CONSTITUTION OF INDIA – 500 MOST IMPORTANT ONE LINER KEY POINTERS (ALL STATE JUDICIAL SERVICES PRELIMS)-PART-1

 

 

 

CONSTITUTION OF INDIA – ONE LINER KEY POINTERS (JUDICIAL SERVICES PRELIMS)

1. Constitution of India adopted on 26th November 1949; enforced on 26th January 1950 (Republic Day).

2. Total Articles at commencement – 395, total Schedules – 8.

3. Currently (2025): Articles ~470, Schedules 12.

4. Longest written Constitution in the world.

5. Preamble was amended only once – 42nd Amendment, 1976 (added: Socialist, Secular, Integrity).

6. Article 12–35: Fundamental Rights.

7. Right to Property (Art. 31) – repealed by 44th Amendment, 1978; now legal right under Art. 300A.

8. Fundamental Duties – inserted by 42nd Amendment, 1976 (Part IVA, Article 51A).

9. Directive Principles of State Policy – Part IV, Articles 36–51; inspired from Irish Constitution.

10. Article 32 – Right to Constitutional Remedies; Dr. Ambedkar called it “Heart and Soul of the

Constitution.”

11. Article 21 – Right to Life and Personal Liberty; expanded by judicial interpretation (e.g., Maneka Gandhi

v. Union of India, 1978).

12. Article 19(1)(a) – Freedom of Speech and Expression; subject to reasonable restrictions under Art. 19(2).

13. First Constitutional Amendment – 1951; added Ninth Schedule, curtailed freedom of speech.

14. Article 368 – Procedure for Amendment of Constitution.

15. Article 123 – Ordinance-making power of the President.

16. Article 356 – President’s Rule; first imposed in Punjab, 1951.

17. Article 352 – National Emergency; proclaimed thrice (1962 – China, 1971 – Pakistan, 1975 – Internal

Disturbance).

18. Article 360 – Financial Emergency; never imposed.

19. Article 324 – Election Commission of India; authority for free and fair elections.

20. Article 148 – Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).

21. Article 280 – Finance Commission; first constituted in 1951.

22. Article 243–243O – Panchayati Raj; added by 73rd Amendment, 1992.

23. Article 243P–243ZG – Municipalities; added by 74th Amendment, 1992.

24. Article 124 – Establishment of Supreme Court; came into being on 28 January 1950.

25. Supreme Court judges retire at 65 years; High Court judges at 62 years.

 

Set 1: Q1 – 100

PREAMBLE & BASIC FACTS

1. Constitution adopted: 26 Nov 1949; came into force: 26 Jan 1950.

2. Drafting Committee Chairman: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.

3. Constituent Assembly first met: 9 Dec 1946.

4. Last session of Constituent Assembly: 24 Jan 1950.

5. “Sovereign Democratic Republic” → changed to “Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic” by

42nd Amendment, 1976.

6. “Unity of Nation” → changed to “Unity and Integrity of Nation” by 42nd Amendment, 1976.

7. Number of members in Drafting Committee: 7.

8. Constitution is the longest written Constitution in the world.

9. Original Articles: 395, Original Schedules: 8.

10. Present Articles (2025): around 470, Present Schedules: 12.

PART I – THE UNION AND TERRITORY

11. Article 1: India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.

12. Article 2: Parliament can admit or establish new States.

13. Article 3: Parliament can alter areas, boundaries, names of States.

14. Proviso to Art. 3: Bill can only be introduced with President’s recommendation.

15. Sikkim became 22nd State by 36th Amendment, 1975.

16. Article 4: Laws under Art. 2 & 3 are not constitutional amendments.

PART II – CITIZENSHIP

17. Article 5: Citizenship at commencement for domicile in India.

18. Article 6: Citizenship for persons migrated from Pakistan before 19 July 1948.

19. Article 7: Migrated to Pakistan after 1 March 1947 – not citizens.

20. Article 8: Citizenship for Indian origin persons abroad.

21. Article 9: Voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship → ceases Indian citizenship.

22. Article 10: Continuance of rights of citizenship.

23. Article 11: Parliament empowered to regulate citizenship by law.

24. Citizenship Act enacted: 1955.

PART III – FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS

25. Fundamental Rights: Articles 12–35.

26. Article 12: Definition of “State” – includes Govt., Parliament, State Legislatures, local authorities.

27. Article 13: Pre-constitutional laws inconsistent with FR → void.

28. Kesavananda Bharati (1973): Basic Structure Doctrine.

29. Article 14: Equality before law & Equal protection of laws.

30. Article 15: Prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth.

31. Art. 15(3): Allows special provisions for women & children.

32. Art. 15(4): Allows special provisions for socially & educationally backward classes (SEBCs), SCs, STs (1^st Amendment, 1951).

33. Art. 15 (5): Reservation in private educational institutions (except minority institutions) – 93rd

Amendment, 2005.

34. Article 16: Equality in public employment.

35. Art. 16(4): Reservation in State services for backward classes.

36. Art. 16(4A): Reservation in promotion for SC/STs (77th Amendment, 1995).

37. Art. 16(4B): Carry forward rule for unfilled reserved vacancies (81st Amendment, 2000).

38. Article 17: Abolition of Untouchability; offence punishable by law.

39. Article 18: Abolition of titles, except military/academic.

40. Article 19(1): Six freedoms (speech, assembly, association, movement, residence, profession).

41. Art. 19(1)(f) Right to property → deleted by 44th Amendment, 1978.

42. Article 20: Protection in criminal cases – no ex post facto law, double jeopardy, self-incrimination.

43. Article 21: Right to life & personal liberty – “procedure established by law.”

44. Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978): Expanded Art. 21 – fair, just, reasonable law.

45. Article 21A: Right to education (6–14 years) – 86th Amendment, 2002.

45. Article 21A: Right to education (6–14 years) – 86th Amendment, 2002.

46. Article 22: Protection against arrest & detention; Preventive detention up to 3 months.

47. Maximum Preventive Detention by Parliament law: 1 year.

48. Article 23: Prohibition of human trafficking & forced labour.

49. Article 24: Prohibition of child labour under 14 years in hazardous employment.

50. Article 25: Freedom of conscience & religion.

51. Article 26: Rights of religious denominations to manage religious affairs.

52. Article 27: No compulsion to pay taxes for promotion of any particular religion.

53. Article 28: No religious instruction in State-funded institutions.

54. Article 29: Protection of interests of minorities – language, script, culture.

55. Article 30: Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions.

56. Article 31: Right to property – repealed by 44th Amendment, 1978.

57. Article 32: Right to move Supreme Court for enforcement of Fundamental Rights.

58. Writs under Article 32: Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Certiorari, Prohibition, Quo Warranto.

59. Article 33: Parliament may modify FRs for Armed Forces, Police, Intelligence Agencies.

60. Article 34: FRs restricted during Martial Law.

61. Article 35: Only Parliament can make laws for FR offences.

PART IV – DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY (DPSP)

62. DPSPs: Articles 36–51; not enforceable in court.

63. Inspired by Irish Constitution.

64. Article 38: State to secure social, economic, political justice.

65. Article 39: Principles of livelihood, equal pay, avoiding wealth concentration.

66. Article 39A: Free legal aid to poor (42nd Amendment, 1976).

67. Article 40: Organisation of Village Panchayats.

68. Article 41: Right to work, education & assistance in unemployment, old age, sickness.

69. Article 42: Just and humane conditions of work & maternity relief.

70. Article 43: Living wage & promotion of cottage industries.

71. Article 43A: Workers’ participation in management of industries (42nd Amendment, 1976).

72. Article 44: Uniform Civil Code for citizens.

70. Article 43: Living wage & promotion of cottage industries.

71. Article 43A: Workers’ participation in management of industries (42nd Amendment, 1976).

72. Article 44: Uniform Civil Code for citizens.

73. Article 45: Free & compulsory education (later shifted to Art. 21A).

74. Article 46: Promotion of interests of SCs, STs, weaker sections.

75. Article 47: Duty of State to raise nutrition & public health; prohibition of intoxicants.

76. Article 48: Organisation of agriculture & animal husbandry; ban on cow slaughter.

77. Article 48A: Protection of environment & wildlife (42nd Amendment, 1976).

78. Article 49: Protection of monuments of national importance.

79. Article 50: Separation of Judiciary from Executive.

80. Article 51: Promotion of international peace & security.

PART IVA – FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES

81. Article 51A: Fundamental Duties inserted by 42nd Amendment, 1976.

82. Total Fundamental Duties: 10 originally, 11 after 86th Amendment, 2002.

83. 11th Duty: Parent/guardian to provide education to children (6–14 yrs).

84. Fundamental Duties inspired by USSR Constitution.

PART V – THE UNION (EXECUTIVE)

85. Article 52: There shall be a President of India.

86. Article 53: Executive power of Union vested in President.

87. Article 54: President elected by elected MPs + MLAs (Electoral College).

88. Article 55: Manner of Presidential election – Single Transferable Vote, Proportional Representation.

89. Article 56: Term of President – 5 years.

90. Article 57: President eligible for re-election.

91. Article 58: Qualifications – Citizen, 35 yrs, eligible for Lok Sabha.

92. Article 59: President cannot hold any office of profit.

93. Article 60: Oath of President administered by CJI.

94. Article 61: President may be impeached for violation of Constitution.

95. Impeachment requires 2/3 majority in both Houses.

96. Article 62: Election to fill vacancy in President’s office within 6 months.

97. Article 63: There shall be a Vice-President of India.

98. Article 64: Vice-President is ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha.

99. Article 65: VP acts as President in case of vacancy/absence.

100. Article 66: VP elected by MPs of both Houses using Single Transferable Vote.

Prelims)