Hi friends,

In this blog let me share the salient features of our Constitution. 

Lengthiest written Constitution:

• Our Constitution is derived from many sources which contain many provisions for the states and centre and their interrelationships.
• It contains a detailed list of fundamental rights, the directive principle of state policy and administrative details.

It is a blend of rigid and flexible:

• It is called as rigid as well as flexible because of its amending procedure

Sovereign, social, secular, democratic and republic:

• sovereign because our country manages both internal and external affairs without any external interference.
• The social term is added with the 42nd Amendment act 1976.
• secular because everyone is free to worship any religion of their wish no state religion.
• Republic because the country head is selected by the people and not the parliamentary system of government:

The parliamentary system of government:

• Our Constitution is a Parliamentary system with the executive being responsible for the legislation and enjoys until the confidence the majority of the legislation.

Single citizenship:

• Our Constitution has the provision for single citizenship which is given by union and recognised by all the states.
• Citizenship amendment act 1955 regulates the determination and regulations of citizenship after the adoption of the Indian Constitution.
• It provides for citizenship by 

1.    Birth,

• Descent
• Registration
• Naturalisation
• Incorporation of territory
• It also provides renunciation and termination of citizenship under certain circumstances.
• The citizenship amendment bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on 27th February 2015 that amends the Citizenship amendment act 1955.
• The person can apply for citizenship if they have resided or served for the government of India for twelve months preceding the date of application. 

Universal adult franchise:

• the slogan is “one person one vote”
• One can register the vote if they are of 18 years of age or above.
• There is no discrimination of voting rights based on colour, religion, gender or status.

Independent and integrated judicial system :

• The Judiciary system is autonomous and is kept free from executive and legislative functions.
• Supreme Court is at the apex with high courts and lower courts being subordinates.

Fundamental rights:

• Six fundamental rights are

1. Right to equality
2. Right to freedom
3. Right against exploitation
4. right to freedom of religion 
5. Cultural and educational rights
6.  Right to constitutional remedies 

Right to Property:

• Initially, there was a right to property under article 31-A which was also a fundamental right.
• 44th amendment act omitted the right to property from fundamental rights and added it under Article 300A and therefore it is considered as a legal right.
• Right to move to the Supreme court for enforcement of fundamental rights under Article 32 that is named as Right to constitutional remedies

Right to Education:

• 86th Amendment acts 2002 inserted article 21-A for compulsory and free education to all from the age group of four to sixteen years. 

Fundamental duties:

Every citizen of India must abide, cherish, uphold and protect.

Federal or unitary:

India is an indestructible union with destructible states which is united during an emergency.

India is not strictly a federal polity but a quasi-federal polity with unitariness.

Balancing parliamentary supremacy with judicial review:

Law made by Parliament and any rules made by Supreme Court under Article 145, Supreme Court has the power to review any judgement said or made by it.

Directive principles of state policy:

One of the unique provisions of constitution.

Directives to implement and establish economic and social justice in India.