Indian Constitution,
By Irfan Sir GK Master Classes
1. Background
👉In 1934, M N Roy first proposed the idea of a
constituent assembly.
👉The demand was taken up by the Congress Party in
1935 as an official demand.
👉The British accepted this in the August Offer of 1940.
👉Under the Cabinet Mission plan of 1946, elections
were held for the formation of the constituent assembly.
👉The members of this assembly were elected indirectly
👉Initially, the number of members was 389.
After partition, some of the members went to Pakistan and
the number came down to 299
👉Dr Sachchidananda Sinha was the first temporary
chairman of the Constituent Assembly.
👉Later, Dr Rajendra Prasad was elected as the
President and its Vice President was Harendra Coomar
Mookerjee.
👉BN Rau was the constitutional advisor.
● The Constituent Assembly, which first met on
December 9, 1946, took precisely 2 years, 11
months, and 18 days to come up with the final draft.
● When the draft was prepared and put for debate and
discussion, over 2000 amendments were made,
before it was finalized.
● The drafting of the Constitution was finally complete
on 26th November 1949.
Drafting Committee Chairman: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
Adoption Date: November 26, 1949.
Enforcement Date: January 26, 1950.
Longest Written Constitution: It has 448 Articles
(originally 395), 25 Parts (originally 22), and 12 Schedules
(originally 8).
Sources of the Indian Constitution (Short Notes)
Source Of Indian Constitution
1. Government of India Act, 1935
Federal structure
Office of Governor
Public Service Commissions
Emergency provisions
2. British Constitution
Parliamentary system
Rule of law
Single citizenship
Bicameral legislature
Cabinet system
3. United States Constitution
Fundamental Rights
Independence of judiciary
Judicial review
Impeachment of the President
Removal of Supreme Court and High Court judges
4. Irish Constitution
Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)
Method of election for the President
Nomination of members to the Rajya Sabha
5. Canadian Constitution
Federal system with a strong central government
Residuary powers with the center
Appointment of Governors by the center
6. Australian Constitution
Concurrent list
Joint sitting of Parliament
Freedom of trade and commerce
7. French Constitution
Ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity
8. Soviet Constitution (USSR)
Fundamental Duties
Planning through Five-Year Plans
9. South African Constitution
Procedure for amending the Constitution
Election of members to the Rajya Sabha
10. Weimar Constitution of Germany
Suspension of Fundamental Rights during emergencies
2. Key Features
Preamble: Declares India as a Sovereign, Socialist,
Secular, Democratic Republic.
Values: Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.
Federal Structure with Unitary Bias: Division of
powers between the Union and States, with more
powers to the Union.
Parliamentary System: President is the nominal head;
Prime Minister is the real executive.
Fundamental Rights (Part III): Includes six rights
(originally seven), such as:
1. Right to Equality (Articles 14-18).
2. Right to Freedom (Articles 19-22).
3. Right against Exploitation (Articles 23-24).
4. Right to Freedom of Religion (Articles 25-28).
5. Cultural and Educational Rights (Articles 29-30).
6. Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32).
3. Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV)
Guidelines for governance; non-justiciable but
fundamental for policy-making.
Examples:
Equal pay for equal work (Article 39).
Promotion of international peace (Article 51).
4. Fundamental Duties (Part IVA)
Added by the 42nd Amendment (1976) under Article 51A.
Includes 11 duties, e.g., respecting the Constitution,
protecting the environment.
5. Amendment Procedure
Flexible and Rigid: Articles can be amended by:
Simple majority (e.g., Article 2, creation of states).
Special majority (e.g., Article 368, Fundamental Rights).
Special majority with state ratification (e.g., federal
structure changes).
6. Important Articles
1. Article 1: India as a Union of States.
2. Article 3: Formation of new states and alteration of
boundaries.
3. Article 14: Equality before the law.
4. Article 19: Six freedoms, including speech and
movement.
5. Article 21: Right to life and personal liberty.
6. Article 21A: Right to free and compulsory education
(6-14 years).
7. Article 32: Right to constitutional remedies (Heart and
Soul of the Constitution).
8. Article 44: Uniform Civil Code.
9. Article 51A: Fundamental duties of citizens.
10. Article 72: President’s power to grant pardons.
11. Article 280: Formation of the Finance Commission.
12. Article 300A: Right to property (not a Fundamental
Right).
13. Article 324: Powers of the Election Commission.
14. Article 343: Hindi as the official language of India.
15. Article 352: Proclamation of National Emergency.
16. Article 356: President's Rule in case of state failure.
17. Article 360: Financial Emergency.
18. Article 368: Procedure for amending the Constitution.
19. Article 370: Special status of Jammu & Kashmir
(abrogated in 2019).
20. Article 243G: Powers of Panchayats.
7. Schedules 12
1. First Schedule: Names and territories of States and
Union Territories.
2. Second Schedule: Salaries and allowances of
constitutional posts (President, Vice-President, Governors,
Judges, etc.).
3. Third Schedule: Oaths and affirmations for various
officials.
4. Fourth Schedule: Allocation of seats in the Rajya
Sabha.
5. Fifth Schedule: Provisions for administration of
Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes.
6. Sixth Schedule: Administration of tribal areas in
Northeast India (Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram).
7. Seventh Schedule: Division of powers between Union
and States (Union, State, Concurrent Lists).
8. Eighth Schedule: Recognized languages of India
(currently 22 languages).
9. Ninth Schedule: Laws protected from judicial review
(related to land reforms, etc.).
10. Tenth Schedule: Provisions related to anti-defection
laws.
11. Eleventh Schedule: Powers, authority, and
responsibilities of Panchayati Raj Institutions.
12. Twelfth Schedule: Powers and functions of
Municipalities.
Complete list of the 25 Parts of the Indian
Constitution:
1. Part I: Union and its Territory (Articles 1-4)
2. Part II: Citizenship (Articles 5-11)
3. Part III: Fundamental Rights (Articles 12-35)
4. Part IVA: Fundamental Duties (Article 51A)
5. Part V: Union Government (Articles 52-151)
6. Part VI: State Government (Articles 152-237)
7. Part VII: Deleted (Originally related to Part B states)
8. Part VIII: Union Territories (Articles 239-242)
9. Part IX: Panchayati Raj (Articles 243-243O)
10. Part IXA: Municipalities (Articles 243P-243ZG)
11. Part IXB: Co-operative Societies (Articles
243ZH-243ZT)
12. Part X: Scheduled and Tribal Areas (Articles
244-244A)
13. Part XI: Relations Between Union and States (Articles
245-263)
14. Part XII: Finance, Property, Contracts, and Suits
(Articles 264-300A)
15. Part XIII: Trade and Commerce (Articles 301-307)
16. Part XIV: Services Under the Union and States
(Articles 308-323)
17. Part XIVA: Tribunals (Articles 323A-323B)
18. Part XV: Elections (Articles 324-329A)
19. Part XVI: Special Provisions for Certain Classes
(Articles 330-342)
20. Part XVII: Official Language (Articles 343-351)
21. Part XVIII: Emergency Provisions (Articles 352-360)
22. Part XIX: Miscellaneous Provisions (Articles 361-367)
23. Part XX: Amendment of the Constitution (Article 368)
24. Part XXI: Temporary, Transitional, and Special
Provisions (Articles 369-392)
25. Part XXII: Short Title, Commencement, Authoritative
Text (Articles 393-395)
Important Amendments
1st Amendment (1951): Land reforms, restrictions on
freedom of speech.
42nd Amendment (1976): Mini-Constitution; added
Socialist, Secular to the Preamble.
44th Amendment (1978): Restored judicial review and
curtailed emergency powers.
73rd & 74th Amendments (1992): Strengthened
Panchayati Raj and urban local governance.
9. Emergency Provisions
National Emergency (Article 352): War, external
aggression, or armed rebellion.
State Emergency (Article 356): Failure of constitutional
machinery in states.
Financial Emergency (Article 360): Threat to India's
financial stability.
Important Personlties
1. First President of India:
Dr. Rajendra Prasad (1950-1962).
2. First Vice-President of India: Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
(1952-1962).
3. First Prime Minister of India: Jawaharlal Nehru
(1947-1964).
4. First Chief Justice of India:
Harilal J. Kania (1950-1951).
5. First Attorney General of India: M.C. Setalvad
(1950-1963).
6. First Speaker of Lok Sabha: G.V. Mavalankar
(1952-1956).
7. First Woman Governor of India: Sarojini Naidu (Uttar
Pradesh, 1947-1949).
8. First Woman Chief Minister: Sucheta Kripalani (Uttar
Pradesh, 1963-1967).
9. First Woman President of India: Pratibha Patil
(2007-2012).
10. First Woman Judge of Supreme Court: Justice
Fathima Beevi (1989).
11. First Woman Speaker of Lok Sabha: Meira Kumar
(2009-2014).
12. First Constitutional Amendment Act: 1951 (Land
reforms and restrictions on free speech).
13. First State to be formed on linguistic basis: Andhra
Pradesh (1953).
14. First Election Commissioner of India: Sukumar Sen
(1950-1958).
15. First Finance Commission Chairman: K.C. Neogy
(1951).
16. First Amendment to Fundamental Rights: Added
Right to Education under Article 21A (2002).
17. First Woman to Preside over Rajya Sabha: Violet Alva
(1957).
30 MCQs on the Indian Constitution:
By Irfan Sir GK Master Classes
1. Who is known as the Father of the Indian
Constitution?
A. Mahatma Gandhi
B. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
C. Jawaharlal Nehru
D. Sardar Patel
Answer: B
2. When was the Constitution of India adopted?
A. 15th August 1947
B. 26th January 1950
C. 26th November 1949
D. 26th November 1950
Answer: C
3. How many Articles were there originally in the
Indian Constitution?
A. 448
B. 395
C. 367
D. 420
Answer: B
4. Which part of the Constitution contains
Fundamental Rights?
A. Part I
B. Part II
C. Part III
D. Part IV
Answer: C
5. The word "Secular" was added to the Preamble by
which Amendment?
A. 42nd Amendment
B. 44th Amendment
C. 52nd Amendment
D. 73rd Amendment
Answer: A
6. Which Article provides the Right to Constitutional
Remedies?
A. Article 14
B. Article 21
C. Article 19
D. Article 32
Answer: D
7. The idea of the Directive Principles of State Policy
(DPSP) was borrowed from which country?
A. USA
B. Ireland
C. Canada
D. Japan
Answer: B
8. Who was the first President of India?
A. Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
B. Dr. Rajendra Prasad
C. Jawaharlal Nehru
D. C. Rajagopalachari
Answer: B
9. Which Schedule deals with Anti-Defection Laws?
A. Ninth
B. Tenth
C. Eleventh
D. Twelfth
Answer: B
10. Which Article deals with Emergency Provisions?
A. Article 352-360
B. Article 368
C. Article 370
D. Article 356
Answer: A
11. How many languages are recognized in the Eighth
Schedule?
A. 18
B. 22
C. 15
D. 24
Answer: B
12. Which part of the Constitution deals with
Fundamental Duties?
A. Part III
B. Part IV
C. Part IVA
D. Part V
Answer: C
13. Which Article declares India as a Union of States?
A. Article 1
B. Article 2
C. Article 3
D. Article 4
Answer: A
14. Panchayati Raj was introduced under which
Amendment?
A. 42nd Amendment
B. 44th Amendment
C. 73rd Amendment
D. 52nd Amendment
Answer: C
15. The term "Socialist" was added to the Preamble by
which Amendment?
A. 44th Amendment
B. 42nd Amendment
C. 52nd Amendment
D. 73rd Amendment
Answer: B
16. How many Fundamental Duties are listed in the
Constitution?
A. 10
B. 11
C. 9
D. 12
Answer: B
17. Which Article provides the Right to Freedom of
Religion?
A. Articles 19-22
B. Articles 23-24
C. Articles 25-28
D. Articles 29-30
Answer: C
18. The concept of Judicial Review in India is
borrowed from which country?
A. USA
B. UK
C. Canada
D. Ireland
Answer: A
19. Which body has the authority to interpret the
Constitution?
A. Parliament
B. Supreme Court
C. President
D. Prime Minister
Answer: B
20. The Finance Commission is constituted under
which Article?
A. Article 280
B. Article 370
C. Article 324
D. Article 360
Answer: A
21. Which Article deals with the abolition of
untouchability?
A. Article 15
B. Article 17
C. Article 19
D. Article 21
Answer: B
22. Which Schedule of the Constitution deals with the
allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha?
A. Second Schedule
B. Fourth Schedule
C. Fifth Schedule
D. Sixth Schedule
Answer: B
23. Which Article allows Parliament to amend the
Constitution?
A. Article 352
B. Article 368
C. Article 370
D. Article 324
Answer: B
24. The concept of a Concurrent List in the Indian
Constitution was borrowed from which country?
A. UK
B. Canada
C. Australia
D. USA
Answer: C
25. Who appoints the Chief Justice of India?
A. Parliament
B. President
C. Prime Minister
D. Governor
Answer: B
26. Which Article provides special status to Jammu
and Kashmir (before abrogation)?
A. Article 356
B. Article 370
C. Article 371
D. Article 360
Answer: B
27. The division of powers between the Union and
State Governments is specified in which Schedule?
A. Fifth Schedule
B. Sixth Schedule
C. Seventh Schedule
D. Eighth Schedule
Answer: C
28. The idea of a Constitutional Assembly was
proposed by whom?
A. Mahatma Gandhi
B. Jawaharlal Nehru
C. M.N. Roy
D. Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Answer: C
29. The President’s Rule is imposed under which
Article?
A. Article 356
B. Article 360
C. Article 352
D. Article 370
Answer: A
30. How many parts were there in the original
Constitution?
A. 25
B. 22
C. 24
D. 26
Answer: B
By Irfan Sir GK Master Classes
