(Describe the main features of the Indian Constitution)

Explain the salient features of the Indian Constitution. Explain the main characteristics of Indian Constitution

Basic Preamble of the Indian Constitution

“We, the people of India, having resolved to constitute India into a sovereign democratic republic and to secure to all its citizens social, economic and political justice, freedom of thought, expression, belief, religion and worship, dignity and opportunity, and Resolved in all of them to fraternity to ensure the dignity of the individual and the unity of the nation, in this Constituent Assembly of this day, this day of January 26, 1949, do hereby adopt, enact and surrender this Constitution."

According to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution, India is a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic.

The Indian Constitution has the following features:-

sovereignty

The word sovereignty means supremacy or supremacy. India is a sovereign nation completely free from the control of any foreign and internal power. It is governed by an independent government directly elected and this government makes laws and rules the people.

socialist

The word Socialist was added to the Preamble of the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment Act in 1976. It ensures socio economic equality for all its citizens. Gives equal status and opportunity to all without any discrimination on the basis of caste, colour, creed, sex, religion or language. The government will prevent accumulation of wealth in the hands of only a few and will try to provide a decent standard of living to all citizens.

India has adopted a mixed economic model, the government has enacted Untouchability Abolition, Zamindari Abolition Act, Maximum Holdings Act, Equal Pay Act and Child Labor Prohibition Act etc. to achieve the goal of socialism.

secularism

Indian constitution is not supportive of any one religion. Just like Pakistan is a Muslim country and Nepal is a Hindu nation. In this way, India has not run by adopting any particular religion. Every Indian citizen has the freedom to believe in any religion according to his wish. The government cannot discriminate against anyone on the basis of religion. It does not give special facilities to religious places, prayer places or educational institutions etc. of any particular religion or sect. All the religions prevalent in the country are equal for the Indian Constitution.

The word secular was added to the Preamble of the Constitution by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1976. India has no official religion. It neither promotes any religion nor discriminates against anyone. It respects and treats all religions equally. Every person has the right to follow and propagate any religion of his choice. All citizens, irrespective of their religious beliefs, are equal in the eyes of the law. No religious instruction is enforced in government or government-aided schools.

democracy

India is an independent country. Freedom to vote from any place, specific seats are reserved for scheduled social groups and scheduled castes in parliament. A certain proportion of seats are reserved for women candidates in local body elections. The Election Commission of India is responsible for free and fair elections.

Republic

In contrast to a monarchy, in which the head of state is appointed on a hereditary basis for life or abdicates, the head of a republic is directly or indirectly elected by the people for a fixed term. The President of India is elected through an electoral process for a term of five years.

supremacy of constitution

The provisions of the Constitution are equally binding on the Union and the State Governments. Some articles dividing the power of the center and the state are :- 73, 165, 245, 246, 248

supremacy of parliament

Parliament is a universal institution in the Indian Constitution. He has been given the right to make laws in the Union List (97 subjects) and the Concurrent List (47 subjects). Some residuary subjects are also subject to the Parliament. The Council of Ministers is responsible to the Parliament for its administrative work. In this way, a system of parliamentary governance has been arranged in India, in which the cabinet is directly responsible to the Lok Sabha and indirectly to the public.

The Constitution of India has provided for a parliamentary system of government. This governance is based on Westminster England. Under this system, although the President is duly elected and represents the nation, he does not rule the nation.

He is the head of the state, on the contrary, the prime minister of his cabinet is the head of the government. All ministers are members of the parliament. If, as an exception, a person who is not a member of Parliament is made a minister, then he has to become a member of Parliament within 6 months. If this does not happen in 6 months, then he has to leave the post of minister.

written constitution

The Constitution of India is written by the Constituent Assembly. In this, a detailed discussion has been made on Directive Principles, Fundamental Rights, Central and State Government, Citizenship, Public Services, Election System, etc.