📗 Indian Constitution at Work – Class 11 Political Science Book 2 Chapter 1: Constitution – Why and How? (2025–26)

📗 Indian Constitution at Work – Class 11 Political Science Book 2 Chapter 1: Constitution – Why and How? (2025–26)

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📘 Class 11 – Political Science
🎓 Academic Session: 2025–26

📗 Book: Indian Constitution at Work
📖 Chapter 1: Constitution – Why and How?


✨ "The Constitution is the soul of a nation – guiding our rights, duties, and democratic values."



❇️ What is the Constitution?

🔹 The Constitution is a set of rules and laws that defines how a country is governed. 🏛️

🔹 It provides a framework for:

•📋 Making laws

•⚖️ Dividing powers between different organs of government

•👥 Protecting the rights and duties of citizens

•

🔹 Through the Constitution, a government gets its sovereignty (स्वायत्तता – the power to govern independently).

🔹 Any law or rule made under the Constitution is automatically accepted and followed by the people. ✅

✨ In short, the Constitution acts like the foundation (आधार) of a country’s political and legal system. 🧱📜



❇️ Types of Constitutions in the World 🌍

🔹There are mainly two types of Constitutions found across the world:

1️⃣ Written Constitution ✍️ (लिखित संविधान)

📘 A Written Constitution is one that is formally created by a Constituent Assembly (संविधान सभा).
It is clearly documented and written in one or more legal texts.

🔹 It provides a systematic structure for governance and law-making. 🏛️

📌 Examples: India, United States of America (USA), Japan

2️⃣ Unwritten Constitution 🗣️ (अलिखित संविधान)

📘 An Unwritten Constitution is not prepared by any single Constituent Assembly.
Instead, it is based on traditions, judicial decisions, and laws passed over time. 🕰️⚖️

🔹 It evolves gradually and may not be written in a single document.

📌 Examples: Britain, New Zealand, Israel



❇️ Functions of the Constitution ⚖️📜

🔹 The Constitution performs several important functions to maintain order and governance in a country. Let's understand them one by one 👇

1️⃣ Establishes the Three Major Organs of Government 🏛️
It clearly defines the structure of the government by creating the three main organs:
👉 Legislature (विधायिका) – Makes the laws
👉 Executive (कार्यपालिका) – Implements the laws
👉 Judiciary (न्यायपालिका) – Interprets the laws

2️⃣ Defines Powers and Limits 🔐
The Constitution explains the powers of these three organs and also sets boundaries on their functions, so that no organ becomes too powerful. 🛑⚖️

3️⃣ Manages Mutual Relations 🤝
It regulates the relationship:
📌 Between the three organs of government
📌 Between the government and the people (जनता)

4️⃣ Reflects People's Aspirations 💭
The Constitution reflects the country’s:

•🔹 Social values (सामाजिक मूल्य)

•🔹 Political beliefs (राजनीतिक विश्वास)

•🔹 Economic goals (आर्थिक लक्ष्य)

It helps fulfill the dreams and hopes of the people and prevents anarchy (अराजकता – lawlessness). 🚫🧩



❇️ Constituent Assembly of India 🏛️🇮🇳

🔹 The Constituent Assembly was the body that framed the Constitution of India. Let’s understand its journey step by step 👇

🗓️ First Sitting:
✅ Held on 9 December 1946

🗓️ Reassembled for Divided India:
✅ On 14 August 1947, after the Partition


🗳️ How were its members selected?

🔹 Members were not directly elected by the people. Instead, they were indirectly elected by the Provincial Legislative Assemblies (प्रांतीय विधानसभाएँ) created under the Government of India Act, 1935.

🔹 The election followed the Proportional Representation method with Single Transferable Vote (STV) system.
(Proportional Representation = समानुपातिक प्रतिनिधित्व | STV = एकल संक्रमणीय मत प्रणाली)



📊 Composition of the Assembly:

🔹 As per the Cabinet Mission Plan (British Cabinet’s proposal):

•📌 292 members came from Provinces

•📌 93 seats were allotted to the Princely States (देशी रियासतें)

🔹 But after Partition, the total number of members was reduced to 299.


🗓️ Constitution Adopted:
✅ On 26 November 1949, the Constitution was formally adopted by the Assembly 🎉📜


📘 Committees:

🔹 The Constituent Assembly had formed 8 major committees 🛠️ to focus on different aspects of the Constitution like Fundamental Rights, Union Constitution, Provincial Constitution, etc.



❇️ Sessions of the Constituent Assembly 🏛️

🔶 First Session (9 Dec 1946) – Attended by 209 members. Dr. Sachchidanand Sinha was appointed as the Provisional President (अस्थायी अध्यक्ष).

🔶 Second Session (11 Dec 1946) – Dr. Rajendra Prasad became the Permanent President (स्थायी अध्यक्ष) of the Assembly. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was elected as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee (संविधान प्रारूप समिति के अध्यक्ष).

🔶 Third Session (13 Dec 1946) – Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru presented the Objective Resolution (उद्देश्य प्रस्ताव), which outlined India as a Sovereign Democratic Republic. It was accepted on 22 Jan 1947. (This resolution became the guiding model for framing the Constitution.)

🔶 Fourth Session (14 to 31 July 1947) – On 22 July 1947, the National Flag – Tricolor 🇮🇳 was officially adopted.



📜 The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 with 395 Articles, 22 Parts, 8 Schedules, and 3 Appendices. (Now the schedules have increased to 12)

🧾 As of 25 July 2017, the Constitution had 465 Articles. It was implemented on 26 January 1950.

🖊️ Out of 299/300 members, 284 were present on 26 Nov 1949 to sign the final Constitution.

📚 Every motion, word, and act of the Assembly is recorded in 12 volumes called Constituent Assembly Debates (सभा वाद-विवाद).



❇️ Time Taken & Total Sittings to Frame the Indian Constitution ⏳📜

🛠️ It took a total of 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days (2 साल 11 महीने 18 दिन) to complete the making of the Indian Constitution.

📅 During this period, the Constituent Assembly held 166 sittings (166 बैठकें हुईं).

💰 The total expenditure was around ₹64 lakh (64 लाख रुपये) in drafting the Constitution.



❇️ Women Members in the Constituent Assembly 👩‍⚖️

🔹 There were a total of 9 women members (9 महिला सदस्य) in the Constituent Assembly.

👑 Out of these, 3 played a major role and were part of several important committees.

✨ Key Names:

•Sarojini Naidu 🎤 (Prominent leader and orator)

•Hansa Mehta 📚 (Advocate for women's rights)

•Durgabai Deshmukh ⚖️ (Social reformer and educationist)

•

Other notable women included:

•Amrit Kaur 🏥 (First Health Minister of India)

•Begum Ejaz Rasool 🏛️

•Vijayalakshmi Pandit 🌍 (Diplomat and political leader)

•

💫 These women made remarkable contributions in shaping modern India’s Constitution.



The Preamble and Justice in the Constitution 📜⚖️

❇️ 3 Types of Justice in the Preamble:

1️⃣ Social Justice 🫂 – Ensures equity and fair treatment in society.
(सामाजिक न्याय = समाज में समानता और सम्मान)

2️⃣ Economic Justice 💰 – Aims to reduce inequality in wealth and opportunities.
(आर्थिक न्याय = नीति निदेशक तत्त्वों में वर्णित)

3️⃣ Political Justice 🗳️ – Provides right to vote and equal participation in elections.
(राजनैतिक न्याय = समान मतदान अधिकार)


📌 Important Facts about the Preamble:

🔹 The Preamble is considered a part of the Constitution (संविधान का हिस्सा).
🔹 It is known as the "Mirror of the Constitution" (संविधान का दर्पण).
🔹 KM Munshi called it the "Key to the Republic" and the essence of the Constitution (संविधान का सार).

🛠️ By the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, three new words were added:
(i) Socialism 🧑‍🤝‍🧑
(ii) Secularism 🕌✝️🕉️
(iii) Integrity (Unity & Integrity) 



National Symbols & Special Events 🇮🇳✨

🔸 22 July 1947 – The National Flag (Tricolor) 🇮🇳 was adopted by the Constituent Assembly.

🔸 24 January 1950 –
✔️ "Jana Gana Mana" was adopted as the National Anthem 🎶
✔️ "Vande Mataram" was declared the National Song 🎵

🔸 26 January 1950 –
✔️ The Ashoka Pillar 🦁 was declared the National Emblem (राष्ट्रीय चिन्ह)

🔸 14 September 1949 –
✔️ Hindi was declared the Official Language (राजभाषा),
✔️ and Devanagari as its official script (लिपि).



🧾 Other Important Facts:

🔹 In 2000, a National Commission was formed under Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah by the Vajpayee Government to review the working of the Constitution.

🔹 The name of our country in the Constitution is written in two ways:
"India, that is Bharat" (भारत यानी इंडिया).

🔹 The smallest Constitution in the world is of America 🇺🇸 – It has only 7 Articles, and came into force on 4 March 1789.



❇️ Sources of the Indian Constitution 📜🌍

🔹 About 75% of the Indian Constitution is borrowed from the Government of India Act, 1935.
🔹 10 Fundamental Rights (मौलिक अधिकार) were inspired by the Motilal Nehru Report, 1928.




🔹 Many features were also taken from the constitutions of other countries 🌐:


🌐 Country

🧩 Feature Borrowed

Britain

🏛️ Parliamentary Govt. (संसदीय शासन), ⚖️ Rule of Law (कानून का शासन), 🎙️ Speaker System (अध्यक्ष की व्यवस्था), 🗳️ First-Past-the-Post System (जिसे सबसे ज़्यादा वोट, वही विजेता)

USA

📜 Fundamental Rights (मौलिक अधिकार), 🔍 Judicial Review (न्यायिक पुनरावलोकन), 🧑‍⚖️ Independent Judiciary (स्वतंत्र न्यायपालिका)

Ireland

📘 Directive Principles of State Policy (राज्य के नीति निदेशक तत्व)

France

🕊️ Liberty (स्वतंत्रता), ⚖️ Equality (समानता), 🤝 Fraternity (बंधुत्व)

Canada

🏛️ Quasi-Federal Structure (मजबूत केंद्र के साथ संघीय व्यवस्था), 🧾 Residuary Powers to Centre (शेष शक्तियाँ केंद्र को)




📘 Features of the Indian Constitution

❇️ A complete and written Constitution made by the representatives of the people (जन प्रतिनिधि)

❇️ It declares India as a Sovereign (संपूर्ण प्रभुत्व संपन्न), Socialist (समाजवादी), Secular (धर्मनिरपेक्ष), Democratic Republic (लोकतांत्रिक गणराज्य)

❇️ Reminds every citizen of their Fundamental Rights (मौलिक अधिकार) and Fundamental Duties (मौलिक कर्तव्य)

❇️ Ensures an 🧑‍⚖️ Independent Judiciary (स्वतंत्र न्यायपालिका)

❇️ Works on a 🏛️ Parliamentary form of Government (संसदीय व्यवस्था)

❇️ Includes 📘 Directive Principles of State Policy (राज्य के नीति निदेशक तत्व) for welfare and justice



🧱 Is the Indian Constitution Rigid or Flexible?

❇️ Rigid Nature (कठोर प्रकृति)

🔹 The Indian Constitution is rigid because as per Article 368, some amendments require:

🔸 Special Majority (विशेष बहुमत) in Parliament – two-thirds of members present and voting
🔸 Plus, approval from at least half of the State Legislatures (राज्य विधानसभाएं)

📝 Example: Changing federal structure, election of President, etc.

❇️ Flexible Nature (लचीली प्रकृति)

🔹 At the same time, it is also flexible because many provisions can be changed by just a Simple Majority (सरल बहुमत) in Parliament

📝 Example: Formation of new states, change in names or boundaries, salaries, etc.



Constitution-Making Controversy in Nepal ❗

❇️ Since 1948, Nepal has had 6 Constitutions till now:

📅 Years: 1948, 1951, 1959, 1962, 1990, and 2006

🔹 There has been continuous political instability (राजनीतिक अस्थिरता) and conflict over representation (प्रतिनिधित्व को लेकर टकराव)

🔹 The current Madhesi Movement (मधेसी आंदोलन) is demanding better rights and representation

🔹 Many people in Nepal believe that the present constitution needs major amendments (संशोधन) to ensure equality and justice

✅ Nepal's experience shows that Constitution-making is not just a legal task, but a deeply political and social challenge 📜⚖️



📜 Fundamental Provisions of a Successful Constitution ✅

❇️ To make a Constitution truly successful, it must include the following key features:

🔹 Respect by All (सभी का सम्मान):
Every person should feel that the Constitution protects their interests — they must have a reason to respect (सम्मान करने का कारण) it.

🔹 Protection of Minorities (अल्पसंख्यकों की सुरक्षा):
There should be social security (सामाजिक सुरक्षा) for minorities and equal facilities (समान सुविधाएं) for all citizens.

🔹 Empowering Small Groups (छोटे समूहों को शक्ति देना):
The Constitution should strengthen the power of small social groups (छोटे सामाजिक समूह) so no one feels left out.

🔹 Freedom for All (सभी की स्वतंत्रता):
It must protect the freedom (स्वतंत्रता) of every individual in society.



🌍 Constitution of South Africa

❇️ When was it made?
🔹 The Constitution of South Africa was adopted in December 1996 📜✨
It is known for being one of the most progressive (प्रगतिशील) constitutions in the world.

🌐 Global Problems Covered in the Constitution 🧩

🔹 🌿 Environmental Protection (पर्यावरण संरक्षण)
🔹 ⚖️ Class Discrimination (वर्ग भेदभाव)
🔹 🏘️ Housing Problem (आवास की समस्या)
🔹 🏥 Health Issues (स्वास्थ्य समस्याएं)
🔹 💰 Global Poverty (वैश्विक गरीबी)

📌 South Africa’s Constitution doesn't just focus on political rules — it also fights social injustice and supports human dignity (मानव गरिमा) worldwide 🌍❤️



🔗 📚 Related Posts:


❓ 🙋‍♂️ FAQs – Constitution: Why and How? (Chapter 1)

Q1. What is the importance of a Constitution in a democracy?
A: It provides a legal framework, protects citizens’ rights, and defines powers and duties of the government.

Q2. Who made the Indian Constitution?
A: It was drafted by the Constituent Assembly of India, chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

Q3. What are the key features of the Indian Constitution?
A: Sovereignty, secularism, democracy, fundamental rights, federal structure, and rule of law.

Q4. Why was the Constitution necessary after independence?
A: To unify the country, ensure justice and equality, and provide governance structure post-colonial rule.

Q5. What is meant by Constitutionalism?
A: It refers to the principle that the government must operate within a framework of law and respect citizens’ rights.



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