What are the main feature of …

The main federal features of the Indian Constitution are as follows: 1. Written Constitution: ADVERTISEMENTS: The Indian Constitution is a written document containing 395 Articles and 12 schedules, and therefore, fulfils this basic requirement of a federal government. In fact, the Indian Constitution is the most elaborate Constitution of the world. 2.Supremacy of the Constitution: India’s Constitution is also supreme and not the hand-made of either the Centre or of the States. If for any reason any organ of the State dares to violate any provision of the Constitution, the courts of laws are there to ensure that dignity of the Constitution is upheld at all costs. 3.Rigid Constitution: The Indian Constitution is largely a rigid Constitution. All the provisions of the Constitution concerning Union-State relations can be amended only by the joint actions of the State Legislatures and the Union Parliament. Such provisions can be amended only if the amend­ment is passed by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting in the Parliament (which must also constitute the absolute majority of the total membership) and ratified by at least one-half of the States.

1) Federalism: It refers to the existence of more than one level of government in the country. These are at the state and at the central levels. Citizens are governed by laws & policies made by each of these levels of government.

2) Parliamentary Form of Government: The Constitution of Indian guarantees universal adult suffrage for all citizens. This means every citizen of the country irrespective of his/her social background have a direct role in electing their representatives.

Representatives are thus accountable to the people in a parliamentary form of government.

3) Separation of Powers: There are three organs of the State: (a) the Legislature (b) the Executive and (c) the Judiciary.

a)The legislature refers to our elected representative; those who makes laws.

b) The executive is a smaller group of people who are responsible for implementing laws and running the government.

c) The judiciary refers to the system of courts in the country; who settles disputes and makes sure that laws are obeyed.

Each organ acts as a check on the other organs ofthe State and this ensures the balance of power between all three.

4) Fundamental Rights:

(i) The Fundamental Rights are referred to as the ‘conscience’ of Indian Constitution. Fundamental Rights protect citizens against the arbitrary and absolute exercise of power by the state.

(ii) The Constitution guarantees the rights of individuals against the State as well as against other individuals.

(iii) There are six Fundamental Rights in the Indian Constitution, which are: (i) Right to Equality; (ii) Right to Freedom; (iii) Right against Exploitation; (iv) Right to Freedom of Religion; (v) Cultural and Educational Rights; (vi) Right to Freedom of Religion; (iv) Right to Constitution Remedies.

(iv) In addition to Fundamental Rights, the Constitution has a section called Directive Principles of State Policy. It ensures greater social and economic reforms and to serve as a guide to independent Indian state to institute laws and policies that help reduce the poverty of the masses.

5) Secularism

A secular state is one in which the state does not officially promote any one religion as the state religion.

The Constitution plays a crucial role in laying out the ideals that we would like all citizens of the country to adhere to, including the representatives that we elect to rule us.