Meaning and Significance of the Indian

Constitution
Meaning of the Indian Constitution
 The Constitution of India is the chief and supreme law of India and it is in
the form of a written document that lays down the framework demarcating
fundamental political code, structure, procedures, authorities, and
responsibilities of government and sets out directive principles, fundamental
rights, and the duties of citizens.
 It is the lengthiest written constitution of any country in the world.
 DR.B.R. Ambedkar, who was the chairman of the drafting committee, is
also commonly known to be chief architect of the Indian Constitution.
 The first meeting of the constituent assembly had taken place on
9th December, 1946. On 11th December Dr. Rajendra Prasad took the
permanent chairmanship of the sovereign constituent assembly for India.
 The Indian Constitution imparts Constitutional supremacy instead of
parliamentary supremacy as it was created by the Constituent Assembly and
not the Parliament.
 Parliament cannot countermand override the constitution.
 It was adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949
and became effective on 26 January 1950. The Government of India Act
1935 got replaced by The Indian Constitution as the country’s fundamental
governing document, and the Dominion of India became the Republic of
India.
 The original document of the constitution is preserved in a helium-filled
case at the Parliament House in New Delhi.
 The constitution of Indian has a preamble. It is an introductory statement in
our constitution that guides the citizens of the nation. It declares India as a
sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic that assures its citizens a
life of equality, justice and liberty. The words secular and socialist were
added to the preamble in the year 1976 during the Emergency.

Significance of the Indian Constitution

 It describes how a democratic nation should function.
 It explains who will form the government and what will be its roles and
responsibilities.
 It explains the relationship between the state and the citizens.
 It limits the powers of the government and increases the role of citizens.
 It tells the people about the rights over and above the state.
 It also explains the duties of all Indian citizens.
 The constitution provides a lot of transparency to the system through its
detailed procedures that are to be followed while carrying out legislative,
executive and judiciary activities.
 Irrespective of any circumstances, because of the constitution, fundamental
rights cannot be taken away from any Indian citizen.
 Parliament cannot enact law that destroy the basic structure of our
constitution. This is for the welfare of the citizens. Examples of these are:
dignity of an individual, separation of power, principles of equality, free and
fair elections, free and independent judiciary, sovereignty of the country, etc.
 Indian constitution believes in sharing of power rather than centralization of
power or power in fewer hands.
 It lays down principles for people from different religions, castes, ethnic
groups so that they can live in harmony.