The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. It is a living document, the permanent instrument which makes the government system work.
It lays down the framework defining fundamental political principles,
establishes the structure, procedures, powers and duties of government
institutions and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles
and the duties of citizens. It is the longest written constitution of
any sovereign country in the world. The nation is governed on the basis
of this Constitution. Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar is regarded as the chief architect of the Indian Constitution
The constitution of India imparts constitutional supremacy and not parliamentary supremacy
as it is not created by the Parliament but created by a constituent
assembly and adopted by its people with a declaration in the preamble to the constitution. Parliament cannot override the constitution.
The Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949, and came into effect on 26 January 1950. The date of 26 January was chosen to commemorate the Purna Swaraj declaration of independence of 1930. With its adoption, the Union of India officially became the modern and contemporary Republic of India and it replaced the Government of India Act 1935 as the country's fundamental governing document. To ensure constitutional autochthony, the framers of constitution repealed the prior Acts of the British Parliament via the Article 395 of the constitution. India celebrates the coming into force of the constitution on 26 January each year as Republic Day.
The Constitution declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, democraticrepublic, assuring its citizens of justice, equality, and liberty, and endeavors to promote fraternity among them.
PART 1: THE UNION AND ITS TERRITORY
Article 1 - Name and Territory of the Union
Article 2 – admission or establishment of new States
Article 3 – Alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing
states
Article 4 – Provide amendment of 1st and 4th Schedules
and supplemental, incidental and consequential matters
PART 2: CITIZENSHIP
Article 5 – citizenship at the commencement of the
Constitution
Article 6 – Rights of certain persons who have migrated from
Pakistan
Article 7 – rights of citizenship of migrants to Pakistan
Article 8 – rights of Indian origin people who reside outside
India
Article 9 – persons voluntarily acquiring citizenship of a foreign
state not to be citizens
Article 10 - continuance of the rights of citizenship
Article 11 – parliament to regulate the right of citizenship by
law
PART 3: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
General
Article 12 – definition
Article 13 – laws inconsistent with or in derogation of the
fundamental rights
Right to Equality
Article 14 - Relates to Right to Equality
Article 15 – prohibition of discrimination of religion, race,
caste, sex or place of birth
Article 16 – equality of opportunity in matters of public
employment
Article 17 - Abolishes the practice of un-touch ability
Article 18 – abolition of titles
Right to Freedom
Article 19 - Deals with six freedoms of Indian citizens namely,
(a) Right to freedom of speech and expression
(b) Right to assemble peacefully and without arms
(c) Right to form associations or unions
(d) Right to move freely throughout the territory of India
(e) Right to reside and settle in any part of the territory of
India
(f) Right to practice any profession or to carry on any
occupation, trade, and business
Article 20 – protection in respect of conviction for offenses
Article 21 - Provides protection to life and liberty to all
persons
Article 21A - Right to elementary education
Article 22 - Affords protection against arbitrary arrest &
detention
Right against Exploitation
Article 23 - Prohibits the traffic in human beings and beggars
Article 24 - Prohibits the employment of children below 14 years
Right to Freedom of Religion
Articles 25 – freedom of conscience and free profession, practice
and propagation of religion
Article 26 – freedom to manage religious affairs
Article 27 – freedom as to payment of taxes for promotion of any
particular religion
Article 28 – freedom as to attendance at religious worship in
certain educational institutions
Cultural and Educational Rights
Article 29 – protection of interests of minorities
Article 30 – right of minorities to establish and administer
educational institutions
Right to Constitutional Remedies
Article 32 – remedies for enforcement of rights conferred by this
part
PART 4: DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY
Article 36 – definition
Article 37 – application of the principles contained in this part
Article 39A – equal justice and free legal aid
Article 40 - Deals with the formation of Panchayats
Article 41 – right to work, to education and to public assistance
in certain cases
Article 43 – living wage for workers
Article 43A – participation of workers in management of industries
Article 44 - Uniform Civil Code for the Citizens
Article 45 - Free and compulsory education to all children below
14 years of age
Article 46 – promotion of educational and economic interests of
SCs, STs and other weaker section
Article 47 – duty of the state to raise the level of nutrition and
the standard of living and to improve public health
Article 48 – organization of agriculture and animal husbandry
Article 49 – protection of monuments and places and objects of
national importance
Article 50 - Separation of Judiciary
Article 51 - Promotion of International peace & security
PART 4A: FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES
Article 51(A) - Relates to list of Fundamental Duties
PART 5: THE UNION
Chapter 1: The Executive
The President and Vice President
Article 52 – the President of India
Article 53 – executive power of the Union
Article 54 – election of President
Article 61 – procedure for impeachment of the President
Article 63 – the Vice President of India
Article 64 – the Vice President to be ex official chairman of the
Council of States
Article 66 – election of Vice President
Article 72 – power of President to grant pardons
Council of Ministers
Article 74 - Council of Ministers to aid and advice the President
Attorney General of India
Article 76 – Attorney General for India
Chapter II: Parliament
Article 79 – constitution of Parliament
Article80 – composition of the council of states
Article 81 – composition of the House of the people
Article 83 – duration of Houses of Parliament
Offices of Parliament
Article 93 – the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of the
People
Disqualification of Members
Article 105 – powers of the Houses of Parliament and of the
members and committees
Legislative procedures
Article 109 – special procedure in respect of money bills
Article 110 - Definition of Money Bills
Procedure in Financial Matters
Article 112 - Annual Financial Statement (Budget)
Article 114 – appropriation of Bills
Chapter III: Legislative Powers of the President
Article 123 – Power of President to promulgate Ordinances during
recess of Parliament
Chapter IV: The Union Judiciary
Article 124 – establishment and constitution of Supreme Court
Article 125 – Salaries of judges
Article 126 – appointment of acting Chief Justice
Article 127 – Appointment of ad hoc Judges
Article 128 – attendance of retired judges at sittings of the
Supreme Court
Article 129 – Supreme Court to be a court of record
Article 130 – Seat of Supreme Court
Article 136 – special leave to appeal by Supreme Court
Article 137 – review of judgments of orders by the Supreme Court
Article 141 – Law declared by Supreme Court to be binding on all
courts
Chapter V: Comptroller and Auditor General of India
Article 148 – Comptroller and Auditor General of India
Article 149 – Duties and powers of the Comptroller and Auditor
General
PART 6: THE STATES
Chapter II: The Executive
The Governor
Article 153 – Governors of States
Article 154 – Executive power of State
Article 161 – power of Governor to grant pardons
Council of Ministers
Article 165 – Advocate General for the state
Chapter IV: Legislative Power of the Governor
Article 213 – power of Governor to promulgate Ordinances during
recess of Legislature
Article 214 – High courts for States
Article 215 – High Courts to be courts of record
Article 226 – power of High Courts to issue certain writs
Chapter VI: Subordinate Courts
Article 233 – appointment of district judges
Article 235 – Control over subordinate courts
PART 8: THE UNION TERRITORIES
Article 239 – administration of Union Territories
Article 240 – power of President to make regulations for certain
Union Territories
Article 241 – High courts for Union Territories
Article 242 – repeated
PART 9: THE PANCHAYATS
Article 243A – Gram Sabha
Article 243B – constitution of Panchayats
PART 9A: THE MUNICIPALITIES
Article 243P – definitions
Article 243ZG – Bar to interference by Courts in electoral matters
PART 10: THE SCHEDULED AND TRIBAL AREAS
Article 244 – Administration of Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas
PART 11: RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNION AND THE STATES
Chapter I: Legislative Relations
Distribution of Legislative Powers
Article 245 – extent of laws made by Parliament and by the
Legislatures of States
Chapter II: Administrative Relations
Disputes relating to Waters
Article 262 - Adjudication of disputes relating to waters of Inter
-state rivers or river valleys
Article 263 – Provisions with respect to an inter-State Council
PART 12: FINANCE, PROPERTY, CONTRACTS AND SUITS
Chapter I: Finance
General
Article 266 – consolidated Funds and public accounts of India and
of the States
Article 267 – Contingency Fund, Distribution of Revenues between
the Union and the States
Article 280 – Finance Commission
Chapter IV: Right to Property
Article 300A – Persons not to be deprived of property saves by
authority of law
PART 13: TRADE, COMMERCE AND INTERCOURSE WITHIN THE TERRITORY OF
INDIA
Article 301 – Freedom of trade, commerce and intercourse
Article 302 – Power of Parliament to impose restrictions on trade,
commerce and intercourse
PART 14: SERVICES UNDER THE UNION AND THE STATES
Chapter I: Services
Article 308 – Interpretation
Article 312 – All-India Services
Chapter II: Public Service Commissions
Article 315 – Public Service Commissions for the Union and for the
States
Article 320 – Functions of Public Service Commissions
Article 323 – Reports of Public Service Commissions
PART 14A: TRIBUNALS
Article 323A – Administrative tribunals
Article 323B – Tribunals for other matters
PART 15: ELECTIONS
Article 324 – Superintendence, direction and control of elections
to be vested in an Election Commission
Article 325 – No person to be intelligible for inclusion in, or to
claim to be included in a special, electoral roll on grounds of religion, race,
caste or sex
Article 326 – Elections to the House of the People and to the
Legislative Assemblies of States to be on the basis of adult suffrage
Article 329 – Bar to interference by court in electoral matters
PART 16: SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO CERTAIN CLASSES
Article 330 – Reservation of seats for SC and ST in the House of
the People
Article 338 – National Commission for SC
Article 340 – Appointment of a Commission to investigate the
conditions of BCs
Article 341 – Scheduled Castes
Article 342 – Scheduled Tribes
PART 17: OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
Chapter I: Language of the Union
Article 343 – Official Language of the Union
Chapter II: Regional Languages
Article 345 – official language or languages of a State
Chapter III: Language of the Supreme Court, High Courts, etc.
Article 348 – Language to be used in the Supreme Court and in the
High Courts and for Acts, Bills, etc.
Chapter IV: Special Directives
Article 351 – Directive for development of the Hindi Language
PART 18: EMERGENCY PROVISIONS
Article 352 – Proclamation of Emergency
Article 356 – Provisions in case of failure of constitutional
machinery in States
Article 360 – Provisions as to financial emergency
PART 19: MISCELLANEOUS
Article 361 – Protection of President and Governors
Article 367 – interpretation
PART 20: AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION
Article 368 – Power of Parliament to amend the Constitution
PART 21: TEMPORARY, TRANSITIONAL AND SPECIAL PROVISIONS
Article 369 – Temporary power to Parliament to make laws with
respect to certain matters in the State list as if they matter in the
Concurrent list
Article 370 – Temporary provisions with respect to the State of
Jammu and Kashmir
Article 371A – Special provision with respect to the State of
Nagaland
Article 371B – Special provision with respect to the State of
Assam
Article 371C – Special provision with respect to the State of
Manipur
Article 371D – Special provision with respect to the State of
Andhra Pradesh
Article 371E – Establishment of Central University in Andhra
Pradesh
Article 371F – Special provision with respect to the State of
Sikkim
Article 371G – Special provision with respect to the State of
Mizoram
Article 371H – Special provision with respect to the State of
Arunachal Pradesh
Article 371-I – Special provision with respect to the State of Goa
Article 371J – Special status for Hyderabad-Karnataka region
Article 392 – Power of the President to remove difficulties
PART 22: SHORT TITLE, COMMENCEMENT, AUTHORITATIVE TEXT IN HINDI
AND REPEALS
Article 393 – Short Title – This Constitution may be called the
Constitution of India
Article 395 - Repeals