Polity · X-Factor Notes
The Constitutional Development of India revision notes for UPPCS Prelims.
78 revision facts
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Council Act 1892 | Maintained the official majority in legislative councils. Indian members gained the right to ask questions and discuss the budget in the legislative council. Introduced the principle of election, though the word 'election' was avoided. | - |
| Indian Council Act 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms) | Provided for the first time the association of Indians with the executive councils of Viceroy & Governors. Enlarged the functions and size of legislatures; members could ask Supplementary questions. Provided separate electorates for Muslims.Lord Minto became known as the father of communal electorate. | - |
| First Indian to join Viceroy's Executive Council | Satyendra Prasad Sinha joined as a law member. | - |
| Government of India Act 1919 (Montagu Chelmsford Reforms) | First time adopted the Direct Election system. Extended communal representation to Sikhs, Indian Christians, Europeans, and Anglo-Indians. Introduced Bicameralism at the Central level. Separated Central and Provincial subjects. | - |
| Dyarchy (Diarchy) | Refers to dual government. Introduced in the provinces. Provincial subjects divided into transferred and reserved parts. Abolished in provinces and introduced at Centre by the 1935 Act. | IAS 2012, UPPCS Pre 2003, UPPCS Mains 2017 |
| Responsible Government | The term was used for the first time under the Government of India Act 1919. | - |
| Indian Civil Service (ICS) | The Government of India Act, 1919, provided for a separate examination for the ICS to be held in India (first in Allahabad). | UP R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2021 |
| Government of India Act 1935 | Provided for the establishment of an All India Federation (provinces and princely states). Introduced dyarchy at the centre and abolished it in the provinces. Provided for the establishment of a Reserve Bank of India. | IAS 2009, IAS 2012, UPPCS Pre 1999, UPPCS Mains 2010 |
| Written Constitution | Provision for a written Constitution was not mentioned in the Government of India Act, 1935. | UPPCS Mains 2010 |
| Federal Court | Set up in 1937 through the Government of India Act, 1935. | UPPCS Pre 2014, UPPCS Mains 2015 |
| Separation of Burma | Separated from British India by the Government of India Act 1935. | - |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Idea of Constituent Assembly | First put forward by M.N. Roy. | 1934, UPPSC GIC 2017 |
| First formal demand for CA (May 1934) | Made by the Swaraj Party at a conference in Ranchi. | |
| INC Demand for CA (1934) | Indian National Congress officially demanded a Constituent Assembly. | |
| Acceptance of CA Demand (1940) | Accepted in principle by the British Government in the August Offer. | |
| Proposal for Framing of Constitution (1942) | The proposal for framing the Constitution by an elected CA was made by the Cripps Mission. | |
| Constituent Assembly Basis 1946 (Cabinet Mission) | Constituted under the scheme formulated by the Cabinet Mission Plan. | UP Lower Sub. 2009 |
| Representation in CA | One representative per 10 Lakh people. Members were indirectly elected; election was not based on Adult Franchise. | |
| Composition (Elected Members) | Members from the Provinces were elected by the Provincial Legislative Assemblies. | IAS (Pre) 2013, UP PCS (Pre) 1993 |
| Nature of Body | The Constituent Assembly was a multi-party body, including Congress, Muslim League, and independents. | IAS (Pre) 1993 |
| Princely States | Representatives of Princely States were to be nominated by their heads. They began joining gradually starting with the third session (28 April 1947). | - |
| Drafting Committee Formation | Set up under the Chairmanship of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar by resolution. (August 29, 1947) | UPPCS Mains 2008 |
| Adoption of National Anthem | 'Jana Gana Mana' adopted by the Constituent Assembly on January 24, 1950. | |
| Adoption of State Emblem | Extracted from the Ashoka pillar at Sarnath, adopted by Government of India on January 26, 1950 | |
| Constitutional View | View: "In their nationalist reaction, the Founding Fathers of Indian Constitution tended to minimize the importance of minority interests and emotions." Credited to Ivor Jennings. | UPPCS (Spl) (Mains) 2004 |
| Quoted Constitutional View | View: India is a Quasi-Federal State. Credited to K.C. Wheare. | UPPCS Pre 2019, UPPSSC GIC 2010, UPPCS Pre 2020 |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Interim Government (1946) VP | Jawaharlal Nehru was the Vice-President of the Executive Council. | IAS (Pre) 1995 |
| CA First Meeting | Held on December 9, 1946 in New Delhi; 207 members participated. | |
| CA Temporary President | Dr. Sachchidanand Sinha presided over the first meeting on 9 December 1946. | UP PCS (Pre) 1990, UP PCS (Mains) 2013 |
| CA Permanent President | Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected on 11 December 1946. | Uttarakhand U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2007 |
| CA Permanent Vice-President | First permanent Vice-President: H.C. Mukherjee. First nominated/temporary Deputy Chairman: Frank Anthony. | |
| Constitutional Advisor to CA | Benegal Narsing Rau (B.N. Rau) was appointed. | - |
| Drafting Committee Chairman | Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. (29 Aug, 1947) | IAS 2009, UPPCS Pre 1995, UP R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2014 |
| Drafting Committee Members (Exclusions) | Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel were not members of the Drafting Committee. | UPPCS Pre 2014, UPPCS Mains 2012 |
| Drafting Committee Congress Member | K.M. Munshi was originally the only Congress Member of the Drafting Committee. | |
| Union Constitution Committee | Chairman: Jawaharlal Nehru. | IAS (Pre) 2005 |
| Provincial Constitution Committee | Chairman: Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. | UP PCS (Mains) 2008 |
| Steering Committee | Chairman: Dr. Rajendra Prasad. | UP PCS (Mains) 2008 |
| Committee on Rules of Procedure | Chairman: Dr. Rajendra Prasad. | UP PCS (Mains) 2008 |
| Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities, Tribal and Excluded Areas | Chairman: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. | |
| Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee | Chairman: J.B. Kripalani. | - |
| Minority Sub-Committee | Chairman: H.C. Mukherjee. | - |
| Objective Resolution | Presented by Jawaharlal Nehru on Dec 13, 1946. | UPPCS Mains 2007 |
| Objective Resolution Adoption | Unanimously adopted by the Constituent Assembly on January 22, 1947, | UPPCS Pre 1998 |
| Total Time to Frame Constitution | 2 years, 11 months and 18 days. | UPPCS Mains 2005, UPPCS Mains 2007 |
| Total CA Sessions | 11 sessions covering 165 days (12 sessions counting the final signing day). | UPPCS Mains 2005 |
| Last CA Meeting Date | Members appended their signature to the Constitution on January 24, 1950, | UPPCS Pre 2018 |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Completion/Adoption/Enactment Date | The date the Constitution was completed, adopted, and passed was November 26, 1949. Provisions for Citizenship, Interim Parliament, and Emergency came into force on this date. | UPPCS Mains 2010, UPPCS Pre 2002, BPSC 1990,UPPCS Mains 2013, UPPCS Mains 2015, |
| Commencement/Enforcement Date | The date the remaining provisions of the Constitution came into effect. January 26, 1950 | UPPCS Pre 1990 |
| Constitution Day | Celebrated on November 26th. | |
| Women in Constituent Assembly | There were 15 women members in the Indian Constituent Assembly. | - |
| Disbanding INC Suggestion | Mahatma Gandhi suggested that the Indian National Congress should be disbanded as a political party after independence. | UPPCS Mains 2011 |
| INC President at Partition | J.B. Kripalani was the President of the Indian National Congress at the time of partition. | |
| Head of State Election | Under the Indian Constitution, the head of the State (President) is not elected directly by the people, but by people’s representatives. | UPPCS Mains 2010, UPPCS Mains 2017 |
| Source of Government Power | The States and the Central Government derive power from the Constitution of India. | |
| Preamble Status on Jan 26, 1950 | India was a Sovereign Democratic Republic. (The words Socialist, Secular, and Integrity were added later). | IAS (Pre) 2021 |
| Preamble Justice Types | Secures three types of justice: Social, economic and political. | UPPCS Pre 2018,UPPCS Mains 2016 |
| Preamble Amendment (1976) | The words ‘Socialist’, ‘Secular’ and ‘Integrity’ were incorporated in the Preamble by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act. | UPPCS Mains 2017, UPPCS Mains 2010, UPPCS Mains 2006, UPPCS (Spl) (Mains) 2008, UPPCS Pre 2010, UPPCS Pre 1991 |
| "Soul" of the Constitution | The Preamble is called the 'Soul of the Constitution'. Dr. Ambedkar called Article 32 the core soul of the Constitution. | UPPCS Mains 2015, U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2006, UPPCS Pre 2008, UPPCS Mains 2013 |
| Preamble as part of Constitution | Accepted as a part of the Constitution in the Keshavanand Bharti case,1973. | U.P.P.S.C. (R.I.) 2014 |
| Mind of Makers Reflected in | The mind of the makers of the Constitution is reflected in the Preamble. | IAS (Pre) 2017, U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2013 |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Constitution Completion | The third reading started on 17 November 1949 and completed on 26 November 1949. | UP PSC (R.I.) 2014 |
| Chronological Events (CA Related) | Cripps Mission, Quit India Movement, Cabinet Mission, Mountbatten Plan. | UPPCS RO-ARO 2023 Re-Exam |
| Other Major Chronological Events | Arrival of a UK Parliamentary Delegation in Delhi $\to$ Royal Indian Navy Revolt $\to$ Announcement of Cabinet Mission $\to$ Formation of Interim Government. | UPPSC Prelims 2024 |
| Interim Government (1946) | Formed on 24 August 1946. Jawaharlal Nehru was the Vice-President of the Executive Council; Viceroy was the President. | IAS (Pre) 1995 |
| Constitutional Status on 26 Jan 1950 | India was a Sovereign Democratic Republic. The words 'Socialist' and 'Secular' were added later. | IAS (Pre) 2021 |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Concurrent List | Borrowed from the Constitution of Australia. | UP PCS (Mains) 2014, 2011, 2012, 2016, UP Lower Sub (Pre) 2015, UP PCS (Pre) 2021 |
| Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) | Adopted from the Constitution of Ireland (Part IV, Articles 36-51). | UP PCS (Pre) 1998, UP Lower Sub (Spl) (Pre) 2004, IAS (Pre) 1993 |
| Representation to talent/experience in Council of States | Influenced by the example of the Irish Republic. | UP PCS (Pre) 1998 |
| Fundamental Rights | Adopted from the Constitution of the United States of America. | UP RO/ARO (Pre) 2014, UP UDA/LDA (Pre) 2006, 2010 |
| Independence of Judiciary | Adopted from the Constitution of the United States of America. | - |
| Post of Vice-President | Adopted from the Constitution of the United States of America. | - |
| Parliamentary System | Influenced by the system of the United Kingdom (Britain/England). | IAS (Pre) 1993 |
| Rule of Law | Adopted from England. | UP PCS (Pre) 2021 |
| Procedure Established by Law | Adopted from Japan. | UP PCS (Pre) 2021 |
| Reserving bill by Governor for President's consideration | Adopted from Canada. | UP PCS (Pre) 2021 |
| Written Constitution Tradition | Began in the United States of America (America). | |
| Quasi-Federal Terminology | The Indian system of government was termed 'Quasi-Federal' by K.C. Wheare. | UP PCS (Pre) 2019, UPPCS RO-ARO 2023 Re-Exam |
