Indian Constitution

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