At the time that the Constitution commenced, it was divided into 395 articles in 22 part and 8 schedules. We are the longest constitution in the world, it has now grown into 448 articles in 25 parts, 12 schedules with 5 appendices and 98 amendments. The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26th November 1949 and came into force on 26th January 1950. It is the highest law of the land and cannot be overridden by the Parliament. This article talks about the parts of the Constitution as well as the important articles of the Constitution of India. This is an important lesson in Civics and Polity, and is useful for all competitive and recruitment exams.
PARTS | SUBJECTS | ARTICLES |
I | The Union and its territory | 1-4 |
II | Citizenship | 5-11 |
III | Fundamental Rights | 12-35 |
IV | Directive Principles of State Policy | 36-51 |
IV- A | Fundamental Duties | 51-A |
V | THE UNION | |
The Executive | 52-78 | |
Parliament | 79-122 | |
Legislative Powers of the President | 123 | |
The Union Judiciary | 124-147 | |
Comptroller and Auditor- General of India | 148-151 | |
VI | THE STATES | |
General (Definition) | 152 | |
The Executive | 153-167 | |
The State Legislature | 168-212 | |
Legislative Powers of the Governor | 213 | |
The High Courts in the States | 214-231 | |
Subordinate Courts | 233-237 | |
VIII | The Union Territories | 239-241 |
IX | The Panchayats | 243 to 243-0 |
IX-A | The Municipalities | 243-P to 243-ZG |
IX-B | The Co-Operative Societies | 243-ZH to 243-ZT |
X | The Scheduled and Tribal Areas | 244 to 244-A |
XI | RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNION AND THE STATES | |
Legislative Relations | 245-255 | |
Administrative Relations | 256-263 | |
XII | FINANCE, PROPERTY, CONTRACTS AND SUITS | |
Finance | 264-290 | |
Borrowing | 292-293 | |
Property, Contracts, Rights, Liabilities, Obligations and Suits | 294-300 | |
Right to Property | 300-A | |
XIII | Trade, Commerce and Intercourse within the territory of India | 301-307 |
XIV | SERVICES UNDER THE UNION AND THE STATES | |
Services | 308-314 | |
Public Service Commissions | 315-323 | |
XIV- A | Tribunals | 323-A to 323-B |
XV | Elections | 324 to 329 |
XVI | Special Provisions Relating to Certain Classes | 330-342 |
XVII | OFFICIAL LANGUAGE | |
Language of the Union | 343-344 | |
Regional Languages | 345- 347 | |
Languages of the Supreme Court, High Courts, etc. | 348- 349 | |
Special Directives | 350- 351 | |
XVIII | Emergency Provisions | 352-360 |
XIX | Miscellaneous | 361-367 |
XX | Amendment of the Constitution | 368 |
XXI | Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions | 369-392 |
XXII | Short Title, Commencement, Authoritative Text in Hindi and Repeals | 393-395 |
The Constitution has been amended several times so that the original 22 parts now stand at 25 parts.
ADDED:
REMOVED:
Have a glance at some of the important articles of the Constitution of India and what they deal with.
ARTICLE | DEALS WITH |
1 | Name and Territory of Union |
3 | New States Formation, Alteration of Boundaries etc. |
13 | Laws inconsistent with or in derogation of the Fundamental Rights |
14 | Equality before Law (popularly known as Right to Equality) |
15 | Prohibition of Discrimination (on basis of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth) |
16 | Equality in case of Public Employment |
17 | Abolition of Untouchability |
18 | Abolition of Titles |
19 | Protection of Certain Rights to Freedom (popularly known as Right to Freedom) |
19a | Freedom of Speech & Expression |
19b | Right to Peaceful Assembly |
19c | Freedom of Association |
19d | Right to Move Freely through India |
19e | Freedom of Settlement & Residence |
19f | (Omitted as a fundamental right – governed by article 300A.) Right to Own Personal Property. |
19g | Freedom to Practise any Profession, Occupation, Trade or Business |
21 | Right to Life and Personal Liberty |
21A | Right to Education |
23 | Prohibition of Human Trafficking and Forced Labour |
24 | Prohibition of Child Labour |
25 | Freedom to Practise & Propagate Religion Freely |
29 | Protection of Interests of Minorities |
32 | Remedies for enforcement of Fundamental Rights including writs |
44 | Uniform Civil Code |
50 | Separation of Judiciary from Executive |
51 | Promotion of International Peace and Security |
51A | Fundamental Duties |
72 | Powers of President to Grant Pardons etc. |
76 | Attorney-General of India |
78 | Duties of Prime Minister |
85 | Sessions of Parliament, Prorogation and Dissolution |
93 | The Speaker & Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha |
100 | Voting in Houses |
105 | Powers, Privileges etc. of Members of Parliament |
106 | Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament |
108 | Joint Sitting of both Houses of Parliament |
109-110 | Money Bills |
112 | Budget |
123 | President’s Power to Promulgate Ordinance while Parliament in Recess |
127 | Appointment of ad hoc Judges in the Supreme Court |
139 | Supreme Court’s Powers to Issue Certain Writs |
141 | Supreme Court’s Law Binding on All Courts |
148-149 | Comptroller and Auditor-General of India |
155 | Appointment of Governor |
161 | Power of Governors to Grant Pardon etc. |
165 | Advocate-General for the State |
167 | Duties of Chief Minister |
224 | Appointment of Additional & Acting Judges in High Courts |
224A | Appointment of Retired Judges in High Courts |
226 | Power of High Courts to issue writs |
280 | Finance Commission |
312 | All India Services |
324 | Election Commission |
335 | SCs and STs claim to Services and Posts |
343 | Official Language |
352 | National Emergency |
356 | President’s Rule in case of Failure of Constitutional Machinery in States |
360 | Financial Emergency |
368 | Power of Parliament to Amend the Constitution |
370 | Temporary provisions with respect to the state of Jammu and Kashmir |