General Awareness & Current Affairs – Constitution
(FCI Recruitment Preparation)
1. Simple Explanation
- Constitution – The supreme, written law that defines the form of government, the distribution of powers, and the fundamental rights of citizens.
- In India, the Constitution was adopted on 26 Nov 1949 and came into force on 26 Jan 1950.
- It is a codified, declaratory, and flexible document that can be amended through a defined process (Article 368).
- The Constitution guarantees basic structure (fundamental principles that cannot be altered) and contains Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, and Fundamental Duties.
2. Key Points
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Form | Written, codified, and declaratory. |
| Supremacy | All laws and executive actions must conform to it; it is the supreme law of India. |
| Basic Structure Doctrine | Certain core principles (e.g., democracy, secularism, federalism, separation of powers) cannot be altered by amendment. |
| Amendment Procedure (Article 368) | 1. Draft amendment bill. 2. Pass in both Houses by special majority (≥ 2/3 of members present and a majority of the total membership). 3. If it affects federal balance, ratify by at least half of the state legislatures. 4. President’s assent. |
| Fundamental Rights (Articles 14‑30) | Right to equality, freedom, life, education, etc. |
| Directive Principles (Articles 38‑40, 44, 45, 46) | Non‑justiciable guidelines for state policy. |
| Fundamental Duties (Article 51A) | Moral obligations of citizens. |
| Federal Structure | Union (central) and States; Parliament has exclusive, concurrent, and residuary powers. |
| Parliamentary System | Executive derives its legitimacy from the legislature; Prime Minister is head of government. |
| Emergency Provisions | Articles 352, |