Making of Indian Constitution and Constitutional Framework

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the historical development, key figures, schedules, preamble keywords, and constitutional provisions of the Indian Constitution of the Indian Constitution.

M. N. Roy (1934)

The individual who proposed the idea of a constituent assembly and was the founder of the Communist Party of India (CPI).

Jawaharlal Nehru (1936)

Declared on behalf of the INC that the constitution of free India must be written without outside interference on the basis of Universal Adult Franchise.

August Offer (1940)

A response to Indian demands where the British government recognized for the first time the right of Indians to write their own Constitution and proposed dominion status.

Cripps Mission (1942)

A mission headed by Stafford Cripps that proposed an elected constituent assembly and dominion status for India with the right to secede for provinces.

Cabinet Mission (1946)

Comprised of Pethick-Lawrence, Stafford Cripps, and AV Alexander, it aimed to formulate a constituent assembly and form an interim government.

Interim Government (1946)

Formed on $2^{nd}\text{ September, }1946$ with Viscount Wavell (later Lord Mountbatten) as President and Jawaharlal Nehru as Vice President.

Dr. Sachidanand Sinha

The oldest member of the Constituent Assembly who served as its first provisional (temporary) President on $9^{th}\text{ December, }1946$.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad

The permanent President of the Constituent Assembly, elected on $11^{th}\text{ December, }1946$.

Objective Resolution

Moved by Jawaharlal Nehru on $13^{th}\text{ December, }1946$, outlining the philosophy and vision of the Indian Constitution; passed on $22^{nd}\text{ January, }1947$.

Mountbatten Plan (1947)

The plan that led to the partition of India, resulting in the membership of the Constituent Assembly being reduced to $299$ from the original $389$.

B. R. Ambedkar

The Chairman of the Drafting Committee and the primary architect of the Indian Constitution.

Benegal Narsingh Rau (B. N. Rau)

The legal adviser to the Constituent Assembly.

Prem Bihari Narain Raizada

The calligrapher of the Indian Constitution.

Adoption of the Constitution

Occurred on $26^{th}\text{ November, }1949$, consisting of the Preamble, $395\text{ Articles}$, and $8\text{ Schedules}$.

Purna Swaraj Day

The reason behind choosing $26^{th}\text{ January, }1950$ for the commencement of the Constitution, marking the date decided in the $1929\text{ Lahore Session}$.

Seventh Schedule

Outlines the division of powers between Centre and State into the Union List ($100\text{ subjects}$), State List ($61\text{ subjects}$), and Concurrent List ($52\text{ subjects}$).

Eighth Schedule

Recognizes $22\text{ official languages}$ originally including $14\text{ languages}$, with later additions like Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, and Santhali via the $92^{nd}\text{ Amendment}$.

Tenth Schedule

Relates to the Anti-Defection Law, added by the $52^{nd}\text{ Amendment Act of 1985}$.

Eleventh Schedule

Deals with Panchayati Raj and contains $29\text{ matters}$ added by the $73^{rd}\text{ Amendment Act of 1992}$.

Sovereign

A Preamble keyword meaning India is an independent authority and not a dominion or dependent of any foreign body.

Socialist

Added by the $42^{nd}\text{ Amendment Act of 1976}$, it reflects the Indian brand of 'Democratic Socialism' and a mixed economy.

Secular

Added by the $42^{nd}\text{ Amendment Act of 1976}$, it signifies that all religions in India enjoy the same status and support from the state.

Justice

A value in the Preamble encompassing Social, Economic, and Political forms, taken from the $1917\text{ Russian Revolution}$.

Keshavanand Bharati vs. State of Kerala (1973)

The Supreme Court ruled that the Preamble is an integral part of the Constitution and can be amended under $Article 368$ without changing the 'basic structure'.

Article 1

Specifies that '$India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States$' and that territory include States, UTs, and acquired territories.

Article 3

Provides Parliament the power to form new states or alter areas, boundaries, and names of existing states with the prior recommendation of the President.

Fazal Ali Commission

The States Reorganization Commission (SRC) constituted in $August 1953$ to recommend state boundaries based on language.

Citizenship Act 1955

Governs the acquisition (Birth, Descent, Registration, Naturalization, Incorporation) and loss (Renunciation, Termination, Deprivation) of citizenship.

Fundamental Duties

Provisions found in $Part IV-A$ under $Article 51-A$, added by the $42^{nd}\text{ Amendment Act of 1976}$ and borrowed from the USSR.

Residuary Powers

Under $Article 248$, the Union government has exclusive power to legislate on any matter not included in the three lists of the $7^{th}\text{ Schedule}$.