Question

highlight the salient features of constitution of India

Answer 1

A lot many answers have been posted already and I do not wish to post the same features and create repetition.

It may be interesting to observe for students of Political Science that the Constitution has undergone too many amendments over the period since its inception in 1950. Our founding fathers had given our constitution the shape and language which they, in their collective wisdom, at that point in time thought to be appropriate. However with the passage of time there have been several amendments to it, some good, some not so good, but possibly to accommodate the needs of the changing times as well as the political masters in power.

To me, the most important contribution of our Constitution appears to be in the success of stitching the nation into one, despite the differences in language, culture, class etc. Barring a few incidents ,the Federal structure of the country has held itself well. There is a strong independent Judiciary which has, time and again, taken on Governments, both central and states and have showed its Authority. The theoretical idea of being a secular Nation has been fantastic and by and large majority of the peace loving common people are reasonably secular at heart. If there has been religious bias and outbursts on several occasions, it has more been due to hatred created for political gains by various political outfits. India has successfully passed the test of being the largest democracy, several electoral disturbances notwithstanding.

The above are the direct outcome of the features of our Constitution, which my fellow predecessors have lucidly mentioned. Its not easy to hold a country like India together, with such divurgent geographical, climatic, cultural and linguistic variation. Our Constitution has done just that.

Answer 2

Five salient features are:- 

1) Single Citizenship 

The Constitution of India recognises only single citizenship. In the United States, there is provision of dual citizenship. In India, we are citizens of India only, not of the respective states to which we belong. This provision would help in promoting unity and integrity of the nation. 

2) An Independent Judiciary 

The judiciary occupies an important place in our Constitution and it is also made independent of the legislature and the executive. The Supreme Court of India stands at the apex of single integrated judicial system. It acts as protector of fundamental rights of Indian citizens and guardian of the Constitution. 


3) Fundamental Duties 

A new part IV (A) after the Directive Principles of State Policy was incorporated in the constitution by the 42nd Amendment, 1976 for fundaments duties.

4) Fundamental Rights 

"A state is known by the rights it maintains", remarked Prof. H.J. Laski. The constitution of India affirms the basic principle that every individual is entitled to enjoy certain basic rights and part III of the Constitution deals with those rights which are known as fundamental rights. Originally there were seven categories of rights, but now they are six in number. They are (i) Right to equality, (ii) Right to freedom, (iii) Right against exploitation, (iv) Right to freedom of Religion, v) Cultural and Educational rights and vi) Right to constitutional remedies.