Constitution of India facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Constitution of India |
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Original text of the preamble
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| Jurisdiction | India |
| Ratified | 26 November 1949 |
| Date effective | 26 January 1950 |
| System | Federal parliamentary constitutional republic |
| Branches | Three (Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary) |
| Head of state | President of India |
| Chambers | Two (Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha) |
| Executive | Prime Minister of India–led cabinet responsible to the lower house of the parliament |
| Judiciary | Supreme court, high courts, and district courts |
| Federalism | Federal |
| Electoral college | Yes, for presidential and vice presidential elections |
| Entrenchments | 2 |
| Amendments | 106 |
| Last amended | 28 September 2023 (106th) |
| Location | Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi, India |
| Signatories | 284 members of the Constituent Assembly |
| Supersedes | Government of India Act 1935 Indian Independence Act 1947 |
The Constitution of India is the most important legal document in India. It's like a grand rulebook for the entire country. This special document explains how the government should be organized, what its powers are, and what its duties are. It also clearly lists the basic rights and responsibilities of every citizen.
India's Constitution says that the Constitution itself is the highest power, not the Parliament. This is because a special group called the Constituent Assembly created it, not just the Parliament. While Parliament can change the Constitution, the Supreme Court has said that some core ideas, called the 'Basic Structure', can never be removed or changed. These core ideas are essential for India to work as a free and fair country.
The ideas for the Constitution came partly from the Government of India Act 1935, which was a law from before India became independent. The Constituent Assembly of India officially accepted the Constitution on November 26, 1949. It then became fully active on January 26, 1950. On this day, India stopped being a dominion under British rule and became the Republic of India. Every year, India celebrates January 26 as Republic Day to honor its Constitution.
The Constitution declares India to be a sovereign (meaning independent), socialist (focused on fairness for all), secular (treating all religions equally), and democratic republic (where people choose their leaders). It promises all citizens justice, equality, and liberty. It also encourages brotherhood among everyone. The original Constitution from 1950 is kept safe in a special case in the Parliament Library Building in New Delhi.
Contents
- How India's Constitution Came to Be
- The Constituent Assembly: Writing the Rules
- Ideas from Other Countries
- How the Constitution is Organized
- How the Government Gets Its Power
- The Legislature and Amendments
- The Judiciary: Protecting the Constitution
- The Executive: Leading the Country
- Federalism: Sharing Power
- The Constitution: A Living Document
- Translations into Indian Languages
- See also
How India's Constitution Came to Be
Early Ideas for a Constitution
Before India became independent, people started thinking about its own rulebook. In 1928, a group called the All Parties Conference met in Lucknow. They prepared a plan for India's Constitution, which was known as the Nehru Report.
For many years, from 1858 to 1947, India was ruled by the British. After gaining independence in 1947, India was a "dominion" of the United Kingdom for three years. During this time, leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel worked to unite many smaller states with India.
The new Constitution, when it became active on January 26, 1950, replaced older British laws like the Indian Independence Act 1947 and the Government of India Act 1935. This made India a truly independent and self-governing republic. Some parts of the Constitution actually came into effect earlier, on November 26, 1949. The rest started on January 26, 1950, which is why we celebrate Republic Day then.
Laws That Shaped the Constitution
The people who wrote India's Constitution looked at many different laws and ideas. A big influence was the Government of India Act 1935, which was mainly written by Samuel Hoare. They also looked at other British laws from earlier times, like the Indian Councils Acts and the Government of India Acts of 1919 and 1935.
The Indian Independence Act 1947 was important because it led to India and Pakistan becoming separate countries. This also meant the group that was writing the Constitution had to split into two, one for each new country.
The Constituent Assembly: Writing the Rules
The Constitution was written by a special group called the Constituent Assembly of India. Its members were chosen by people elected in the provincial elections of 1946. This assembly originally had 389 members. After India was divided into India and Pakistan, the number of members dropped to 299.
It took the assembly almost three years to write the Constitution. They held eleven long meetings over 165 days to discuss and finalize everything.
One important member, T. T. Krishnamachari, mentioned that much of the hard work fell on B. R. Ambedkar. Dr. Ambedkar was the chairman of the drafting committee. He worked tirelessly to create the Constitution. He also thanked B. N. Rau, the constitutional advisor, and S. N. Mukherjee, the chief draftsman, for their amazing work.
The assembly discussed 7,635 proposed changes to the draft Constitution. They carefully considered and decided on 2,473 of these changes.
Key Dates in Making the Constitution
- December 6, 1946: The Constituent Assembly was formed.
- December 9, 1946: The first meeting took place in what is now the Central Hall of Parliament House. Sachchidananda Sinha was the temporary president.
- December 11, 1946: Rajendra Prasad was chosen as the president of the Assembly. H. C. Mukherjee became vice-president, and B. N. Rau was the legal advisor.
- December 13, 1946: Jawaharlal Nehru presented the "Objective Resolution." This document outlined the main goals of the Constitution and later became its Preamble.
- January 22, 1947: The Objective Resolution was accepted by everyone.
- July 22, 1947: India's National Flag was adopted.
- August 15, 1947: India gained independence.
- August 29, 1947: A special Drafting Committee was set up with B. R. Ambedkar as its chairman.
- November 26, 1949: The Constituent Assembly passed and adopted the Constitution of India.
- January 24, 1950: The last meeting of the Constituent Assembly. Members signed the Constitution. It had 395 Articles, 8 Schedules, and 22 Parts.
- January 26, 1950: The Constitution officially came into force, making India a republic. The whole process cost about ₹6.4 million.
Important People in the Assembly
Many important leaders helped create the Constitution. Some key figures included B. R. Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, and Vallabhbhai Patel. The assembly also had over 30 representatives from scheduled classes, showing its diverse nature. Frank Anthony represented the Anglo-Indian community, and H. P. Modi represented the Parsis. There were also important women members like Sarojini Naidu, Hansa Mehta, and Amrit Kaur.
How the Constitution was Drafted
Sir B. N. Rau, a respected civil servant and later an Indian judge at the International Court of Justice, was the constitutional advisor. He prepared the first draft of the Constitution in February 1948. This first draft had 243 articles and 13 schedules. After many discussions and changes, it grew to 395 articles and 8 schedules.
The seven-member drafting committee, led by B. R. Ambedkar, carefully reviewed and changed Rau's draft. They submitted their revised draft to the assembly on November 4, 1947.
After eleven sessions and 165 days of work, the assembly adopted the Constitution on November 26, 1949. This day is now celebrated as Constitution Day or National Law Day. It reminds everyone about the importance of the Constitution and Dr. Ambedkar's ideas.
On January 24, 1950, the final session took place. Each member signed two copies of the Constitution, one in Hindi and one in English. The original Constitution is a beautiful handwritten document. Artists from Shantiniketan decorated each page, and Prem Behari Narain Raizada was the calligrapher who wrote it by hand. It took almost five years to produce the original document.
Two days later, on January 26, 1950, the Constitution became the law for all of India. Since then, it has been changed more than 100 times to adapt to new situations.
Ideas from Other Countries
The people who wrote India's Constitution looked at the best ideas from many other countries. They borrowed and adapted these ideas to fit India's unique needs.
| Country | Ideas Adopted |
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 United Kingdom |
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 United States |
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 Ireland |
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 Australia |
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 France |
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 Canada |
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 Soviet Union |
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 Weimar Republic |
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 South Africa |
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 Japan |
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How the Constitution is Organized
India's Constitution is the longest written constitution for any independent country in the world. When it was first created, it had 395 articles, divided into 22 parts, and 8 schedules. It was about 145,000 words long!
Today, after many changes, the Constitution has a Preamble, about 470 articles, grouped into 25 parts, and 12 schedules. It has been changed 106 times. The most recent change was made on September 28, 2023.
Here are the main parts of the Constitution:
- Preamble: This is the introduction, stating India's goals. Words like "socialist," "secular," and "integrity" were added in 1976.
- Part I – The Union and its Territory: Defines India as a union of states.
- Part II – Citizenship: Explains who is a citizen of India.
- Part III – Fundamental Rights: Lists the basic rights of all citizens.
- Part IV – Directive Principles of State Policy: Guidelines for the government to make laws for the welfare of people.
- Part IVA – Fundamental Duties: Lists the duties of citizens.
- Part V – The Union: Describes the central government (President, Parliament, Supreme Court).
- Part VI – The States: Describes state governments (Governor, State Legislature, High Courts).
- Part VII – States in the B part of the first schedule (repealed): This part was removed.
- Part VIII – Union Territories: Rules for areas directly governed by the central government.
- Part IX – Panchayats: Rules for local self-government in rural areas.
- Part IXA – Municipalities: Rules for local self-government in urban areas.
- Part IXB – Co-operative societies: Rules for cooperative societies.
- Part X – Scheduled and tribal areas: Special rules for certain protected areas and tribes.
- Part XI – Relations between the Union and the States: How the central and state governments work together.
- Part XII – Finance, property, contracts and suits: Rules about money, property, and legal cases.
- Part XIII – Trade and commerce within India: Rules for business and trade across India.
- Part XIV – Services under the union and states: Rules for government jobs.
- Part XIVA – Tribunals: Special courts for specific issues.
- Part XV – Elections: Rules for holding elections.
- Part XVI – Special provisions relating to certain classes: Special rules for certain groups of people.
- Part XVII – Languages: Official languages of India.
- Part XVIII – Emergency provisions: Rules for what happens during emergencies.
- Part XIX – Miscellaneous: Other important rules.
- Part XX – Amendment of the Constitution: How the Constitution can be changed.
- Part XXI – Temporary, transitional and special provisions: Rules for specific situations or regions.
- Part XXII – Short title, date of commencement, authoritative text in Hindi and repeals: Final details about the Constitution.
Schedules: Extra Lists of Rules
Schedules are like extra lists or tables in the Constitution. They give more details about how certain government activities and policies work.
| Schedule | What it Covers |
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| First | Lists India's states and territories, and how their borders can change. |
| Second | Lists the salaries of important public officials, like judges and the Comptroller and Auditor General. |
| Third | Lists the oaths of office that elected officials and judges must take. |
| Fourth | Explains how seats are given to each state or union territory in the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of Parliament). |
| Fifth | Provides special rules for the administration and protection of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes. |
| Sixth | Provides special rules for the administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. |
| Seventh | Lists the responsibilities of the central government, state governments, and those they share. |
| Eighth | Lists the official languages of India. |
| Ninth | Contains certain laws that were originally protected from being challenged in court for violating fundamental rights. However, the Supreme Court later ruled that these laws can be reviewed if they violate the basic structure of the Constitution. |
| Tenth | Contains rules to prevent members of Parliament and state legislatures from changing political parties easily. |
| Eleventh | Deals with the Panchayat Raj system, which is local self-government in rural areas. |
| Twelfth | Deals with Municipalities, which is local self-government in urban areas. |
How the Government Gets Its Power
The government has three main parts: the executive (who carries out laws), the legislative (who makes laws), and the judicial (who interprets laws). All three get their power from the Constitution and must follow its rules. India has a parliamentary system of government. This means the executive branch is directly responsible to the legislative branch.
- The president of India is the head of the executive branch.
- The President's duty is to protect and defend the Constitution and the law.
- The Prime Minister leads the Council of Ministers. This Council helps and advises the President.
- The Council of Ministers is responsible to the Lok Sabha (the lower house of Parliament).
India's Constitution creates a system that is both federal and unitary. It's federal because power is shared between the central government and state governments. It's unitary because the central government is very strong.
Federal features include: a written Constitution, three levels of government (central, state, local), shared powers, two houses of Parliament, and an independent court system.
Unitary features include: one Constitution for everyone, single citizenship, a unified court system, a flexible Constitution, a strong central government, the central government appointing state governors, and rules for emergencies. This mix makes India's system "quasi-federal."
Each state and union territory has its own government. They have a Governor (or Lieutenant Governor in union territories) and a Chief Minister. The Constitution allows the President to take direct control of a state government if it cannot follow the Constitution's rules. This is called president's rule. However, courts now review such decisions to prevent misuse.
The 73rd and 74th Amendment Acts created local self-government systems: panchayati raj for villages and Nagar Palikas for cities.
The Legislature and Amendments
How Laws are Changed
Article 368 explains how the Constitution can be changed, or "amended." An amendment can add, change, or remove any part of the Constitution. To pass an amendment, each house of Parliament must approve it with a special two-thirds majority vote. Some amendments that affect the federal nature of the Constitution also need to be approved by a majority of state legislatures.
Unlike regular laws, there is no joint meeting of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to pass a constitutional amendment.
Even with these strict rules, the Indian Constitution has been amended more than 100 times. This makes it one of the most frequently changed national governing documents in the world. Many amendments deal with issues that other countries might handle with simpler laws.
Limits on Changing Laws
In a famous case called Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, the Supreme Court ruled that Parliament cannot change the "basic structure" or core ideas of the Constitution. This means Parliament can't destroy what the Constitution stands for, even when making amendments. If an amendment violates this basic structure, the courts can declare it invalid.
The Supreme Court said that the basic structure includes:
- The Constitution being the highest law
- India being a republic and a democracy
- India being a secular country (treating all religions equally)
- The separation of powers (executive, legislative, judicial branches having separate roles)
- India having a federal system
This means Parliament can only amend the Constitution up to the limit of its basic structure. The courts can review amendments to make sure this limit is not crossed.
The Judiciary: Protecting the Constitution
The judiciary (the court system) is the final decision-maker for the Constitution. Its job is to act as a watchdog. It stops any actions by the legislative or executive branches from going against the Constitution. The judiciary also protects the fundamental rights of people and balances power between the central and state governments.
Courts are expected to be independent and not influenced by other parts of the government or by outside groups. An independent judiciary is a basic feature of the Constitution.
Judicial Review: Checking the Laws
Judicial review means that courts can check if laws are fair and follow the Constitution. In India, Article 13 of the Constitution deals with judicial review.
- Any law made before the Constitution that goes against it will be considered ineffective.
- Any law made after the Constitution must follow it, or it will be declared invalid from the start.
- The Supreme Court or a high court decides if a law follows the Constitution. If a part of a law doesn't fit, that part can be removed.
The Supreme Court has ruled that judicial review is a basic characteristic of the Constitution. This means it cannot be taken away.
The Executive: Leading the Country
The President and Prime Minister
The Constitution creates a parliamentary system where the Prime Minister holds most of the executive power. The Prime Minister must have the support of most members in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament. If the Prime Minister loses this support, the Lok Sabha can remove them from office. The Prime Minister leads the Council of Ministers, who head different government departments. This Council is responsible to the Lok Sabha.
Even though the Prime Minister has real power, the Constitution officially gives all national executive power to the President. However, the President must follow the "aid and advice" of the Council of Ministers, led by the Prime Minister. This means the President's role is mostly ceremonial, while the Prime Minister actually runs the government. The President can ask the Council to rethink its advice, but if the Council sends it back unchanged, the President must accept it. This system is similar to the British system and was influenced by India's colonial past.
The President is chosen by an electoral college, which includes members from both national and state legislatures.
For a bill to become law, it needs the President's signature. The President can send a bill back to Parliament for reconsideration. But if Parliament sends it back again, the President must sign it.
Presidential Power to Make Temporary Laws
When Parliament is not meeting, the Prime Minister, acting through the President, can make temporary laws called ordinances. These ordinances have the same power as regular laws. They expire six weeks after Parliament meets again, or sooner if Parliament disapproves. The Constitution says ordinances should only be used for "immediate action." However, some governments have used them to pass laws that might not get approved by Parliament.
Federalism: Sharing Power
The first article of the Constitution says India is a "Union of States." This means power is shared between the central government and the state governments. States have important powers and can influence the central government through the Rajya Sabha. However, the Constitution also limits state powers and gives the central government the final say in many areas.
State Powers in the Constitution
Rajya Sabha: States' Voice in Parliament
The states are represented in the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) at the central level. The Constitution explains how many seats each state gets, based on its population. Members of each state legislature elect these representatives. The Rajya Sabha has equal power with the Lok Sabha on most topics, and its approval is needed for a bill to become law. This gives states a significant say in national politics.
State List: Powers for States
The Constitution gives states a long list of powers that only they can make laws about. These powers are in the "State List" of the Seventh Schedule. The central government usually cannot make laws on these topics. The State List covers areas like public health, law and order, agriculture, and elections.
Powers can only be permanently removed from the State List by changing the Constitution, which needs approval from most states. The Rajya Sabha can temporarily remove an item from the State List for one year, allowing the central Parliament to make a law on it.
Amendments: States' Role in Changes
States are sometimes involved in changing the Constitution. If an amendment directly affects the states, it must be approved by a majority of state legislatures to become law.
Limits on State Powers
Union and Concurrent Lists: Central Government's Say
Besides the State List, there are two other lists that limit state powers. The "Union List" contains powers only the central government can legislate on, such as national defense, foreign relations, and banking.
The "Concurrent List" includes topics where both the central and state governments can make laws, like courts, criminal law, and education. If central and state laws on a Concurrent List item conflict, the central law usually wins. A state law can only override a central one with the President's approval.
Any powers not on any of the three lists are reserved for the central government.
Appointment of Governors
The Governor of each state is appointed directly by the President (meaning the Prime Minister chooses them). A Governor serves for five years or can be replaced by the President at any time. Because the central government can remove a Governor, Governors might sometimes act in a way the central government prefers, even if it's not best for their state.
However, a Governor usually has to listen to the advice of the state's Chief Minister. But in some cases, like sending a bill to the President instead of signing it, the Governor doesn't need to follow the Chief Minister's advice.
Creation of States
The central government has the power to create new states or change the borders of existing ones. Parliament can do this with a simple law. The states involved don't have a final say, but their legislatures must be asked for their comments. For example, Telangana was created in 2014. More recently, Ladakh became a new Union Territory in 2019, and Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli were combined into one Union Territory in 2020.
Federalism and the Courts
While states have their own legislative and executive branches, they share the court system with the central government. This is different from some other countries. In India, state High Courts are part of the national Constitution. All cases, whether about central or state laws, go through the same court system, which is called "integrated federalism."
The Constitution: A Living Document
The Indian Constitution is designed to be flexible and adapt to changing times. It's not just a piece of paper; it's a guide for how people live and how the country develops. It uses general language so that it can be interpreted for new situations.
For example, the "right to life" (Article 21) has been expanded by the courts to include many other human rights, such as:
- The right to a speedy trial
- The right to clean water
- The right to earn a living
- The right to health
- The right to education
As former Supreme Court Justice Hans Raj Khanna said, the Constitution is our heritage, and we, the people of India, are its protectors. It's a way of life that we must live up to.
Translations into Indian Languages
The Constitution of India has been translated into many of the 22 official languages of India.
Hindi Translation
The Hindi translation was the first among Indian languages. Raghu Vira, a linguist and member of the Constituent Assembly, led this effort in 1948. He created many new words for legal and scientific terms, which were later approved by experts from thirteen languages. This Hindi vocabulary then helped in translating the Constitution into other Indian languages.
Bengali Translation
The Constitution was first translated into Bengali language and published in 1983 in Kolkata. The most recent edition, including up to the 105th Amendment, was published in 2022.
Meitei Translation
The Constitution was first translated into Meitei language (also known as Manipuri language) and published on January 3, 2019, in Imphal. This version included up to the 95th Amendment. On November 26, 2023, a special edition was released in both Meitei script and English, including up to the 105th Amendment. This edition is now available in schools and government offices in Manipur state.
Odia Translation
The Constitution was first translated into Odia language and published on April 1, 1981, in Bhubaneswar.
Sanskrit Translation
The Constitution was first translated into Sanskrit language and published on April 1, 1985, in New Delhi.
Tamil Translation
The fourth edition of the Constitution in Tamil language was published in 2021 in Chennai. It includes up to the 105th Amendment.
Maithili Translation
In 2010, Bhairava Lal Das published a Maithili version. More recently, on November 26, 2024, the President of India officially launched another Maithili version of the Constitution.
Kashmiri Translation
In November 2025, the Constitution of India was translated into the Kashmiri language. This official translation was prepared by a team from the University of Kashmir and released on Constitution Day (November 27, 2025) by Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi. This translation, along with others in languages like Malayalam, Marathi, and Assamese, aims to make constitutional texts more accessible to Kashmiri-speaking citizens.
See also
In Spanish: Constitución de India para niños
- Constitution Day (India)
- Constitutionalism
- Democracy in India
- List of national constitutions
- Rule according to higher law
- Uniform Civil Code
