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The Constitution of India went into effect on January 26, 1950. The drafting committee was chaired by B. R. Ambedkar. It establishes the basic political code, organization, procedures, powers and responsibilities of government entities. It also establishes fundamental rights, directing principles      and citizen responsibilities. It is India’s highest legal authority.

The salient features of the Indian Constitution direct people to follow a methodological approach to abide by the rules and regulations set by the Indian government. 

In both content and facts, the Indian Constitution is unique. Despite borrowing from practically every other country’s constitution, the Indian Constitution contains some distinguishing aspects that set it apart from other countries’ constitutions. 

Features of The Indian Constitution

  • Lengthiest Written Constitution

The Constitution of India is on the list of the world’s most extensive and lengthy constitutions. Our Constitution contains 12 schedules and 448 articles. Many articles from various constitutions around the world have been integrated into the Constitution of India.

  • Blend of Flexibility and Rigidity

The constitution of India is a unique blend of both rigidity and flexibility. It can be amended through Parliament, yet certain provisions of the Constitution are immune to the amendment. 

The Constitution also provides for a process by which amendments can be made without going through Parliament. This makes the Constitution both rigid and flexible at the same time. 

  • Fundamental Rights

The Fundamental Rights guaranteed in the Indian Constitution are similar to those found in other constitutions. However, there are some unique features as well. For instance, the salient features of the Indian Constitution guarantee equality not only in front of the law but also in opportunity. It also guarantees economic and social justice. In addition, it contains specific provisions for the protection of minorities. 

  • Independent Judiciary

Of all the important features of the Indian Constitution, a crucial feature is a provision for an independent judiciary. The Constitution provides for a Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the land. The Constitution also gives the Supreme Court the power to review and strike down laws that are inconsistent with the Constitution. 

  • Directive Principles of State Policy

Another unique feature of the Indian Constitution is the Directive Principles of State Policy. These principles are not enforceable by courts but they serve as guidelines for lawmakers while making laws. 

The Directive Principles of State Policy include provisions for economic and social justice, equality      and freedom from exploitation. 

  • Fundamental Rights:

Six fundamental rights are guaranteed by the Indian Constitution:

  1. Right to Equality.
  2. Right to Freedom. 
  3. Cultural and Educational Rights.  
  4. Right Against Exploitation. 
  5. Right to Constitutional Remedies. 
  6. Right to Freedom of Religion.  

  • Fundamental Duties:

  • By inserting a new Part-IVA and Article-51A into the constitution in 1976, the Swaran Singh Committee established a list of 11 Fundamental Duties.
  • The 11 Fundamental Duties impose a moral obligation on every Indian citizen, and they are non-justifiable in nature, meaning that no one may go to court if someone is not doing their duty as a citizen of India.

  • Secularism:

  • The Constitution of India promotes a secular state, in which all religions are given equal weight.
  • It also refuses to recognize anyone’s faith as the official state religion. Secularism in the Western sense denotes a total separation of the state and religion.
  • Therefore, the salient features of the Indian Constitution embody the positive concept of secularism, i.e., equal respect and protection for all religions.

 Conclusion

The salient features of the Indian Constitution create the perfect blend of all the laws, and the provisions and articles alone, making it the supreme law of the country. In utilizing and interpreting any clause of the Indian constitution, the Constituent Assembly’s soul must always be considered. 

The framers of the constitution attempted to include all significant provisions in the constitution so that there would be no ambiguity about how a country’s governance would be carried out, and this is one of the salient features of the Indian Constitution that makes it a complete and comprehensive document in and of itself.

We as citizens need to abide by the rules and regulations set by the salient features of the Indian Constitution.