Indian Constitution: Complete Guide to History, Features, and Structure

The Constitution of India serves as the supreme law of the land, acting as the bedrock of the world's largest democracy. Adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, it came into full effect on January 26, 1950. Over the past seven decades, it has evolved through 105 amendments, reflecting the dynamic nature of Indian governance.

Historical Evolution and the Constituent Assembly

The journey toward a sovereign Constitution began with M.N. Roy’s 1934 proposal. By 1935, the Indian National Congress formalized the demand for a representative body. In 1938, Jawaharlal Nehru articulated that the future of India must be drafted by a Constituent Assembly elected via adult franchise. The inaugural session commenced on December 9, 1946, with 211 members present. Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha served as the initial temporary President, later succeeded by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, with H.C. Mukherjee and V.T. Krishnamachari as Vice-Presidents.

The Drafting Committee

Established on August 29, 1947, the Drafting Committee was the engine of the Constitution. Under the chairmanship of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the committee navigated various resignations and replacements to finalize the document.

Sno	Members
1	Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (Chairman)
2	N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar
3	Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar
4	Dr. K.M. Munshi
5	Syed Mohammad Saadullah
6	N. Madhava Rau (Replaced B.L. Mitter)
7	T.T. Krishnamachari (Replaced D.P. Khaitan)

Key Committees

Sno	Committee	Chairman
1	Union Powers Committee	Jawaharlal Nehru
2	Union Constitution Committee	Jawaharlal Nehru
3	Provincial Constitution Committee	Sardar Patel
4	Drafting Committee	Dr B.R. Ambedkar
5	Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas	Sardar Patel
6	Rules of Procedure Committee	Dr Rajendra Prasad

Preamble and Salient Features

The Preamble, inspired by Pandit Nehru’s 'Objectives Resolution', serves as the guiding light of the Constitution. The 42nd Amendment (1976) introduced 'Socialist', 'Secular', and 'Integrity' to the text.

Key Ingredients of the Preamble

• Source of Authority: Asserts that the Constitution derives power directly from the people of India.
• Nature of the Indian State: Declares India to be a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic, and republican polity.
• Objectives of the Constitution: Specifies justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity as primary objectives.

Salient Features

• Lengthiest Written Constitution
• Drawn From Various Global Sources
• Federal System with a Unitary Bias
• Single Citizenship & Universal Adult Franchise
• Integrated and Independent Judiciary

Global Sources of the Constitution

Sources	Features Borrowed
British Constitution	Parliamentary government, Rule of Law, Single citizenship
US Constitution	Fundamental rights, Independence of judiciary, Judicial review
Irish Constitution	Directive Principles of State Policy

Parts and Schedules

Originally consisting of 22 parts and 8 schedules, the Constitution has grown to include 12 schedules through various amendments. Notable additions include the Tenth Schedule (Anti-defection Law) and the Eleventh and Twelfth Schedules for Panchayats and Municipalities.

Numbers	Subject Matter
Seventh Schedule	Division of powers (Union List, State List, Concurrent List)
Eighth Schedule	22 Recognized Languages
Ninth Schedule	Protection of specific land reform laws

Explore Fundamental Rights in the Indian Constitution Here

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who wrote the Indian Constitution?

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar served as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee and presented the final draft to the Constituent Assembly.

How many schedules are in the Indian Constitution?

While it originally contained 8 schedules, the Indian Constitution now features 12 schedules.