What is Constitution, Who is the father of indian constitution
Constitution is a document that puts forward the main rules and principles to be considered necessary for running a country. It sets down the power and duties of the government and safeguards the rights of the citizens too. The Indian Constitution came into existence on 26th January 1950, and it is also known to be the world’s longest written constitution. Originally, there were 395 articles and 8 schedules. In the whole, there were about 145,000 words, What is Constitution, Who is the father of indian constitution.
The Constitution of India was mainly designed to create a just and democratic society. It maintains the balance of power among the three branches of the government, namely the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary, so that no single branch of the government becomes too powerful. It also provides rights to citizens, such as the right to freedom, equality, and religious freedom, to ensure their protection, What is Constitution, Who is the father of indian constitution.
The constitution is divided into different parts, and articles regarding various topics. These not only determine the framework of the government but also provide guidelines to ensure equality and justice in society. The process of amending the constitution is not an easy task and requires a special majority.
The history of India’s constitution is linked to a long process. It was drafted by the Constituent Assembly, formed through the Cabinet Mission of 1946. The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly was held on 9th December 1946, with 299 members, What is Constitution, Who is the father of indian constitution.
On 29th August 1947, a drafting committee was constituted and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was elected the chairman. Three years passed during which this committee wrote the draft constitution. After these three years of hard work and labor, this constitution was passed on 26th November 1949, to be put in effect on 26th January 1950.
What are the major functions of the Constitution
The major functions of the constitution are very important to run the country’s politics and society smoothly.
- Supremacy of the Constitution: The Indian Constitution is the supreme law, applicable to all citizens and government institutions. It ensures that all laws are in accordance with the constitution, thereby maintaining the rule of justice.
- Protection of Citizens’ Rights: It grants fundamental rights to the citizens, like freedom, equality and religious freedom. These rights facilitate an individual’s full enjoyment of his or her rights and guarantee protection from any kind of discrimination.
- The Constitution distributes power amicably to the three wings of governance-the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary. It enforces the institution of Parliament- consisting of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha-to provide with checks and balance and answerability.
- Directive Principles of State Policy: It outlines the instructions through which the government must execute its functions and try to better the nation along the lines of social and economic justice.
- Respect for National Unity and Diversity: The Indian Constitution acknowledges the country’s cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity. It promotes a sense of unity and brotherhood among all citizens.
- Adaptability: The constitution allows changes over time so that it remains relevant to the evolving society. This flexibility keeps the constitution suitable at all times.
Why is the Constitution important
The constitution is very imperative for any country, as it defines the political and legal framework for the nation. It explains the structure, functions, and powers of the government as well as the rights and duties of citizens. The primary purpose of the constitution is to ensure political stability and justice in society.
The constitution, therefore, sets up a legal framework that will ensure all work conducted by the government is based on the law. This ensures no one – either a government official or citizen – is placed above the law. The constitution guarantees the core rights of the citizens, which include freedom of speech and freedom of religion. All rights will be fully protected. In addition, the constitution upholds democratic principles, such as universal suffrage, which allows citizens to vote in elections. It recognizes the diversity of different social groups and fosters national unity, Why is the Constitution important.
The constitution also has the very important quality of adaptability. It is amendable in the light of changing social needs, thus keeping the constitution up to date at all times. In this way, a constitution is not just a collection of laws, but it reflects the existing values and ideals of society.
How many constitutions are there in India
The Constitution of India has divided at present into 25 parts. Its initial number is 22 that had grown, through amendment up to three because the constitution had then 470 articles and 12 schedules. From the structure point, it indicates about the intricateness of that document.
Different parts of the constitution include various subjects, such as:
- Part I: The Union and its Territory (Articles 1 to 4)
- Part II: Citizenship (Articles 5 to 11)
- Part III: Fundamental Rights (Articles 12 to 35)
- Part IV: Directive Principles of State Policy (Articles 36 to 51)
- Part IV-A: Fundamental Duties (Article 51A)
- Part V: The Union Government (Articles 52 to 151)
- Part VI: State Governments (Articles 152 to 237)
- Part IX: Panchayats (Articles 243 to 243-O)
- Part IX-A: Municipalities (Articles 243-P to 243-ZG)
This structure gives a basis for India’s political system and its citizens’ rights. The Indian Constitution is the world’s longest constitution in writing with a comprehensive outline of the functioning of the country and definitions of citizens’ rights, How many constitutions are there in India.
Why is the Constitution amended
Amendments are brought about in the constitution so that it can remain up-to-date with changing times and circumstances. The Indian Constitution also allows for amendment under Article 368, granting the Parliament powers to amend the constitution. There is a need to keep the constitution relevant enough to address the needs and challenges of the modern era.
There are a variety of amendments to the constitution that include:
- Social Changes: Society evolves, bringing new demands for rights or social justice. For example, the demand for rights by the LGBT community created a need for amendments in the constitution.
- Political and Legal Needs: Amending the constitution can make governance and laws more effective. For instance, the 73rd and 74th amendments empowered local governments. The changes should be made according to international law changes and should also not be inconsistent with international law, so that India can fulfill its international commitments.
The process of amending the constitution is a bit cumbersome and requires the assent of both houses of Parliament. Some amendments also require the concurrence of state legislatures. In this way, all amendments are brought with the consensus of a vast majority with minimum damage to the basic features of the constitution, Why is the Constitution amended.
How the constitution protects citizen’s rights
The Fundamental Rights provided by the Indian Constitution make it possible to understand how the Constitution protects citizens’ rights. The Constitution of India grants citizens some basic rights which the state cannot take away. These rights are mentioned in Part III (Articles 12 to 35) of the Constitution and are called “Fundamental Rights.”
Some major categories of Fundamental Rights:
- Right to Equality: Articles 14 to 18 ensure that everybody is treated equally before the law and that there is no discrimination against anyone.
- Right to Freedom: Articles 19 to 22 include freedom of expression, the right to form associations, and personal liberty.
- Right against Exploitation: Articles 23 and 24 prohibit human trafficking and child labor.
- Right to Freedom of Religion, Culture, and Education: Articles 25 to 28 give the right to adopt any religion and maintain one’s culture.
- Right to Constitutional Remedies: According to Article 32, if Fundamental Rights are violated by anyone, he or she can go directly to the Supreme Court for redressal.
These Fundamental Rights provided by the Constitution ensure not only personal freedom but also protection of citizens from arbitrary policies of the state. If anyone’s Fundamental Rights are violated, he or she can approach the Supreme Court directly for justice. In this way, the Indian Constitution plays a very crucial role in protecting the rights of citizens and helps safeguard democracy and human rights, How the constitution protects citizen’s rights.
What is the constitution and what is law
The prime difference between constitution and laws is form, purpose, as well as implications.
Constitution- The Constitution stands as the most influential and superior rule of a state. It portrays the governmental body structure, authorities, and citizen’s rights. Basically, it is the collection of major principles that dictate on how the nation will be administered. In relation to the foregoing, the constitution includes fundamental rights of citizens, duties, and the directive principles of state policy, limitations on the government’s powers preventing the misuse of authority, as well as very long procedures for amendments or changes of the constitution itself.
Laws: Laws are the rules formed to maintain society. These laws may be of criminal, civil, or administrative. The prime objective of law is that it regulates the citizen’s conduct and brings peace to the society. The government has formed laws that are subordinate to the Constitution. So no law goes against the Constitution, What is Constitution, Who is the father of indian constitution.
FAQs
Who was the creator of the Indian Constitution
The author of the Indian Constitution was Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, known as the “Father of the Constitution.” He headed the drafting committee and was instrumental in the preparation of the Constitution. Ambedkar included provisions for equality and justice for all citizens.
When was the Indian Constitution adopted
The Indian Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950, which is celebrated as Republic Day. On this day, India declared itself a sovereign and democratic republic. Before this, the Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949.
How long did it take to prepare the Constitution
It took around 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days to prepare the Indian Constitution. The Constituent Assembly conducted a total of 165 meetings; however, 114 days were spent discussing the Constitution. The whole process began on December 9, 1946, and finally ended on November 26, 1949.
Where was the Constitution written
The Indian Constitution was drafted in Constitution Hall, New Delhi. This was also the venue of the first sitting of the Constituent Assembly. All discussions related to various sections of the Constitution were held here. Today, it is still a very important symbol of Indian democracy, What is Constitution, Who is the father of indian constitution.