Indian Constitution Salient Features, Making, Need

The Constitution is the fundamental law of a country which reflects the fundamental principles on which the government of that country is based.
It is the vehicle of a Nation’s progress.
More particularly, it is concerned with institutional fabric and the framework of the distribution of powers between the various organs of the government and between the Union and the States.
The concept of constitution was first originated in U.S.A.

The Need for a Constitution

All Democratic countries have a constitution that governs them.
A constitution puts down certain principles that form the basis of any kind of a state that we as citizens, desire to live in.
A constitution tells us the fundamental nature of our society.
A country is usually made up of different communities of people who have different beliefs; it will be helpful in fulfilling the beliefs of different segments of citizens.

The Constitution of India was framed by a Constituent Assembly set up under the Cabinet Mission Plan, 1946.
The Assembly consisted of 389 members representing:-

– Provinces (292),
– States (93),
– the Chief Commissioner’s provinces (3) and
– Baluchistan (1).

The Assembly held its first meeting on December 9, 1946.
Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha, the oldest member, was elected as the temporary President of the Assembly.
While the work was in progress, Dr. Sahchidananda Sinha died. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the President of the Assembly.
Similarly, both H.C. Mukherjee and V.T. Krishnamachari were elected as the Vice-Presidents of the Assembly.
The Assembly met for 11 sessions along with 166 days of meetings.
During the discussion, 2473 amendments were presented. Some of them were accepted.
The Assembly worked through various committees and the draft of the Constitution was prepared by the Drafting Committee under the chairmanship of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
He is recognised as the ‘Father of the Constitution of India’.
After the draft had been discussed by the people, the press, provincial assemblies and others, the Constitution was finally adopted on November 26, 1949, contained a Preamble, 22 parts, 395 Articles and 8 Schedules.
The drafted Constitution came into force on 26th January, 1950. This day is known as the Republic Day. It is being observed every year.

It is the lengthiest of all the written constitutions of the world.
It has borrowed most of its provisions from the constitutions of various countries.
It is partly rigid and partly flexible.
It establishes a federal system of government.
It establishes the parliamentary system not only at the Centre but also in the states.
It makes India as a secular state.
It provides an independent judiciary.
It introduces Universal Adult Franchise and accords the right to vote to all citizens above 18 years of age without any discrimination.
It provides single citizenship.
It makes special provisions for minorities, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, etc…