Chapter 10: The Constitution of India — An Introduction
Every Republic Day we celebrate the rulebook of our nation. In this chapter we learn what a constitution is and why we need one, how the Constituent Assembly wrote ours, how the freedom movement, India's heritage and other democracies shaped it, what Fundamental Rights, Duties and Directive Principles are, and what the Preamble's guiding values mean.
In this chapter you will
- explain what a constitution is and why it is needed
- describe how the Constitution of India was written
- identify the influences that shaped it
- explain Fundamental Rights, Duties, Directive Principles and the Preamble
Topics
- What Is a Constitution, and Why Do We Need One? NCERT 10.1
A constitution sets out a nation's government, checks and balances, rights, duties and goals.
- Writing the Constitution of India NCERT 10.2
The Constituent Assembly (from December 1946; 299 members after Partition, 15 women) wrote the Constitution.
- What Shaped the Indian Constitution? NCERT 10.3
The freedom movement gave ideals of equality, justice and freedom, and answers to how to achieve them.
- Key Features: Rights, Duties and Directive Principles NCERT 10.4
The Constitution sets out the organs of government, the three tiers and elections.
- The Preamble: Guiding Values NCERT 10.5
The Preamble declares India sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic and a republic.
Key words
- Constitution
- a nation's basic rulebook of principles and laws
- Constituent Assembly
- the body that wrote the Constitution
- Fundamental Rights
- rights guaranteed to citizens and enforceable in court
- Fundamental Duties
- duties citizens owe the nation
- Directive Principles
- goals guiding the government's policies
- Amendment
- a change made to the Constitution
- Preamble
- the introduction stating the Constitution's values
- Secular
- no official religion; all faiths respected equally
Summary
- A constitution is a nation's rulebook; India's took effect on 26 January 1950.
- The Constituent Assembly, with Dr. Ambedkar chairing the Drafting Committee, wrote it over almost three years.
- The freedom movement, India's heritage and other democracies shaped it.
- Rights, Duties, Directive Principles and the Preamble's values guide the nation; amendments keep it living.