Salient Features of Indian Constitution

(GS-II) Indian Polity & Constitution

SOURCES of Constitution–

GoI Act, 1935	Federal Scheme, Governor, Public Service Commission, Emergency Provisions, Administrative details, Structural part
British	Parliamentary Govt, Rule of Law, Legislative procedure, Single Citizenship, Cabinet System, Prerogative writs, Parliamentary privileges, Bicameralism, First Past the Post, Speaker
US	FR, Judiciary independence & review, President impeachment, Removal of SC, HC judges, Vice President post
Canada	Federation with strong Centre, Residuary powers with Centre, Appointment of State Governors by Centre, SC advisory jurisdiction
Irish	DPSP, Nomination of members to RS, Election of President
Australia	Concurrent list, Freedom of trade, commerce & inter-course, Parliament joint sitting
Germany	Suspension of FR during Emergency
USSR	Fundamental Duties, Justice – social, economic, political in Preamble
French	Republic, Ideals of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity in Preamble
South Africa	Procedure for Amendment, Election of members to RS
Japan	Procedure established by Law

SCHEDULES– TEARS OF OLD PM

T – Territory – Names of states, UTs, their territorial jurisdiction.
E – Emoluments/Salary/Privileges of President, Governors, Speaker Deputy Speaker of LS & State, Chairman Deputy Chairman of RS & Legislative Council, Judges of SC HC, CAG.
A – Affirmation/Oath –
R – Rajya Sabha – Allocation of seats in Rajya Sabha
S – Scheduled Tribes – Administration & control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes
O – Other Tribes – Administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram
F – Federal – Division of Powers between Union & State in terms of list
O – Official Language recognised by Constitution
L – Land Reforms – Acts & Regulations of State legislatures dealing with land reforms & abolition of Zamindari System and of Parliament dealing with other matters. Added by 1st Amendment to protect laws included in it from judicial scrutiny on FR violation. In 2007, SC ruled laws included in this after April 24, 1973 open to judicial review.
D – Defection – Anti Defection Law
P – Panchayati Raj
M – Municipalities– Its power, authority

Features of Constitution–

Lengthiest Written Constitution- Presently it consists of 465 Articles, 25 Parts, 12 Schedules. Factors of large size- Vastness of country, diversity. Influence of GoI Act, 1935. Single Constitution for Centre & States. Dominance of lawyers. Structural part derived from
Secular State– No official religion of Indian State. Term ‘secular‘ added to Preamble by 42 AA. Western concept of Secularism- complete separation between religion and State. Indian Constitution embodies positive concept of secularism i.e. giving equal respect to all religions or protecting all religions equally.

CRITICISM–