What are features of the Indian Constitution?
Q. Which of the following are features of the Indian Constitution?
1) Integrated Judiciary
2) Universal Adult Franchise
3) Three-tier Government
4) Rigid and Flexible Constitution
5) Single citizenship- Published on 14 Feb 17a. 1, 2, 3, 5
b. 1, 2, 4
c. 2, 3, 4, 5
d. All of the above
ANSWER: All of the above
The following are the features of the Indian Constitution -- Lengthiest Written Constitution - Presently (2013), it consists of a Preamble, about 465 Articles (divided into 25 Parts) and 12 Schedules.
- Drawn from various sources - It is also sometimes called borrowed constitution as it is heavily inspired from various sources.
1. The structural part - Government of India Act of 1935.
2. The philosophical part of the Constitution (the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles of State Policy) - American and Irish Constitutions respectively.
3. The political part (the principle of Cabinet Government and the relations between the executive and the legislature) - British Constitution.
- Rigid as well as Flexible Constitution - 2 types of amendments are provided in the Constitution -
1. Amendment by a special majority of the Parliament.
2. Amendment by a special majority of the Parliament with ratification by half of the state assemblies.
3. There can also be amendments with simple majority.
- Parliamentary form of Government having a Federal System with Unitary Bias.
It has -
1. Federal features - two government, division of powers, written Constitution, supremacy of Constitution, rigidity of Constitution, independent judiciary and bicameralism
2. Unitary or non-federal features - a strong Centre, single Constitution, single citizenship, flexibility of Constitution, integrated judiciary, appointment of state governor by the Centre, all-India services, emergency provisions, etc.
- Dual Polity but Single Citizenship for entire India.
- Emergency Provisions.
- Three tier Government – Initially it was 2-Tier but 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts (1992) have added a third-tier of government (i.e., local) which is not seen in any other Constitution of the world.
- Independent Bodies – Like Election Commission, CAG, UPSC, SPSC, etc. whose expenses are being charged on the Consolidated fund of India.
- Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties, Directive Principles of State Policy.
- A secular state.
- Integrated and Independent Judiciary.
- A blend of Parliamentary Sovereignty and Judicial Supremacy.
