Indian Polity and Constitution
Indian Polity tests the Constitution's structure, rights, duties, institutions, and Punjab's place in the federal system.
Core framework
- The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950.
- Fundamental Rights are in Part III, Articles 14–32.
- Directive Principles of State Policy are in Part IV, Articles 36–51, and are not directly enforceable in court.
- Fundamental Duties were added by the 42nd Amendment in 1976 as Article 51A.
- The President is the head of state (Articles 52–62); the Prime Minister heads the real executive (Articles 74–75).
- Parliament has the President, Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.
- The Supreme Court is under Article 124; High Courts under Article 214.
- The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992) gave constitutional status to panchayats and municipalities.
Worked example
Question: The Right to Property is now a fundamental right. True or false? The 44th Amendment (1978) removed property from Part III; it is now a legal right under Article 300A. So the statement is false. The reasoning hinges on the amendment, not on the original text.
Traps
- Article 32 is the right to constitutional remedies; Article 226 gives High Courts similar power.
- DPSP cannot be enforced by a writ, though they guide policy.
- Do not confuse the 42nd Amendment (duties) with the 44th (property).
- Punjab's Vidhan Sabha has 117 seats, not 117 Lok Sabha seats.