Amendments to the Constitution

  Amendments to the Constitution are made by the Parliament, the procedure for which is laid out in Article 368. An amendment bill must be passed by both the Houses of the Parliament by a tw o-thirds majority and voting. In addition to this, certain amendments which pertain to the federal nature of the Constitution … Read more

Historical Underpinning and Evolution

  Evolution of Indian Constitution Although the systems of ancient India do have their reflections in the Constitutions of India, the direct sources of the Constitution lie in the administrative and legislative developments of the British period.   Regulating Act of 1773 This Act was based on the report of a committee headed by the … Read more

Modern Period

  Later Mughals 1707-12 Bahadur Shah I 1712-13 Jahandar Shah 1713-19 Farukk Siyar 1719-48 Muhammad Shah Rangila 1748-54 Ahmad Shah 1754-59 Alamgir II 1759-1806 Shah Alam II 1806-1837 Akbar Shah II 1837-57 Bahadur Shah II     Later Mughal Rulers Bahadur Shah I After the death of Aurangzeb, prince Muazzam, Azam & Kam Bakhsh fought … Read more

Indian Religious Books

  Puranas Divided into sarga, pratisarga, manvantantar, vamsa (genealogical list of kings) & vamsanucharita. 18 main puranas & 18 subsidiary puranas. Vedas Meaning “knowledge”. Rigveda (hymns), Yajurveda (sacrificial formulae), Atharvaveda (magical charms & spell), Samveda. Vedas are called aparusheya (not created by man) & nity Upanishads About 200 in number. Deal with philosophy. Oldest & … Read more

Basic Structure of Indian Constitution

Basic Structure The basic structure doctrine is an Indian judicial principle that the Constitution of India has certain basic features that cannot be altered or destroyed through amendments by the parliament. Key among these “basic features”, are the fundamental rights granted to individuals by the constitution. The doctrine thus forms the basis of a limited … Read more

Fundamental Rights

Fundamental Rights Discrimination not on grounds only of Art 15: religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth Art 16: religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, residence Reservation First Backward Classes Commission: 1953, Kaka Kalelkar Second BCC: 1979, B P Mandal (by Morarji Desai govt) Article 340 Reasonable Restrictions Speech and Expression: sovereignty and … Read more

Union and State Executive

Governor Same person can be appointed the governor of two or more states Appointed by the President May resign by writing to the President Qualification Citizen of India 35 years of age Art 161: Pardon for any offence against a law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the state extends Constitution … Read more