Salient
Features of the Indian Constitution — Summary Notes
Overview
The Constitution of India — the longest
written Constitution in the world — is a unique blend of federalism,
flexibility, and democracy.
It reflects India’s
unity in diversity, ensuring justice,
liberty, equality, and fraternity for all citizens.
 
Key Features
1️⃣ Lengthiest Written Constitution
·        
Originally: 395
Articles, 22
Parts, 8
Schedules
·        
Now (2019): 470
Articles, 25
Parts, 12
Schedules
·        
Reasons for length: vast
geography, diversity, administrative detail, and influence of the 1935
Act.
 
2️⃣ Drawn from Various Sources

Source	Borrowed Features
Govt. of India Act, 1935	Federal scheme, Governor’s office, Judiciary, Emergency provisions
UK (British)	Parliamentary govt., Rule of law, Single citizenship
USA	Fundamental Rights, Judicial Review, Impeachment, Vice-President
Ireland	Directive Principles, President’s election, RS nomination
Canada	Strong Centre, Advisory jurisdiction of SC
Australia	Concurrent List, Freedom of trade, Joint sitting
Germany (Weimar)	Emergency rights suspension
USSR (Russia)	Fundamental Duties, Social justice ideals
France	Republic, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
South Africa	Constitutional amendment procedure, Rajya Sabha election
Japan	Procedure established by law

3️⃣ Blend of Rigidity and Flexibility
Ø  Rigid: Amendments
under Article
368 (Special majority + State ratification).
Ø  Flexible: Some
parts amendable by simple
majority (e.g. Schedule changes).
4️⃣ Federal System with Unitary Bias
Ø  Features: Dual govt., division of powers, written
Constitution, independent judiciary.
Ø  Article 1: India
= “Union
of States” (no right to secede).
Ø  Described as:
ü  “Quasi-federal” – K.C.
Wheare
ü  “Cooperative federalism” – Granville
Austin
ü  “Federation with centralising tendency” – Ivor
Jennings
5️⃣ Parliamentary Form of Government
·        
Based on British
model (Nominal & Real Executive).
·        
Features:
o    Collective responsibility
o    Majority rule
o    Leadership of PM/CM
o    Dissolution of lower house
·        
Difference: Indian
Parliament not
sovereign; India has an elected
President, not hereditary.
6️⃣ Synthesis of Parliamentary Sovereignty &
Judicial Supremacy
·        
Parliament can amend
the Constitution.
·        
Supreme Court can review
& strike down unconstitutional laws.
7️⃣ Integrated & Independent Judiciary
·        
Single system —
SC → HC → Subordinate courts.
·        
Ensures rule
of law, rights
protection, and constitutional
supremacy.
8️⃣ Fundamental Rights (Part III, Articles 12–35)

Category	Articles
Equality	14–18
Freedom	19–22
Against Exploitation	23–24
Religion	25–28
Cultural & Educational	29–30
Constitutional Remedies	32

 
9️⃣ Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV)
Ø  Not enforceable,
but fundamental
for governance.
Ø  Categories:Socialistic,Gandhian,Liberal-intellectual
🔟 Fundamental Duties (Part IV-A, Article 51A)
Ø  Added by 42nd
Amendment (1976); one more by 86th
Amendment (2002).
Ø  11 Duties —
remind citizens of responsibilities toward nation & society.
Ø  Non-justiciable.
Secular State
Ø  No official religion.
Ø  Equal protection to all religions — positive
secularism.
Universal Adult Franchise

Ø 
Every citizen 18+
years can vote (reduced from 21 → by 61st Amendment, 1988).
Ø 
Ensures political
equality.

Single Citizenship
Ø  Common citizenship for all Indians — promotes unity
& equality.
🏛️ Independent Constitutional Bodies
Ø  Election Commission (ECI) – free & fair elections.
Ø  CAG – audits
public accounts.
Ø  UPSC / SPSC –
recruitment & advice on civil services.
Emergency Provisions

Type	Article	Reason
National Emergency	352	War, External Aggression, Armed Rebellion
State Emergency	356 / 365	Failure of constitutional machinery
Financial Emergency	360	Financial instability

Three-Tier
Government
73rd Amendment (1992): Panchayats (Part IX, 11th Schedule),74th
Amendment (1992): Municipalities (Part IX-A, 12th Schedule),
Adds Local Self-Government to Indian democracy.
Co-operative Societies
Ø  97th Amendment (2011): Gave constitutional
status to cooperative societies.
 
Criticisms

Criticism	Rebuttal
Borrowed Constitution	Adapted to Indian needs.
Copy of 1935 Act	Extensively revised and expanded.
Un-Indian / Anti-Gandhian	Reflects Indian values.
Too lengthy	Necessary for diverse conditions.
Paradise of lawyers	Legal detail ensures clarity.

Conclusion
The Indian Constitution is a living
document — flexible yet firm, balancing rights with duties, and
federalism with unity.
It is the soul
of Indian democracy, continuously evolving with amendments and
judicial interpretation.