Chhattisgarh Police Constable – General Awareness
Constitution – Study Notes (IIT‑JEE / Competitive Exam Focus)
Target Audience – C.P. Constable Examination
Exam Pattern – Objective type (Multiple Choice / True‑False).
Key Idea – Understand the Indian Constitution as a political, legal, and sociological text.
1. Introduction
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Constitution of the Republic of India |
| Adoption | 26 January 1949 (as Constitution Act, 1949) |
| Enactment | 26 January 1950 (came into force) |
| Length | 22, 491 words, 22 chapters, 12 schedules |
| Structure | Preamble → 14 Parts (1–10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20) + 12 Schedules. |
Why it matters – The Constitution is the supreme law; all other laws, policies, and administrative actions must conform to it.
2. Historical Background
| Stage | Year | Key Event |
|---|---|---|
| Drafting | 1946‑1949 | Constituent Assembly meetings (Dec 1946–Nov 1949) |
| Adoption | 26 Jan 1949 | Constitution Act, 1949 passed |
| Repeal of Government of India Act 1935 | 1949 | Constitution replaced it |
| First Amendment | 1951 | Added “in the name of the President of the Republic of India” in Preamble |
| 42nd Amendment | 1976 | “Basic structure” doctrine, “Doctrine of the State” |
| 44th Amendment | 1979 | Repeals 42nd; recognizes “Doctrine of State” |
Tricky Point – The “Basic Structure Doctrine” (Kesavananda Bharati case, 1973) states that Parliament cannot amend the Constitution in a way that destroys its basic structure (e.g., democracy, secularism, separation of powers).
3. Preamble – “Purpose & Principles”
| Clause | Meaning |
|---|---|
| “We, the people of India” | Sovereign, democratic republic |
| “Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic” | Core state ideology |
| “Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” | Fundamental moral values |
Exam Trick – Many MCQs ask to match words in the Preamble with their constitutional meaning (e.g., “Secular” → State does not favor any religion).
4. Parts & Chapters – Key Sections
| Part | Chapters | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Part I | 1–4 | Preamble, Constitution, Amendment, Directive Principles |
| Part II | 5–6 | Union Government (Executive) |
| Part III | 7–8 | Parliament & Parliament’s Powers |
| Part IV | 9 | State Governments |
| Part V | 10 | Union Territories |
| Part VI | 11 | Elections |
| Part VII | 12 | Supreme Court & High Courts |
| Part VIII | 13–14 | State Courts |
| Part IX | 15 | Fundamental Rights |
| Part X | 16 | Directive Principles |
| Part XI | 17 | Fundamental Duties |
| Part XII | 18 | Union & State Finance |
| Part XIII | 19 | Inter‑State Relations |
| Part XIV | 20 | Administration |
| Part XV | 21 | The Union and the States |
| Part XVI | 22 | The State |
| Part XVII | 23 | The Union |
| Part XVIII | 24 | Official Language |
| Part XIX | 25 | Amendment of Constitution |
| Part XX | 26 | Repeal & Miscellaneous |
Tip – Memorize the “Chapter → Key Theme” mapping; e.g., Chapter 6: “The Union Executive”.
5. Amendments – Important Ones
| Amendment | Year | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1951 | Preamble wording change |
| 42nd | 1976 | Basic Structure Doctrine & “Doctrine of State” |
| 44th | 1979 | Repeals 42nd; confirms Parliament’s amending power |
| 71st | 1992 | 10th Schedule – Anti‑defection Law |
| 73rd | 1992 | Panchayati Raj Institutions |
| 74th | 1992 | Urban Local Bodies |
| 95th | 2009 | 11th Schedule – Special Autonomous Council for Scheduled Tribes |
| 97th | 2010 | 12th Schedule – Special Autonomy for Uttarakhand & Jammu & Kashmir |
| 97th | 2010 | 12th Schedule – Special Autonomy for Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand |
| 108th | 2019 | 12th Schedule – Special Autonomy for Jammu & Kashmir (re‑status) |
Tricky Question – “Which amendment introduced the Anti‑defection Law?”
Answer – 71st Amendment (1992).
6. Fundamental Rights (Part IX)
| Right | Articles | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| Right to Equality | Art. 14–18 | Equality, prohibition of discrimination |
| Right to Freedom | Art. 19–22 | Civil liberties, freedom of speech, etc. |
| Right against Exploitation | Art. 23–24 | Slavery, child labour |
| Right to Freedom of Religion | Art. 25–28 | Freedom of conscience & worship |
| Cultural & Educational | Art. 29–30 | Minority rights, education |
| Right to Constitutional Remedies | Art. 32 | Judicial review |
**Exam Trick