What is a constitution and why do we need one
In a kabaddi match the referee consults the rulebook and both teams accept it; a country has a rulebook too.
A constitution is a document laying out a nation's basic principles and laws. It sets out the framework and roles of the three organs (legislature, executive, judiciary), checks and balances among them, citizens' rights and duties and the nation's long-term goals.
Key points
- The Constitution came into effect on 26 January 1950, hence Republic Day. The original is kept in a helium-filled glass case in Parliament; helium does not react with paper or ink.
- The President swears to preserve, protect and defend it; the PM, ministers and judges promise to follow it. It has 25 parts and 12 schedules (22 parts and 8 schedules at the start); the world's largest written constitution.
- The Constitution states values such as equality, justice, fraternity, pluralism and freedom; laws rest on these values.
- Easy : When did it come into effect? → 26 January 1950.
- Medium : Original kept in? → Helium-filled glass case.
- Exam-type : What if there were no rulebook?
Constitution = a country's rulebook.
The Constitution is not only laws; it also states values and goals.
Constitution has organs, rights, goals. Memory clue : 'Organs-Rights-Goals' = what a constitution holds.
Spot the difference
| Point | Game rulebook | Constitution of a country |
|---|---|---|
| Use | Settle disputes | Run the government, rights and duties |
| Who follows | All players | All officials and citizens |
| Result | Fair play | Fair governance |
Practice questions
- 1What is a constitution?
- 2What does a constitution lay out? Write four points.
- 3Why do we need a constitution?
- 4When and why is Republic Day celebrated?
- 5Why is helium used?
- 6Who take an oath for the Constitution?
- 7What are checks and balances?
- 8Cause–result: what if all do not accept the rulebook?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1A document of a nation's basic principles and laws
- 2Three organs, checks and balances, rights and duties, long-term goals
- 3To settle disputes and give limits and direction to government
- 4The Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950
- 5Helium does not react with paper or ink
- 6President, PM, ministers, judges
- 7Organs check and balance each other
- 8Disputes and confusion would grow
How the Constitution was written
A class asks everyone before deciding a rule; the Constituent Assembly likewise had representatives from many regions.
While India struggled for freedom, plans for self-governance were needed: what government, rules, who votes, how to settle disputes? The Constituent Assembly was formed in 1946, initially with 389 members (299 after Partition), including 15 women, elected by provincial legislative assemblies.
Key points
- The Assembly formed on 9 December 1946, chaired by Dr Rajendra Prasad; took almost three years; the Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950.
- The initial text was prepared by the Drafting Committee chaired by Dr B. R. Ambedkar, a social reformer and first Law and Justice Minister of independent India.
- Since members represented diverse regions, professions and groups, many voices shaped the text.
- Easy : Chairman of the Constituent Assembly? → Dr Rajendra Prasad.
- Medium : Chair of Drafting Committee? → Dr Ambedkar.
- Exam-type : Why was diversity in the Assembly important?
What happened before? At 11 a.m. on Monday, 9 December 1946, the Constituent Assembly met for the first time in the Constitution Hall in Delhi (today the Central Hall of Parliament). Acharya Kripalani invited the oldest member, Dr Sachchidananda Sinha, to take the chair as temporary Chairman. The Muslim League boycotted the meeting. Two days later, on 11 December, Rajendra Prasad was elected permanent President.
What happened next? The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 but came fully into force on 26 January 1950. The draft left the date blank; a Drafting Committee member proposed 26 January 1950, and it was approved on 17 October 1949. The date is believed to have been chosen to remember the Purna Swaraj declaration of 26 January 1930.
1946 formed; 1949 adopted; 1950 in force.
Do not think Ambedkar chaired the Assembly; he chaired the Drafting Committee.
'46-49-50': formed, adopted, in force. Memory clue : '46-49-50' = three years.
Spot the difference
| Point | Constituent Assembly | Drafting Committee |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Dr Rajendra Prasad | Dr B. R. Ambedkar |
| Work | Develop the Constitution | Prepare the initial text |
| Date | Formed 9 Dec 1946 | Constitution adopted 26 Nov 1949 |
Practice questions
- 1How and when was the Constituent Assembly formed?
- 2State the details of the membership.
- 3Write Dr Ambedkar's role.
- 4How long did it take to write the Constitution?
- 5Significance of 26 Nov 1949 and 26 Jan 1950?
- 6Name sources to find members from your region.
- 7Describe how Assembly members were chosen.
- 8Cause–result: why did membership fall after Partition?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1In 1946; members elected by provincial assemblies
- 2389, 299 after Partition; 15 women
- 3Chaired the committee that drafted the initial text; first Law minister
- 4Almost three years
- 5Adopted; came into force
- 6School/library, teachers, elders, Parliament website
- 7Elected by provincial assemblies
- 8Partition took some regions outside India
What shaped the Constitution: freedom struggle, heritage, world experience
At home we shape our rules from grandparents' experience, school norms and friends' ideas; the framers did likewise.
The Constitution was written by the Assembly, but three influences shaped it: 1) the experience and ideals of the freedom movement; 2) India's civilisational heritage; 3) useful lessons from other countries' constitutions.
Key points
- Many freedom-movement leaders were Assembly members; ideals such as equality, justice, freedom, fraternity and preserving cultural heritage came from it, and answers to 'how' questions: universal vote, amendment process, separation of powers, Centre-State relations, guarantees of fundamental rights.
- Civilisational heritage: accepting different views, Nature as sacred, pursuit of learning, respect for women, vasudhaiva kutumbakam, sarve bhavantu sukhinah; janapadas, sanghas, councils, Kauṭilya's saptānga and rājadharma stressed people's duties; hence Fundamental Duties are in the Constitution.
- In the spirit of 'Let noble thoughts come from every side' the framers studied the constitutions of France, USA, UK, Ireland, Australia: 'liberty, equality, fraternity' from France (from the 1789 revolution), Directive Principles inspired by Ireland, and an independent judiciary shaped by the US Constitution.
- Easy : Liberty-equality-fraternity from? → France.
- Medium : Inspiration for DPSP? → Ireland.
- Exam-type : Why are Fundamental Duties in the Constitution?
Three influences: struggle, heritage, world.
Do not think it is a foreign copy; the main base is Indian experience and heritage.
Struggle-Heritage-World = 'La-Vā-Ja'. Memory clue : 'La-Vā-Ja': struggle, heritage, world.
Spot the difference
| Point | Source | What was taken |
|---|---|---|
| Freedom movement | India | Equality, justice, freedom, fraternity, universal franchise |
| Civilisation | India | Diverse views, respect for Nature, duty, vasudhaiva kutumbakam |
| Other countries | France/Ireland/USA | Liberty-equality-fraternity / directive principles / independent judiciary |
Practice questions
- 1State three influences on the Constitution.
- 2Which freedom-struggle ideals are in the Constitution?
- 3Which ideas of Indian civilisation appear in it?
- 4What was taken from other countries? Give examples.
- 5Why did Fundamental Duties get importance?
- 6How is the French Revolution related?
- 7Explain the meaning and use of 'ā no bhadrāḥ…'.
- 8Cause–result: what happened because leaders were Assembly members?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Freedom struggle, Indian civilisation, world experience
- 2Equality, justice, freedom, fraternity
- 3Diverse views, respect for Nature, learning, vasudhaiva kutumbakam
- 4France: liberty-equality-fraternity; Ireland: directive principles; USA: independent judiciary
- 5Indian tradition stressed citizens' duties
- 6Liberty-equality-fraternity came from there
- 7Take good ideas from everywhere
- 8The struggle's experience and ideals entered the Constitution
Key features: rights, duties, directive principles
In school, attendance and uniform are duties and every child has the right to learn; the Constitution too has both rights and duties.
The Constitution defines the roles of three organs, the three-tier government (Centre, State, local – Panchayati Raj) and the electoral system. Other core parts: Fundamental Rights (e.g. equality, freedom, against exploitation, education), Fundamental Duties, Directive Principles of State Policy.
Key features: rights, duties, directive principles
In the app you can move this figure with your finger.
Open in the appKey points
- Fundamental Rights can be demanded; if violated one can go to court. Directive Principles are goals for the government (e.g. good living standards, nutrition-health, environment, protecting monuments); one cannot sue if unmet; they are guidelines. The framers deliberately kept both.
- A living document: changes are amendments; debated in Parliament, some also in state assemblies. Examples: Part IV-A Fundamental Duties in 1976; Panchayati Raj in 1992 (73rd Amendment). In 2004, after a citizen's challenge, the Supreme Court held flying the national flag is part of freedom of expression.
- Handwritten by calligrapher Prem Behari Narain Raizada; Nandalal Bose and his team illustrated it with scenes from Mohenjo-daro to the freedom movement.
- Easy : Can you go to court for DPSP? → No.
- Medium : When did Panchayati Raj enter? → 1992, 73rd Amendment.
- Exam-type : Why is it a 'living document'?
Rights = enforceable; DPSP = goals.
Do not call DPSP meaningless; they set the government's direction.
Rights = court; principles = compass. Memory clue : 'Rights = court, principles = compass'.
Spot the difference
| Point | Fundamental Rights | Directive Principles (DPSP) |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Promises that must be kept | Guiding goals |
| Go to court | Yes | No |
| Examples | Art. 14 (equality before law), 21-A (education) | Art. 38, 41, 47, 48-A, 49 |
Practice questions
- 1Differentiate Fundamental Rights and DPSP.
- 2Give three Fundamental Duties.
- 3What is an amendment? Give one example.
- 4What changed in 2004 about the flag?
- 5Give the reason for keeping both rights and DPSP.
- 6What is the three-tier system?
- 7What is the artistic feature of the Constitution?
- 8Cause–result: why can't the Constitution be unchangeable?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Rights are enforceable in court; DPSP are guiding goals
- 2Abide by the Constitution, defend the country, preserve composite culture, protect environment
- 3A change; e.g. 1976 Fundamental Duties
- 4Flying the flag became part of freedom of expression
- 5Some things are needed immediately; some goals take time
- 6Centre, State, local
- 7Handwritten; illustrated by Nandalal Bose
- 8New needs and laws emerge
The Preamble: values of the Constitution
Pupils recite the morning prayer together; the Preamble likewise states the essence of the Constitution.
The Preamble begins 'We, the people of India': the Constitution was drawn up by the people through representatives, not handed down by a king or outside power. Key words: sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic, republic, justice, liberty, equality, fraternity.
Key points
- Sovereign: people have the supreme right to decide internal and external matters. Republic: elected head. Democratic: people elect rulers and hold them accountable.
- Justice: no discrimination by caste, religion, gender; reduce inequalities. Liberty: no unreasonable limits on thought, expression, action. Equality: all equal before law; equal opportunity. Fraternity: behave as members of one family; none inferior.
- Socialist: wealth is generated socially and shared; ownership of land and industry regulated. Secular: no official religion; equal respect to all. 'Socialist', 'Secular', 'Integrity' were added by the 42nd Amendment in 1976.
- Easy : How does the Preamble begin? → 'We, the people of India'.
- Medium : Secular? → No official religion, equal respect to all.
- Exam-type : Give an everyday example of fraternity.
Sovereign = independent decisions; republic = elected head.
Do not think the Preamble is outside the Constitution; it states its values.
Nyā-Svā-Sa-Bandhu: justice, liberty, equality, fraternity. Memory clue : 'Nyā-Svā-Sa-Bandhu' = four values.
Spot the difference
| Point | Sovereign / Republic | Secular / Socialist |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | No outside power dictates / elected head | No official religion / wealth shared by society |
| Example | President is elected | Equal respect to all faiths |
| Added | Original | 'Socialist', 'Secular', 'Integrity' added in 1976 (42nd Amendment) |
Practice questions
- 1What is the Preamble?
- 2Explain 'We, the people of India'.
- 3Write the meanings of sovereign and republic.
- 4Explain justice, liberty, equality, fraternity.
- 5What do secular and socialist mean?
- 6Which words were added in 1976?
- 7Give daily-life examples of two Preamble values.
- 8Cause–result: what if all were not equal before law?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1The essence of the Constitution's values
- 2The people made it via representatives; not handed by a king
- 3Sovereign: no outside power dictates; republic: elected head
- 4No discrimination; no unreasonable limits; equal; like one family
- 5No official religion; wealth shared by society
- 6Socialist, secular, integrity
- 7E.g. village well open to all; equal schooling
- 8Inequality and injustice would grow