{"id":341146,"date":"2025-06-23T10:25:50","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T04:55:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/?p=341146"},"modified":"2025-06-23T10:25:50","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T04:55:50","slug":"psir-power-50-day-18-capsule-salient-features-of-indian-constitution-practice-qs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/psir-power-50-day-18-capsule-salient-features-of-indian-constitution-practice-qs\/","title":{"rendered":"PSIR Power 50 \u2013 Day 18 Capsule: Salient features of Indian Constitution + Practice Qs"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

Hello aspirants,<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s revision capsule of PSIR optional preparation covers preamble, fundamental rights, DPSPs and Fundamental Duties<\/p>\n

There are 9 ten-mark, 7 fifteen-mark, and 3 twenty-mark questions <\/strong>in the last 12 years PYQs<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    \n
  1. WHY THE CONSTITUTION MATTERS<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    • A 2007 survey (sixtieth Independence Day) showed overwhelming pride in Indian democracy \u2013 a direct \u201ccause-and-effect\u201d of the Constitution.
      \n\u2022 Many post-colonial states collapsed into authoritarianism; India, by contrast, became the world\u2019s largest and most vibrant democracy \u2013 the fruition<\/em> of the framers\u2019 vision of rule of law, secularism, democratic governance and fundamental rights<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

       <\/p>\n

        \n
      1. CHALLENGES THE FRAMERS FACED<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
        Challenge<\/strong><\/td>\nDetails & names<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Partition violence & princely integration<\/strong><\/td>\nPunjab & Bengal carnage; 500+ states. Junagadh, Hyderabad, Jammu-Kashmir resisted accession.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Cultural \/ religious diversity<\/strong><\/td>\n>10 % Muslims stayed; scores of languages & cultures had to be protected and<\/em> unified.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Aspirations of the marginalised<\/strong><\/td>\nScheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes expected a \u201cnew dawn\u201d.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Commitment to liberal democracy<\/strong><\/td>\nJawaharlal Nehru and colleagues insisted on universal adult franchise despite doubts about readiness.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

         <\/p>\n

          \n
        1. SOURCES THE DRAFTERS DREW UPON<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
            \n
          1. Government of India Act 1935<\/strong> \u2013 basic federal-parliamentary skeleton.<\/li>\n
          2. American Constitution<\/strong> \u2013 Fundamental Rights, written charter, judicial review.<\/li>\n
          3. Irish Constitution<\/strong> \u2013 Directive Principles of State Policy.<\/li>\n
          4. Jawaharlal Nehru\u2019s Objective Resolution (22 Jan 1947)<\/strong> \u2013 justice, liberty, equality, fraternity \u2192 became the Preamble.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Ideological wells<\/strong><\/p>\n

              \n
            • Western political modernity<\/strong> (A. R. Desai; Dipesh Chakrabarty\u2019s \u201cpolitical modernity\u201d).
              \n\u2022 Indian National Movement<\/strong> \u2013 Gandhian synthesis; B. R. Ambedkar\u2019s liberal-Buddhist link; Left thought (revolutionary communists, Congress socialists); revivalist neo-Vedanta.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Structural colonial build-up<\/strong><\/p>\n

                \n
              • Indian Councils Acts 1861, 1892, 1909 –> representative germs.
                \n\u2022 Govt-of-India Acts 1919 (dyarchy), 1935 (federalism, provincial autonomy).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                Borrowed institutions<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  \n
                • British Westminster<\/strong> \u2013 cabinet-parliamentary system.
                  \n\u2022 US<\/strong> \u2013 entrenched rights & independent judiciary.
                  \n\u2022 Irish<\/strong> \u2013 non-justiciable DPSP.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                   <\/p>\n

                    \n
                  1. PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS<\/u><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                    Scholar \/ idea<\/strong><\/td>\nEssence<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
                    Granville Austin\u2019s \u201cseamless web\u201d<\/strong><\/td>\nThree inter-twined strands: national unity & integrity; democratic institutions & spirit; social revolution for the masses.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                    Apparent hierarchy<\/td>\nUnity \u2192 democracy \u2192 social revolution (pyramidal indispensability).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                    Gandhi\u2019s \u201cRam Rajya\u201d<\/strong><\/td>\nFramers sought an era of justice & morality, not merely short-term fixes.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

                     <\/p>\n

                      \n
                    1. A BLUEPRINT FOR SOCIAL REVOLUTION<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                      Provision<\/strong><\/td>\nAim & scholarship<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                      Fundamental Rights (Part III)<\/strong><\/td>\nEgalitarian society; abolition of untouchability, universal liberty. Granville Austin<\/em>: \u201cfirst and foremost a social document\u201d. N. A. Palkhivala<\/em>: \u201canchor of the Constitution\u201d.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                      Directive Principles (Part IV)<\/strong><\/td>\nHumanitarian-soialist goals; \u201cpositive freedom\u201d.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                      Positive discrimination<\/strong><\/td>\nReservations for SC\/ST\/OBC; land-reform enabling clauses.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                      Critiques<\/strong><\/td>\nK. T. Shah: Constitution \u201calmost entirely political\u201d. Ambedkar\u2019s caution of \u201clife of contradictions\u201d \u2013 political equality vs social inequality.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                      Rejoinder<\/strong><\/td>\nRajeev Bhargava: DPSP possess \u201cmoral authority\u201d even if non-justiciable.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

                       <\/p>\n

                        \n
                      1. THE PREAMBLE \u2013 \u201cPOLITICAL HOROSCOPE\u201d (K. M. Munshi)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                        Identity card<\/em> (N. A. Palkhivala) \u2013 adopted in 1949; 42nd Amendment 1976<\/strong> inserted Socialist, Secular, Integrity<\/em>.
                        \n\u2022 \u201cWE, THE PEOPLE\u201d asserts popular sovereignty.
                        \n\u2022 Declares India Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic<\/strong>.
                        \n\u2022 Justice \u2013 social, economic, political; Liberty; Equality; Fraternity (Ambedkar\u2019s \u201cunion of trinity\u201d).
                        \n\u2022 Keshavananda Bharati 1973<\/em>: Preamble = part of basic structure.
                        \n\u2022 M. Hidayatullah: \u201clays down the pattern of our political society\u201d.<\/p>\n

                        Mosaic of ideologies<\/strong><\/p>\n

                          \n
                        • Liberalism<\/strong> \u2013 universal adult franchise & speech freedoms.<\/li>\n
                        • Individualism<\/strong> \u2013 dignity of the individual.<\/li>\n
                        • Republicanism<\/strong> \u2013 sovereignty of the people; Aakash Singh Rathore\u2019s Ambedkar\u2019s Preamble<\/em>.<\/li>\n
                        • Secularism & multiculturalism<\/strong> \u2013 Pratap Bhanu Mehta notes absence of God\/state religion.<\/li>\n
                        • Socialism<\/strong> \u2013 economic justice, 42nd Amendment.<\/li>\n
                        • Nationalism<\/strong> \u2013 unity & integrity.<\/li>\n
                        • Gandhism<\/strong> \u2013 implicit ahimsa, village panchayats; Odisha Assembly\u2019s 2020 Ahimsa resolution.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                          \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

                          PREAMBLE AS MORAL COMPASS<\/strong><\/p>\n

                            \n
                          • Supreme Court: \u201ckey to open the minds of the framers\u201d.
                            \n\u2022 Guides statutory & constitutional interpretation; inspires legislation.
                            \n\u2022 Requires active citizen participation to translate ideals into reality \u2013 poverty, inequality, gender bias remain unfinished tasks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                             <\/p>\n

                            ESSENCE<\/strong><\/p>\n

                            The Indian Constitution is simultaneously:<\/p>\n

                              \n
                            • A seamless web<\/strong> of unity, democracy and social revolution (Granville Austin).<\/li>\n
                            • An identity card<\/strong> (Palkhivala) and political horoscope<\/strong> (Munshi) mapping the nation\u2019s destiny.<\/li>\n
                            • A living charter that must guard freedoms (speech, religion, protest) even as new laws and technologies test its limits.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                              Its success ultimately depends, as Ambedkar suggested, on the people\u2019s commitment to constitutional morality<\/strong> \u2013 the daily practice of liberty, equality, fraternity and justice.<\/p>\n

                               <\/p>\n

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                              FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

                               <\/p>\n

                                \n
                              1. HISTORICAL BACKDROP \u2013 THE LONG DEMAND FOR RIGHTS<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                                Year \/ body<\/strong><\/td>\nWhat was demanded \/ decided<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                1885 INC formation<\/strong><\/td>\nEquality of rights with British subjects.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                Constitution of India Bill (1895)<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cHome-Rule Bill\u201d<\/td>\nFirst systematic schedule of proposed fundamental rights.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                Nehru Report (1928)<\/strong><\/td>\nDraft dominion constitution with enumerated fundamental rights.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                Karachi Session INC (1931)<\/strong><\/td>\nResolution on fundamental rights + economic policy.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

                                Constituent Assembly machinery<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                  \n
                                • Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights<\/strong> \u2013 Chair Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                                • Drafting Committee<\/strong> \u2013 Chair Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar<\/strong> \u2192 inserted rights into Part III<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                                    \n
                                  1. THE SIX LIVE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                                    #<\/strong><\/td>\nRight<\/strong><\/td>\nArticles<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                    1<\/td>\nEquality<\/strong><\/td>\n14-18<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                    2<\/td>\nFreedom<\/strong><\/td>\n19-22<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                    3<\/td>\nAgainst Exploitation<\/strong><\/td>\n23-24<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                    4<\/td>\nFreedom of Religion<\/strong><\/td>\n25-28<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                    5<\/td>\nCultural & Educational<\/strong><\/td>\n29-30<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                    6<\/td>\nConstitutional Remedies<\/strong><\/td>\n32<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

                                    The seventh \u2013 Right to Property<\/strong> \u2013 repealed by 44th Amendment (1978)<\/strong> <\/em>\u2192<\/em> now a legal right under Art 300A<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

                                      \n
                                    1. WHY THESE RIGHTS MATTER<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                                        \n
                                      • Granville S. Austin<\/strong> \u2013 rights + DPSP are the \u201cconscience of the Constitution\u2026 a seamless web reflecting the aims and aspirations of the people.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n
                                      • N. A. Palkhivala<\/strong> \u2013 rights are the \u201canchor \u2026 iron framework within which experiments in social and economic changes may be carried out,\u201d<\/em> allowing diverse ideologies to coexist.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                        Shield against the State<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                          \n
                                        • Every pre- or post-Constitution law must conform to Part III<\/strong>; non-conforming statutes are void.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                           <\/p>\n

                                            \n
                                          1. SCOPE & APPLICATION<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n
                                            Only for citizens<\/strong><\/td>\nFor all persons (inc. non-citizens)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                            Art 15 \u2022 16 \u2022 19 \u2022 29<\/td>\nArt 14 \u2022 20 \u2022 21 \u2022 22<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
                                              \n
                                            • Art 32<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cheart and soul of the Constitution\u201d<\/em> (Ambedkar) \u2013 direct petition to Supreme Court.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                               <\/p>\n

                                                \n
                                              1. LIMITATIONS, SUSPENSION & SPECIAL CASES<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                                                  \n
                                                • Reasonable restrictions<\/strong> (Art 19 clause 2, etc.): sovereignty, security, public order, decency\/morality, contempt of court, defamation, incitement.<\/li>\n
                                                • Emergencies<\/strong> \u2013 Art 358<\/strong> suspends Art 19; Art 359<\/strong> suspends court-enforcement of other rights.<\/li>\n
                                                • Art 33<\/strong> \u2013 Parliament may curb rights of armed forces \/ police \/ intelligence to ensure discipline.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                   <\/p>\n

                                                    \n
                                                  1. IMPACT ON THE ORGANS OF STATE<\/u><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n
                                                    Legislature<\/strong><\/td>\nExecutive<\/strong><\/td>\nJudiciary<\/strong><\/td>\nPrivate actors<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                                    Cannot pass rights-violating laws (subject to judicial review).<\/td>\nMust act within Constitutional bounds (see Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter<\/strong> prosecutions).<\/td>\nTheir own decisions must respect rights; higher courts can overturn.<\/td>\nArts 17, 15(2), 23 impose duties on individuals \/ companies; State has positive obligation<\/em> to protect.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

                                                     <\/p>\n

                                                      \n
                                                    1. SECULARISM \u2013 INDIA\u2019S \u201cPRINCIPLED DISTANCE\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                                                        \n
                                                      • Sarva Dharma Sambhava<\/strong> (equality of all religions) + Dharma Nirpekshta<\/strong> (state\u2019s equal distance).<\/li>\n
                                                      • Core Articles: 25, 26, 27, 28<\/strong> (+ minority rights 29-30; DPSP Art 44 Uniform Civil Code).<\/li>\n
                                                      • Rajeev Bhargava<\/strong>: Indian secularism lets the State \u201chelp or hinder religions\u2026 without the impulse to control or destroy them.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n
                                                      • Enables: state opening temples to Dalits; neutral funding of religious schools; social-justice interventions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                         <\/p>\n

                                                          \n
                                                        1. \u201cDUE PROCESS\u201d vs \u201cPROCEDURE ESTABLISHED BY LAW<\/strong>\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                                                          Feature<\/strong><\/td>\nDue Process of Law<\/strong><\/td>\nProcedure Established by Law<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                                          Origin<\/td>\nMagna Carta; US Bill of Rights<\/td>\nJapan Const. Art 31<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                                          Essence<\/td>\nCourt tests fairness & reasonableness<\/strong> of both law and process.<\/td>\nCourt examines only correct legislative procedure<\/strong>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                                          Why India chose the latter?<\/td>\nSir Benegal Narsing Rau\u2019s view –<\/strong> judicial veto blocking reforms; Govind Ballabh Pant<\/strong> wanted latitude for preventive detention amid post-Partition violence.<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                                          Judicial evolution<\/td>\nManeka Gandhi (1978)<\/strong> imported substantive fairness \u2192 Art 21 now embodies due-process content<\/strong> (concept of judicial borrowing<\/strong> \u2013 Manoj Mate<\/strong>).<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                                          Scholar note<\/td>\nAbhinav Chandrachud<\/strong>: Procedural due process has effectively entered Indian law via interpretation.<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

                                                           <\/p>\n

                                                          CONTEMPORARY THREATS TO SPEECH, EXPRESSION & PROTEST<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                                            \n
                                                          1. Criminal defamation<\/strong> (IPC \u00a7\u00a7 499-500).<\/li>\n
                                                          2. Contempt of court<\/strong> (cases: Prashant Bhushan<\/strong>, Kunal Kamra<\/strong>).<\/li>\n
                                                          3. Sedition evolution<\/strong> \u2013 \u00a7 124A IPC \u2192 SC suspension 2022<\/strong> (CJI N. V. Ramana); Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill 2023 \u00a7150<\/strong> (\u201csubversive activities\u201d) \u2013 critiques: Apurva Vishwanath, Upendra Baxi, Faizan Mustafa, Gautam Bhatia<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                                                          4. Press intimidation<\/strong> (Rights & Risks Analysis Group 2020; Dhaval Patel<\/strong>, Vinod Dua<\/strong>, Hathras).<\/li>\n
                                                          5. Artistic bans<\/strong> (\u201cPadmaavat<\/strong>\u201d, Wendy Doniger<\/strong>).<\/li>\n
                                                          6. RTI hurdles<\/strong>; attacks on activists.<\/li>\n
                                                          7. Online abuse<\/strong> (cases: Gauri Lankesh<\/strong>, Rana Ayyub<\/strong>).<\/li>\n
                                                          8. NSA \/ UAPA overreach<\/strong> (Dr Kafeel Khan<\/strong>, Devangana Kalita<\/strong>).<\/li>\n
                                                          9. Fake-news FIRs<\/strong> (Shehla Rashid<\/strong>, Simranjeet Singh Mann<\/strong>).<\/li>\n
                                                          10. Internet shutdowns<\/strong> \u2013 Kerala HC Faheema Shirin R.K.<\/em>, UN HRC recognition.<\/li>\n
                                                          11. Protest limits<\/strong> \u2013 Shaheen Bagh<\/em> ruling; scholars Rajeev Bhargava, Menaka Guruswamy<\/strong> defend street dissent.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                                                             <\/p>\n

                                                            SEDITION & THE CONSTITUTION<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                                              \n
                                                            • Constituent Assembly<\/strong>: sedition<\/em> dropped after K. M. Munshi<\/strong> (\u201cThe essence of democracy is criticism of government<\/strong>\u201d) & Bhupinder Singh Mann<\/strong> interventions.<\/li>\n
                                                            • Colonial \u00a7 124A used on Tilak<\/strong>, Gandhi<\/strong> (who called it the \u201cprince among the political sections<\/strong>\u201d).<\/li>\n
                                                            • Kedar Nath Singh 1962<\/strong> narrowed to incitement-to-violence; Arup Bhuyan 2011<\/strong> adopted Brandenburg<\/strong> test.<\/li>\n
                                                            • Law Commission 2023<\/strong> wants retention with tweaks; meanwhile BNS \u00a7150 broadens offences.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                              Objections<\/strong>: colonial relic; executive misuse; chilling effect; minority suppression.<\/p>\n

                                                               <\/p>\n

                                                              RIGHT TO PROTEST \u2013 DEMOCRACY\u2019S SAFETY-VALVE<\/strong><\/p>\n