Abhijeet Pimparkar1. Introduction
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. The document lays down the framework that outlines the structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions in India. The constitution also sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens, among other things.
The It was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November 1949 and became effective on 26 January 1950. The constitution replaced the Government of India Act 1935 as the country’s fundamental governing document, and the Dominion of India became the Republic of India. To ensure constitutional autochthony, its framers repealed prior acts of the British parliament in Article 395. India celebrates its constitution on 26 January as Republic Day.
The original 1950 constitution is preserved in a nitrogen-filled case at the Parliament House in New Delhi.
2. Structure of the Indian Constitution
Before studying the Indian Constitution, it is important to have an overall idea about the structure of the constitution. The Indian Constitution is one of the longest written constitutions in the world, containing a preamble and numerous articles, divided into various parts. Here’s a brief overview of its structure:
Preamble: The preamble sets out the ideals and objectives of the constitution. It emphasizes justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity, among other principles.
Parts: The constitution is divided into various parts, each dealing with specific aspects of governance, rights, and institutions.
Articles: Each part contains several articles that elaborate on specific provisions, rights, duties, and powers. These articles range from fundamental rights and directive principles to provisions regarding the organization and functioning of various governmental bodies and institutions.
Following are the parts of Indian Constitution
| Part I: Union and its Territory | Part XI: Relations between the Union and the States |
| Part II: Citizenship | Part XII: Finance, Property, Contracts, and Suits |
| Part III: Fundamental Rights | Part XIII: Trade, Commerce and Intercourse within the Territory of India |
| Part IV: Directive Principles of State Policy | Part XIV: Services under the Union and the States |
| Part IV A: Fundamental Duties | Part XIV A: Tribunals |
| Part V: The Union | Part XV: Elections |
| Part VI: The States | Part XVI: Special Provisions Relating to Certain Classes |
| Part VII: States in the B Part of the First Schedule (Repealed by the 7th Amendment) | Part XVII: Official Language |
| Part VIII: The Union Territories | Part XVIII: Emergency Provisions |
| Part IX: The Panchayats | Part XIX: Miscellaneous |
| Part IX A: The Municipalities | Part XX: Amendment of the Constitution |
| Part IX B: The Co-operative Societies | Part XXI: Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions |
| Part X: The Scheduled and Tribal Areas | Part XXII: Short title, Commencement, Authoritative Text in Hindi and Repeals |
Schedules: Schedules are separate appendices that provide additional details, lists, and information that support and complement the provisions outlined in the main body of the constitution. These are included at the end of the constitution, following the last part (Part XXII). There are currently 12 schedules in the Indian Constitution dealing with various areas.
| Schedule No. | Deals With |
| 1 | List of states and union territories. |
| 2 | Salaries of top officials. |
| 3 | Oaths and affirmations. |
| 4 | Allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha. |
| 5 | Administration of tribal areas. |
| 6 | Administration of tribal areas in specific states. |
| 7 | Division of powers between central and state governments. |
| 8 | Official languages of India. |
| 9 | Protection for certain laws from judicial review. |
| 10 | Rules regarding defection of elected officials. |
| 11 | Powers and responsibilities of local village councils. |
| 12 | Powers and responsibilities of urban local bodies (municipalities) |
Amendments: The constitution provides for its own amendment to adapt to changing circumstances. The procedure for amendment is detailed in Article 368 (Part XX). When a constitution is amended, the original text of the constitution changes in accordance with the amendment. There is a separate section in this topics which deals with the amendment to the Indian Constitution.\
