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KSEAB SSLC Political Science study materials
KSEAB SSLC Political Science study resources

KSEAB SSLC Political Science: Indian Constitution and Its Features

KSEAB SSLC Political Science · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

All guide sections

Indian Constitution and Its Features

What this domain tests

This domain checks whether you can place the Constitution in its historical context and explain its structural features, not just list them. Expect questions on the Constituent Assembly, the Preamble, borrowing from other constitutions, and amendment types.

Core rules

  • The Constituent Assembly was formed in 1946 under the Cabinet Mission Plan. Dr Rajendra Prasad was President; Dr B.R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee. The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950.
  • The Objectives Resolution, moved by Jawaharlal Nehru in December 1946, supplied the Preamble's values: sovereignty, justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.
  • The Preamble declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. 'Socialist' and 'secular' were inserted by the 42nd Amendment (1976), along with 'integrity' for the nation.
  • Key features: written and lengthy; parliamentary government; federalism with a strong Union; fundamental rights; Directive Principles; independent judiciary; single citizenship; universal adult franchise; secularism.
  • Borrowings: parliamentary system and rule of law (UK); fundamental rights and judicial review (USA); DPSP (Ireland); emergency provisions (Germany); concurrent list (Australia); amendment procedure (South Africa).
  • Amendment procedures include simple majority, special majority under Article 368, and ratification by half the state legislatures for certain provisions.

Worked example

Question: 'Which provisions show that India's federalism has a unitary bias?' Reasoning: federalism requires a division of powers, but the Union controls the balance through single citizenship, Union control over residuary powers, appointment of Governors, emergency provisions, All India Services and unequal representation in the Rajya Sabha. Answer with three examples, not a bare label.

Traps

Do not confuse 26 November 1949 (adoption) with 26 January 1950 (commencement). The Preamble is not enforceable in court. Do not say the Constituent Assembly was elected by universal adult franchise; it was indirectly elected. 'Socialist' and 'secular' were not in the original Preamble.