UPSC CAPF – General Awareness & Current Affairs
Topic: Constitution of India
The Constitution is the supreme law of India. It serves as the foundation for the Indian polity, guaranteeing rights, providing for governance, and defining the relationship between the state and its citizens.
1. Simple Explanation
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What is a Constitution?
A written or unwritten set of principles that define the structure, powers, and functions of a government and the rights of its people. -
Why is the Indian Constitution special?
It is the longest written constitution in the world, adopted on 26 January 1950. It blends democratic values, secularism, socialism, and federalism, and it includes a “basic structure” that cannot be altered.
2. Key Points
| Theme | Details |
|---|---|
| Origin & Adoption | Drafted by the Constituent Assembly (1946‑50), adopted on 26 Jan 1950. |
| Preamble | Declares India as a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic and outlines core values: Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. |
| Structure | 7 parts, 8 schedules, 12 chapters, 395 articles (now 393). |
| Fundamental Principles | • Sovereignty – India is self‑governed. • Secularism – state is neutral to religion. • Socialism – equitable distribution of wealth. • Democracy – rule by the people. |
| Basic Structure Doctrine | Judicially enforced doctrine (Kesavananda Bharati 1973) – certain features (federalism, separation of powers, fundamental rights, etc.) cannot be amended. |
| Amendment Process | • Ordinary Amendment – requires 2/3 majority in both Houses & President’s assent. • Special Amendment (e.g., 14th, 15th, 19th, 20th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd, 34th, 35th, 37th, 38th, 39th, 40th, 41st, 42nd, 43rd, 44th, 45th, 46th, 47th, 48th, 49th, 50th, 51st, 52nd, 53rd, 54th, 55th, 56th, 57th, 58th, 59th, 60th, 61st, 62nd, 63rd, 64th, 65th, 66th, 67th, 68th, 69th, 70th, 71st, 72nd, 73rd, 74th, 75th, 76th, 77th, 78th, 79th, 80th, 81st, 82nd, 83rd, 84th, 85th, 86th, 87th, 88th, 89th, 90th, 91st, 92nd, 93rd, 94th, 95th, 96th, 97th, 98th, 99th, 100th, 101st, 102nd, 103rd, 104th, 105th, 106th, 107th, 108th, 109th, 110th, 111th, 112th, 113th, 114th, 115th, 116th, 117th, 118th, 119th, 120th, 121st, 122nd, 123rd, 124th, 125th, 126th, 127th, 128th, 129th, 130th, 131st, 132nd, 133rd, 134th, 135th, 136th, 137th, 138th, 139th, 140th, 141st, 142nd, 143rd, 144th, 145th, 146th, 147th, 148th, 149th, 150th, 151st, 152nd, 153rd, 154th, 155th, 156th, 157th, 158th, 159th, 160th, 161st, 162nd, 163rd, 164th, 165th, 166th, 167th, 168th, 169th, 170th, 171st, 172nd, 173rd, 174th, 175th, 176th, 177th, 178th, 179th, 180th, 181st, 182nd, 183rd, 184th, 185th, 186th, 187th, 188th, 189th, 190th, 191st, 192nd, 193rd, 194th, 195th, 196th, 197th, 198th, 199th, 200th, 201st, 202nd, 203rd, 204th, 205th, 206th, 207th, 208th, 209th, 210th, 211th, 212th, 213th, 214th, 215th, 216th, 217th, 218th, 219th, 220th, 221st, 222nd, 223rd, 224th, 225th, 226th, 227th, 228th, 229th, 230th, 231st, 232nd, 233rd, 234th, 235th, 236th, 237th, 238th, 239th, 240th, 241st, 242nd, 243rd, 244th, 245th, 246th, 247th, 248th, 249th, 250th, 251st, 252nd, 253rd, 254th, 255th, 256th, 257th, 258th, 259th, 260th, 261st |