Salient Features and Sources
Main features
- Lengthiest written constitution in the world.
- Borrowed from many sources, but adapted to Indian needs.
- Blend of rigidity and flexibility. Some parts can be amended by a simple majority, some by a special majority, and some also need approval of half of the states.
- Federal system with a unitary bias. Art 1 calls India a "Union of States". Ambedkar called it an "indestructible Union of destructible States". Single citizenship, an integrated judiciary, all-India services, emergency powers and a Governor appointed by the Centre pull towards the Centre.
- Parliamentary form of government at both Centre and States. The real executive is the Council of Ministers, which is collectively responsible to the lower house.
- Synthesis of parliamentary sovereignty and judicial supremacy. Courts can test laws against the Constitution (judicial review), but Parliament can amend the Constitution.
- Fundamental Rights (Part III), Directive Principles (Part IV) and Fundamental Duties (Part IVA).
- Independent and integrated judiciary with the Supreme Court at the top.
- Secular state. No official religion, and equal respect for all faiths.
- Universal adult franchise from age 18 (61st Amendment, 1988).
- Single citizenship. There is no separate state citizenship.
- Independent bodies such as the Election Commission, CAG, UPSC and Finance Commission.
- Emergency provisions (national, state and financial).
- Three-tier government after the 73rd and 74th Amendments (Panchayats and Municipalities).
- Cooperative societies got constitutional status through the 97th Amendment (2011).
Sources of the Constitution
| Source | Features borrowed |
|---|---|
| Government of India Act, 1935 | Federal scheme, Governor's office, judiciary, public service commissions, emergency provisions, administrative details |
| United Kingdom | Parliamentary government, rule of law, single citizenship, cabinet system, prerogative writs, bicameralism, law-making procedure, Speaker |
| United States | Fundamental Rights, independence of judiciary, judicial review, impeachment of the President, removal of Supreme Court and High Court judges, post of Vice-President |
| Ireland | Directive Principles, nomination of Rajya Sabha members, method of electing the President |
| Canada | Federation with a strong Centre, residuary powers with the Centre, appointment of Governors by the Centre, advisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court |
| Australia | Concurrent List, freedom of trade and commerce, joint sitting of the two houses |
| Germany (Weimar) | Suspension of Fundamental Rights during an Emergency |
| USSR | Fundamental Duties, ideal of justice (social, economic, political) in the Preamble |
| France | Republic, ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity |
| South Africa | Procedure for amending the Constitution, election of Rajya Sabha members |
| Japan | "Procedure established by law" (Art 21) |
Read the full article: Salient Features of the Indian Constitution.
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Prepared for exam revision from the Constitution of India and standard sources. Office-holders and recent developments change, so check official sources before relying on them. Found a mistake? Tell us.