The Indian Constitution: Breaking Down Parts, Articles, and Schedules 1100 Words
India adopted her constitution on 26 January 1950. This is the most important legislation of the nation. This is a ‘living’ document, constituting aspirations of over one billion people, and it constitutes the base of Indian democracy. He described it as “novel framework of governance.” One of the world’s most elaborated constitutions, with 470 articles divided into 25 parts and 12 schedules. Let’s try to put its information about its structure-the parts, articles, and schedules.
Parts of Indian Constitution
The constitution has different parts dealing with various aspects of governance, rights, duties, and administration.
Part I:-
The Union and Its Territory (Articles 1-4)
Declares India as a “Union of States.”
Enunciates provisions relating to the formation, modification, and reorganization of states and union territories.
Part II:-
Citizenship (Articles 5-11)
Deals with provisions concerning citizenship as it is at the time of commencement of the Constitution.
Authorizes Parliament to provide in respect of citizenship laws.
Part III:-
Fundamental Rights (Articles 12-35)
Grants civil rights, which include equality, freedom of speech and religion, and constitutional redress.
Contains six types of basic rights:-
Right to Equality (Articles 14-18)
Right to Freedom (Articles 19-22)
Right Against Exploitation (Articles 23-24)
Right to Freedom of Religion (Articles 25-28)
Cultural and Educational Rights (Articles 29-30)
Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32)
Part IV:-
Directive Principles of State Policy (Articles 36-51)
Lists principles that the state should observe in the light of which social and economic welfare will be enhanced.
It has provisions for the establishment of a welfare state.
Part IV-A:-
Fundamental Duties (Article 51A)
Added by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976.
Provides 11 fundamental duties for Indian citizens.
Part V:-
The Union (Articles 52-151)
It deals with the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Council of Ministers.
It describes the working of the Parliament and the judiciary at the centre level.
Part VI:-
The States (Articles 152-237)
This part describes the pattern of state governments.
Contains provisions relating to the Governor, Chief Minister, State Legislature, and High Courts.
Part VII:-
Originally related to Part-B states, later repealed by the 7th Amendment Act, 1956.
Part VIII:-
The Union Territories (Articles 239-242)
Resonates with the provisions of the administration of union territories.
Part IX:-
Panchayati Raj (Articles 243-243O)
Enacted through the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992.
It is a rural governance framework of local self government.
Part IX-A:-
Municipalities (Articles 243P-243ZG)
Enacted by the 74th Amendment Act, 1992.
It is an outline of urban local governance
Part IX-B:-
Co-operative Societies (Articles 243ZH-243ZT)
Inserted through the 97th Amendment Act, 2011.
It deals with provisions of the governance of co-operative societies.
Part X:-
The Scheduled and Tribal Areas (Articles 244-244A)
States administration and control of scheduled areas and tribes.
Part XI:-
Relations Between the Union and the States (Articles 245-263)
Relates to the states legislative and administrative relations.
Part XII:-
Finance, Property, Contracts, and Suits (Articles 264-300A
Relates to taxation, borrowing, and property issues.
Part XIII:-
Trade, Commerce, and Intercourse (Articles 301-307
Relates to free trade and commerce in all parts of India.
Part XIV:-
Services Under the Union and the States (Articles 308-323
It deals with the recruitment and conditions of service of civil servants.
Part XIV-A:-
Tribunals (Articles 323A-323B)
It was added by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976.
It has provision for administrative and other tribunals.
Part XV:-
Elections (Articles 324-329A)
It has working of the Election Commission.
It has conduct of elections in India.
Part XVI:-
Special Provisions Relating to Certain Classes (Articles 330-342)
It safeguards the interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other backward classes.
Part XVII:-
Official Language (Articles 343-351)
It declares Hindi to be the official language of India.
Provisions regarding the use of the English language and other languages
Part XVIII:-
Emergency Provisions (Articles 352-360)
The power of the President in declaring national, state, or financial emergencies.
Part XIX:-
Miscellaneous (Articles 361-367)
Includes provisions related to legal immunities and interpretations
Part XX:-
Constitutional Amendment of the Constitution (Article 368
Describes in what way the constitution is possible to be amended.
Part XXI:-
Transitional, Temporary, and Special Provisions (Articles 369-392)
Enumerates temporary provisions and special provisions for some states.
Part XXII:-
Short Title, Commencement, Authoritative Text in Hindi, and Repeals (Articles 393-395)
The Constitution ends up in formal declarations.
Articles of Indian Constitution
The Constitution initially had 395 articles. This number has been altered to now amount to 470. Articles are the draft paper of the government.
Some of the most crucial among these articles are;
Article 14:-
Equal before the law
Article 21:-
Life and personal liberty.
Article 32: Constitutional remedies
Article 44: Uniform civil code
Article 368: Amendment procedure in respect of the Constitution.
Schedules of Indian Constitution
Schedules are a set of papers, classifying and categorizing administrative and policy requirements.
Schedule I:-
India States and Union Territories
States and union territories are listed.
Schedule II:-
Provisions Relating to the President, Governors and Others
Salaries, allowances, and privileges.
Schedule III:
Forms of Oaths and Affirmations
Oath of elected members and judicial officers.
Schedule IV:
Allocation of seats in Rajya Sabha
It deals with the state’s and union territory, on which basis it allows them to have some seats or so.
Schedule V:
Administration of Scheduled Areas
It deals with administration done in scheduled areas and among the scheduled tribes.
Schedule VI:
Administration of Tribal Areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram
It is supposed to contain tribal administration
Schedule VII:
Powers
This Schedule manages Union List, State list, and Concurrent list, managing their legislative power in proper detail.
Schedule VIII:
Official Languages
This contains a list of 22 languages that enjoy the status of being an official language.
Schedule IX:
Validation of Certain Acts and Regulations
This shields some acts from judicial review.
Schedule X:
Anti-Defection Law
This is enacted by the 52nd Amendment Act, 1985.
It provides grounds for disqualification on grounds of defection.
Schedule XI:
Panchayati Raj
It describes functional areas of Panchayati Raj institutions.
Schedule XII:
Municipalities
It describes functional areas of urban local bodies.
Conclusion
It is not a mere legal document, but the Indian Constitution is a social contract meant to enforce justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity. Its complex part structure, articles, and schedules are such that they maintain the balance of powers and attend to the diverse needs of the nation. This has helped the process of amendments enrich its scope over the years and make it a dynamic framework. Thus, citizens will take an active role in democracy as a true citizen who knows what values are being promoted by the Constitution.
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