Sources of Indian Constitution - Borrowed Features

Sources of Indian Constitution – Borrowed Features

The Indian Constitution is remarkable for many outstanding features which make it different from the other constitutions. The constitution adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November 1949. It became effective on 26 January 1950. The constitution replaced the Government of India Act 1935 as the country’s fundamental governing document, and the Dominion of India became the Republic of India. The Indian constitution is the world’s longest for a sovereign nation. At its enactment, it had 395 articles with 22 parts and 8 schedules. It is the second-longest active constitution after the Constitution of Alabama in the world with about 145,000 words, i. The constitution has a preamble and 470 articles, which are grouped into 25 parts. With 12 schedules and five appendices, it has been amended 104 times. The latest amendment became effective on 14 January 2019. In this article let us check the sources of Indian Constitution and its borrowed features.

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Sources of Indian Constitution – Borrowed Features

Our constitution has taken few features from the Government of India Act, 1935. Those features are:

Federal Scheme
Office of governor
Judiciary
Public Service Commissions
Emergency provisions
Administrative details

Our constitution has borrowed few best provisions from different countries too. Listed below are the details.

Countries	Borrowed Features
United Kingdom	Parliamentary government Rule of Law The legislative speaker and their role Legislative procedure Single Citizenship Cabinet system Prerogative writs Parliamentary privileges Bicameralism Speaker in Lok Sabha
United States	Fundamental rights Independence of judiciary Supreme Court Judicial review Impeachment of the president Removal of Supreme Court and High Court judges Functions of president and vice-president Independent judiciary and separation of powers Federal structure of government Electoral College Equal protection under law
Ireland	Directive Principles of State Policy Method of Election process of the President Nomination of members in Rajya Sabha by the President
Australia	Provision regarding Trade and Commerce Concurrent List Joint sitting of Parliament
France	Republic Ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity in the Preamble
Canada	Appointment of State Governors by Center Distribution of powers between centre and the states. Vesting of residuary powers in the Centre Advisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
Soviet Union	Fundamental duties Ideal of justice (social, economic and political) in the Preamble
Japan	Procedure Established by law
Germany	Suspension of Fundamental Rights during emergency
South Africa	Procedure for amendment in the Indian Constitution Election of members of Rajya Sabha
Russia	Preamble and Fundamental Duties Five Year plan

Timeline of formation of the Constitution of India

6 December 1946: Formation of the Constitution Assembly (in accordance with French practice).
9 December 1946: The first meeting was held in the constitution hall
11 December 1946: The Assembly appointed Rajendra Prasad as its president, C. Mukherjee as its vice-chairman and B. N. Rau as constitutional legal adviser.
13 December 1946: An ‘Objective Resolution’ was presented by Jawaharlal Nehru, laying down the underlying principles of the constitution. This later became the Preamble of the Constitution.
22 January 1947: Objective resolution unanimously adopted.
22 July 1947: National flag was adopted.
15 August 1947: Achieved independence. India split into the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Pakistan.
29 August 1947: Drafting Committee appointed with R. Ambedkar as its Chairman. The other 6 members of committee were Munshi, Muhammed Sadulla, Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer, N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar, Khaitan and Mitter.
16 July 1948: Along with Harendra Coomar Mookerjee, T. Krishnamachari was also elected as second vice-president of Constituent Assembly.
26 November 1949: The Constitution of India was passed and adopted by the assembly.
24 January 1950: Last meeting of Constituent Assembly. The Constitution was signed and accepted with 395 Articles, 8 Schedules, 22 Parts
26 January 1950:The Constitution came into force. The process took 2 years, 11 months and 18 days – at a total expenditure of ₹6.4 million to finish.

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