The Constitution of India holds a unique place in the country’s history. This is because it created a sovereign republic that is the modern state of India. The history of the Constitution offers some interesting insights into the state of affairs before Independence. It took persistent efforts for several years to draft and enact our Constitution.
Constitution of India
The Indian Constitution is one of the most comprehensive documents of its kind. Apart from being the longest, it is also famous for containing all minute details governing the Indian state.
Before Independence, India consisted of two entities: the British government and the princely states. It is the Constitution which formally ended these two distinctions and created the Union of India.
The Constitution of India is its lex loci, i.e. the parent of all laws in India. This basically means that all laws of Parliament and state legislatures derive their authority from the Constitution. Even the three pillars of the Indian state – legislature, executive and judiciary- derive authority from the Constitution.
Without the Constitution, we would not have the administrative machinery which runs India. Even the fundamental rights and duties of the people would not exist without the Constitution.
Browse more Topics under Indian Constitution
- Features of the Indian Constitution
- Preamble
- Union and Its Territory (Article 1 – 4)
- Citizenship (Article 5-11)
- Fundamental Rights – Right to Equality
- Fundamental Rights – Right to Freedom
- Fundamental Rights – Right against Exploitation (Very Short Article)
- Fundamental Rights – Right to Freedom of Religion
- Fundamental Rights – Cultural and Educational Rights
- Fundamental Rights – Saving of Certain Laws
- Fundamental Rights – Right to Constitutional Remedies
- Directive Principles of State Policy
- Emergency Provision and Special Provisions of the Indian Constitution
- Indian Parliament – Structure of Indian Parliament
- Indian Parliament – Functions of Indian Parliament
History of Indian Constitution
The history of the Constitution of India is very insightful as it explains exactly how it came into being. It also explains why India chose the Parliamentary form of democracy in its modern form.
The British came to India in the 17th century initially for trading only. Eventually, after slowly gaining more power, they attained the rights to collect revenue and govern themselves. In order to do this, they enacted various laws, rules and regulations.
According to the Charter Act of 1833, the Governor General of Bengal became the Governor General of India. It also created a Central Legislature, which, in a way, made the British supreme rulers of India.
The rule of the Company itself finally ended with the Government of India Act in 1858. As a result, the British Crown became ruler of India and administered the country through its government.
The Indian Councils Acts of 1861, 1892 and 1909 started giving representation to Indians in the Viceroy’s councils. They also restored legislative powers back to some provinces. In other words, they adopted decentralization of powers between the Centre and the provinces.
The Government of India Act, 1919
According to this Act, legislative councils came into existence in all provinces of the government. In other words, the British adopted a bicameral structure with separate central and provincial governments. This was also the first time when people could elect their own representatives through direct elections. The Constitution later adopted this quasi-federal and bicameral structure.
The Government of India Act, 1935
The enactment of this law is one of the most important events in the history of the Constitution. Firstly, this law divided powers of governance into a Federal List, a Provincial List and a Concurrent List. Even the Indian Constitution adopted such division of powers between the Central and state governments.
Secondly, this Act granted more autonomy of self-governance to the provinces. It even established the Federal Court, which we now refer to as the Supreme Court of India.
The Indian Independence Act of 1947
This Act marks the final step in the departure of the British from India. India became a truly independent and sovereign state after this Act. The Act established governments at the central and provincial levels. It also laid down the foundation of the Constituent Assembly.
Constituent Assembly
Members of the provisional assemblies indirectly elected members of the Constituent Assembly. This assembly served as the first ‘Parliament’ of independent India and first met on 9 December 1946 in Delhi. After Independence, the Assembly elected Dr Rajendra Prasad as its Chairman and began drafting the Constitution.
Dr Ambedkar became the head of the Drafting Committee. This is why he is called the Father of the Constitution. After more than two years of deliberations, the Assembly finally approved the Constitution on 26 November 1949. This is why we celebrate this day as Constitution Day today.
The Assembly finally adopted the Constitution on 26 January 1950. India formally became a sovereign republic that day. This is why we celebrate 26 January as India’s Republic Day.
Questions on History of the Constitution
Question: State the missing words in the following sentences.
(a) The three pillars of the Indian state derive their authority from the __________.
(b) The __________ Act allowed Indians to elect their representatives for the first time.
(c) __________ was the chairman of the Constituent Assembly.
(d) India celebrates Constitution Day on __________.
Answers:     (a) Constitution     (b) Government of India Act, 1919     (c) Rajendra Prasad     (d) 26 November
Leave a Reply