The Indian Constitution

Grade 8
Class Notes
 Chapters and Concepts Covered

What is a Need for a

constitution? constitution

The Indian
Constitution

Key features Making of

of the Indian the Indian
constitution constitution
 The Indian Constitution

A constitution is a set of basic rules

that is accepted by all the people living
together in a country.

It is the supreme law of the land that

determines the relationship between
citizens and the relationship between
the citizens and the government.

Need for a Constitution

Specifies how a Generates trust

government will and coordination
be constituted among people

Checks the power

Guarantees rights of the government
to the citizens of by protecting
a country the rights of
the citizens

Expresses the
aspirations of the
people pertaining
to creating
a good society
 Did You Know?

The idea of the preamble in

the Indian constitution is borrowed
from the Constitution of the United
States of America.

Making of the Indian Constitution: A Timeline

March 1946
Cabinet Mission
Plan is sent to
India for a smooth
transfer of power. May 1946
The Mission
recommends forming
a constituent assembly.
December 1946
India’s Constituent
Assembly meets
for the first time.
August 1947
A drafting committee
is constituted.
November 1949
The Indian
constitution is
adopted by
January 1950
the assembly.
The Indian
constitution
comes into effect.
 Constituent Assembly
Role: To oversee the process of
constitution-making
Members: 389 (pre-partition) and
299 (post-partition)
President: Dr. Rajendra Prasad
First meeting: 9 December 1946
Working: Discussed and disposed
of 2,473 amendments, out of
the 7,635 tabled

Drafting Committee
Role: To prepare the first draft
of the Indian constitution
Members: 7
Chairman: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Constitutional Advisor: Dr. B. N. Rau
Formed on: 29 August 1947
Working: Studied the constitutions of
more than 60 countries and
presented the first draft of
the Indian constitution

Did You Know?

The Indian constitution contains the Directive Principles of State
Policy that ensure social and economic reforms and assist
the government in developing laws and policies.

Federalism
Features of the Indian Constitution
Parliamentary form
of government
Separation
of powers
Secularism
Fundamental Rights
Fundamental Rights
Right to Equality
Ensures equal rights to all and
prohibits discrimination based
on religion, caste, or sex
Right against Exploitation
Prohibits human trafficking,
forced labour, and child labour
Cultural and
Educational Rights
Protects the rights of linguistic,
cultural, and religious minorities
Existence of more than one level
of government
The executive is responsible to
the lower house of the legislature.
A balance of power between the
legislature, executive, and judiciary
Separation of the State from religion
Basic rights guaranteed to all people
without discrimination
Right to Freedom
Right to freedom of speech
and expression, right to form
associations, and more
Right to Freedom of Religion
Right to practise, profess, and
propagate a religion of choice
Right to Constitutional
Remedies
Citizens can approach the
Supreme and high courts if
fundamental rights are
violated.
 Think It Over

Why is federalism important for a country like India?

Federalism is important for India because:
• It helps in the decentralisation of power at different levels.
• It helps in easing the burden of the central and state
governments.
• Federalism ensures that the needs and demands of people in
far-flung areas of the country are also fulfilled through localised
governance.
Why do political pundits describe the parliamentary government
as the prime ministerial government?
• It is because the Prime Minister is the real head of the
government and takes all major policy decisions.

Did You Know?

The system of separation of powers is also called the system of
checks and balances because it allows every organ to keep a
check on the misuse of powers by the other organs of the
government.

Important Questions

Question 1: Who was the President of

the Constituent Assembly? (1 mark)
Question 2: What are the key features of the Indian
constitution? Explain. (5 marks)
Question 3: Why does a country need a constitution? (3 marks)