You asked — what are the features of Indian constitution Class 11?

The features of the Indian Constitution studied in Class 11 include a federal structure, fundamental rights, directive principles of state policy, parliamentary system of government, separation of powers, and an independent judiciary. It also guarantees equality, secularism, and social justice among other principles.

And now, more closely

The Indian Constitution, studied in Class 11, encompasses several unique features that shape the governance and principles of the country. As an expert in this subject matter, I will delve into these features in detail, supporting my explanations with relevant quotes and interesting facts.

1. Federal Structure:

One of the prominent features of the Indian Constitution is its federal structure, which establishes a division of power between the central government and the state governments. This structure allows for the distribution of legislative, administrative, and financial powers between the two levels of government. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution, stated, “The chief virtue of a federal government is that it preserves the unit and at the same time maintains the diversity.”

1. Fundamental Rights:

The Indian Constitution guarantees fundamental rights to its citizens, ensuring protection and justice for all. These rights include the right to equality, freedom of speech and expression, right to religion, right to life and personal liberty, and more. These rights act as a foundation for citizens to exercise their individual freedoms. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.”

1. Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP):

The DPSP are a set of guidelines and principles in the Indian Constitution that the government must follow while formulating policies. These principles aim to establish social and economic justice, eliminate inequality, and promote the welfare of the people. They serve as a moral compass for the government to strive towards achieving an ideal society. Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, emphasized the importance of DPSP, stating, “The directive principles have a great value, and a government that ignores them ignores them at its peril.”

1. Parliamentary System of Government:

India follows a parliamentary system of government where the executive is responsible to the legislature. The President, as the constitutional head, represents the nation, while the Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister as their head exercises executive power. This system promotes democratic decision-making and accountability. Winston Churchill famously remarked, “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.”

1. Separation of Powers:

The Indian Constitution incorporates the doctrine of separation of powers, which ensures a balanced exercise of power among the three branches of government – the legislature, executive, and judiciary. This separation prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful or infringing on the rights of citizens. As Montesquieu, the French political philosopher, highlighted, “There can be no liberty where the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, or body of magistrates.”

1. Independent Judiciary:

The Indian Constitution upholds the principle of an independent judiciary, which acts as the guardian of the constitution and protector of citizens’ rights. The judiciary has the power of judicial review, enabling it to strike down any law or government action that goes against constitutional provisions. Chief Justice P.N. Bhagwati asserted, “The judiciary has to ensure that the fundamental rights of the citizens are protected against any invasion by the State.”

1. Equality, Secularism, and Social Justice:

The Indian Constitution emphasizes the principles of equality, secularism, and social justice. It promotes equal opportunities for all citizens, irrespective of their caste, gender, religion, or race. It aims to create a society free from discrimination and prejudice. “Social justice is the equal distribution of rights, privileges, and opportunities,” declared Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, emphasizing the significance of equity in a democracy.

In conclusion, the Indian Constitution studied in Class 11 encompasses various significant features that contribute to the democratic fabric of the nation. From its federal structure to fundamental rights, parliamentary system to separation of powers, and independent judiciary to principles of equality and social justice, these features collectively promote the ideals upon which modern India stands. Its uniqueness lies in the blending of diverse cultures, faiths, and aspirations under the umbrella of a constitutional framework.

List of Interesting Facts:

1. The Constituent Assembly of India took nearly three years (1946-1949) to draft the Indian Constitution, making it one of the lengthiest constitutions in the world.
2. The Indian Constitution has borrowed elements from various countries’ constitutional frameworks, including those of the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Ireland.
3. Dr. Rajendra Prasad became the first President of India after the adoption of the Constitution on January 26, 1950.
4. The Indian Constitution has been amended several times to accommodate social, political, and legal changes, with the current count of amendments being 105.
5. Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated on August 5, 2019, providing the region with equal constitutional rights and integration with the rest of India.

Table: Comparison of Key Features in International Constitutions

Note: This table highlights a comparison between the United States Constitution and the Indian Constitution regarding key features.

Response to your question in video format

The video titled “Class 11 Legal Studies Unit 1 Chapter 4 | Features of the Indian Constitution” discusses the key aspects of the Indian Constitution. It explains that the Indian Constitution is one of the longest in the world, consisting of 395 original articles, 12 schedules, and 97 amendments. The video also highlights the detailed provisions in the Constitution, such as fundamental rights, the powers and functions of the executive and the parliament, the judiciary, and citizenship. It further emphasizes the significance of the directive principles of state policy in governing the country. Overall, the Indian Constitution combines various features from different constitutions to create a democratic and inclusive framework for the functioning of India.

Here are some other responses to your query

What are the features of the Indian Constitution?

• Lengthiest Written Constitution.
• Blend of Rigidity and Flexibility.
• Parliamentary Government.
• Independent Judiciary.
• A federal system with Unitary Features.
• Secular State.
• Universal Adult Franchise.
• Emergency Provisions.

Constitution of India – Major Features

• 1. Lengthiest Written Constitution Constitutions are classified into written, like the American Constitution, or unwritten, like the British Constitution.
• 2. Drawn from Various Sources

Some of the Key Features of Indian Constitution are listed below: Federalism- Power division between Union and state Parliamentary Form of Government- Government by the people Separation of Powers- Between Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary Fundamental Rights- Civilian rights Secularism- Separation of State and Religion

Main Features of the Indian constitution –

• Lengthiest constitution in the world.
• Sovereignty resides in the people
• Parliamentary form of Government.
• Unique blend of rigidity and flexibility.
• Fundamental Rights.

I’m sure you will be interested