Indian Constitution Articles at a Glance

The Indian constitution is the lengthiest written constitution in the world. When the constitution was framed it consisted of 395 article, 22 parts  and 8 schedules. But at present, Constitution of India has 478 articles in 25 parts, 12 schedules and 5 appendices. The Government of India Act 1935 is the fundamental base of Indian Constitution. So far, 104 amendments that have been made in the Indian constitution. Recent amendment was carried out to extend the reservation of seats for SC’s and ST’s in the Lok Sabha and states assemblies and came into effect on 25th January, 2020. Constitution of India is an important topic for any competitive exams conducted in India especially civil services exam. Hence, in this article we will provide you with Indian constitutional articles.

The Constitution of India at a Glance

Firstly let’s take a look at the preamble of Indian Constitution-

“WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly

resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN

SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:

JUSTICE, social, economic and political;

LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;

EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;

and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;

IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty –

sixth day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT,

ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.”

Parts of Indian Constitution

As we all know that there are 25 parts in Indian Constitution. Given below is the parts of constitution and articles covered under it-

Note:- Part VII was deleted by the 7th Amendment Act (1956). On the other hand, both Part IV – A and Part XIV-A were added by the 42nd Amendment Act (1976), while Part OX-A was added by the 74th Amendment Act (1992), and Part IX-B was added by the 97th Amendment Act (2011).

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The Schedules of the Indian constitution

Schedules are lists in the constitution which categorize and tabulate bureaucratic activity and government policy.

 First Schedule (Article 1 and 4)

• Lists India’s states and territories, changes in their borders, formation of new states and the laws used to make that change..

Second Schedule (Articles 59(3), 65(3), 75(6), 97, 125, 148(3), 158(3), 164(5), 186 and 221)

• Lists the provisions provided such as salaries, emoluments, allowances, privileges emoluments, allowances, privileges to public officials like President of India, Governors, Speaker, Deputy speaker, judges, and the Comptroller and Auditor General etc. of India.

Third Schedule

• Third Schedule includes Articles 75(4), 99, 124(6), 148(2), 164(3), 188 and 219 stating the forms of oaths or affirmations for elected officials and judges that includes-

1. The Union ministers
2. The candidates for election to the Parliament
3. The members of Parliament
4. The judges of the Supreme Court
5. The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India
6. The state ministers
7. The candidates for election to the state legislature
8. The members of the state legislature
9. The judges of the High Courts

Fourth Schedule       

• Fourth Schedule of constitution includes Articles 4(1) and 80(2) that mentions the details of allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha (upper house of Parliament) by state or union territory.

Fifth Schedule          

• Article 244(1) states the provisions provided for the administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes(areas and tribes requiring special protection).

Sixth Schedule          

• Sixth Schedule includes Articles 244(2) and 275(1) that lists the provisions made for the administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.

Seventh Schedule     

• Seventh Schedule of constitution includes Article 246 that states the Central government, state, and concurrent lists of responsibilities.
• Division of powers between the Union and the States in terms of List I (Union List), List II (State List) and List III (Concurrent List). Presently, the Union List contains 100 subjects (originally 97), the state list contains 61 subjects (originally 66) and the concurrent list contains 52 subjects (originally 47).

Eighth Schedule – Official languages

• Eighth Schedule includes Articles 344(1) and 351 that states about the languages recognized by the Constitution.
• Originally, it had 14 languages but presently there are 22 languages. They are: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri (Dongri), Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Mathili (Maithili), Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. Sindhi was added by the 21st Amendment Act of 1967; Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were added by the 71 st Amendment Act of 1992; and Bodo, Dongri, Maithili and Santhali were added by the 92nd Amendment Act of 2003.

Ninth Schedule  – Validation of certain acts and regulations

• Article 31-B comprising Ninth Schedule talks about Validation of certain acts and regulations
• Acts and Regulations were originally 13 but presently there are 282. Of which 19 of the state legislatures deals with land reforms and the abolition of the zamindari system and of the Parliament dealing with other matters. This schedule was added by the 1st Amendment (1951) to protect the laws included in it from judicial scrutiny on the ground of violation of fundamental rights. However, in 2007, the Supreme Court ruled that the laws included in this schedule after April 24, 1973, are now open to judicial review.

Tenth Schedule – Anti-defection provisions for members of Parliament and state legislatures.

• Tenth Schedule includes Articles 102(2) and 191(2) states about  Provisions relating to the disqualification of the members of Parliament and State Legislatures on the ground of defection. This schedule was added by the 52nd Amendment Act of 1985, also known as Anti-defection Law.

Eleventh Schedule – Panchayat Raj (rural local government)

• Eleventh Schedule comprising Article 243-G Specifies the powers, authority and responsibilities of Panchayats. This schedule was added by the 73rd Amendment Act of 1992.

Twelfth Schedule – Municipalities (urban local government)

• Twelfth Schedule includes Article 243 – W, Specifies the powers, authority, and responsibilities of Municipalities. This schedule was added by the 74th Amendment Act of 1992.

NOTE: Part VII was deleted by the 7th Amendment Act (1956). On the other hand, both Part IV – A and Part XIV-A were added by the 42nd Amendment Act (1976), while Part X-A was added by the 74th Amendment Act (1992), and Part IX-B was added by the 97th Amendment Act (2011).

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Appendices of Indian Constitution

Appendices are the supplementary matter presented at the end of the constitution.

• Appendix I – The Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954
• Appendix II – Re-statement, referring to the constitution’s present text, of exceptions and modifications applicable to the state of Jammu and Kashmir
• Appendix III – Extracts from the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978
• Appendix IV – The Constitution (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2002
• Appendix V – The Constitution (Eighty-eighth Amendment) Act, 2003

Facts about Indian Constitution

• Indian Constitution is written constitution. It is the second longest active constitution  in the world after the Constitution of Alabama.
• The Indian constitution is a combination of rigidity and flexibility. The rigidity and flexibility depends on amendment procedures.
• Some features of Indian constitution is adopted from constitutions of other countries. Such as –

1. Fundamental Rights –  American Constitution
2. Parliamentary form of government  – United  Kingdom
3. Directive Principle of State  Policy – Ireland

Few Important articles of Indian Constitution

It is actually not possible to study all the articles of Indian Constitution. Hence, we have listed out few important articles that will help the candidates to ace the examination.

• Fundamental Rights – Article 12-35
• Directive Principles of – Article 36 – 51
• Fundamental Duties specified for citizens of India – Article 51  A
• Official Language of Union Government of India – Hindi – Article 343
• Imposition of President’s Rule – Article 356
• Autonomous Status to the state of Jammu & Kashmir – Article 370
• Repeals India Independence Act and Government of India Act, 1935

Other Important Links:

• Constitutional Articles Related to Supreme Court of India
• Constitutional Articles Related to President of India
• Borrowed Features in Indian Constitution

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