Key Features of Indian Constitution
Following are the important features of the Indian Constitution −Indian Constitution is a ‘written’ constitution.Indian Constitution is ‘flexible’ (it can be amended), but it is also ‘rigid’ (as some part, i.e., its ‘basic structure’ cannot be amended).Indian Constitution is ‘Unitary’ (as Center has more power), but it is also ‘Federal’ (as power is divided between the Center and the State).The Indian National Congress made a demand for a Constituent Assembly in 1934, which came into existence for drafting the constitution of India on 9 December 1946.The Constituent Assembly drafted the Constitution for independent India between 9 December 1946 and 26 November 1949.We, the people of India, have adopted and enacted the Indian Constitution on 26 November 1949; however, it was made fully functional on 26 January 1950.Constitution is a fundamental set of rules and principles on the basis of which the people of this country obliged to be governed by.The fundamental rules of Constitution define the type of government and its constituent’s parts as well as the nature of the policies to be adopted by the country.So, the Constitution serves as a pivot in striking a balance between the differences and provides safeguards to the interests of each of its citizen.Likewise, the Constitution of India makes India a democratic country and determines −the procedures of government formation;the methods and process of government’s functionality; andthe process of interactions among the different parts of the government in the specific area of their work.In addition, the Constitution also defines a list of Fundamental Rights that are an important part of the Constitution to protect the interest of every citizen against the tyranny of the state as well as from the dominance of a particular community (Who are in majority and in power).The Constitution is the supreme law of the land and the source of all the powers and authority of the government and its organs. Likewise, the government not only derives its origins from the Constitution, but discharges its functions and responsibilities within the framework of the Constitution.
Pretha Biswas
Guiding Values of the Indian Constitution
The important values of Indian constitutions are depicted in the following illustration −LibertyThe Constitution provides every citizen a number of liberties and freedoms under Article 19 to 21, 21A, and 22. It is established that no unreasonable restrictions can be imposed upon citizens to regulate their freedom.Right to Freedom under Article 19 includes −The right to freedom of speech and expression;The right to form association;The right to move freely;Reside in any part of the country; andThe right to practice any profession, occupation, or business.EqualityThe Constitution states that all citizens are equal before the law and the government should ensure that the traditional practice of social inequalities on the grounds of caste, religion, and gender has to be ended.Right to Equality is enshrined under Articles 14 to 18 of the Indian Constitution of India, which guarantees the right to equality to all persons and prohibits any kind of discrimination against any citizen on any of the grounds of religion, race, caste, gender, and place of birth.Article 14 provides that all persons are equal before the law. This means that all persons shall be equally protected by the laws of the country.Article 15 states that no citizen can be discriminated against on the basis of his/her religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.Article 16 states that the State cannot discriminate against anyone in matters of employment.Article 17 abolishes the practice of untouchability from India. It provides that every person has access to all public places including playgrounds, hotels, shops, etc.Right against Exploitation is enshrined under Article 23 to 24 of the Constitution of India. It provides fundamental right against exploitation to every citizen of India.Article 23 of the Constitution provides for prohibition of any kind of forced labor and any violation of this provision shall be an offence punishable in accordance with the law.Article 24 protects the children by stating that no child below the age of 14 shall be employed to work in any factory or mines or any other hazardous employment.FraternityAll the Indians are members of a family, no one is inferior or superior, all are equal and have same rights and duties.SovereigntyThe government of India is free to take any decision on internal as well as external matters and no external power can dictate it.SocialistIn a socialist country, citizens have the right to property but the government should regulate it by law, the socio-economic activities to reduce inequalities in the society and hence, every citizen has equal right to share the resources of the country.The concept of social justice was adopted by the 42nd amendment of Constitution that enables courts to uphold provisions to remove economic inequalities in our society.SecularIndia is a secular country. There is no official religion of the government and the government treats all the religions equally.Articles 25 to 28 provide ‘Right to freedom of Religion’ for every citizen. This is a Fundamental Right that allows every individual a freedom to live by their religious beliefs and practices as they interpret these beliefs.Cultural and Educational Rights (Article 29 to 30) state that all minorities, religious or linguistic, having a distinct language, script or culture of its own, (they) can set up their own educational institutions in order to preserve and develop their language, script, or culture.DemocraticThe democratic system of government runs according to some basic principles, which are collectively called as ‘Rule of Law.’In a democratic form of the government, the people of the country enjoy equal political rights, choose to elect and change their representatives, and hold them accountable.PreambleThe Indian democracy is founded on those values that had inspired and guided the freedom struggle.The Indian Constitution embedded the values in its Preamble. Therefore the Preamble emanates lights that glitter all the articles of the Indian Constitution.The Preamble provides a short introductory statement of the basic values of the constitution to start with. In other words, it is the ‘Soul of the Constitution.’It is the preamble that provides a standard to examine and evaluate any law and action of the government to judge its validity and sanctity.
Indian Polity - Source of Constitution
The United KingdomCabinet System of MinistersParliamentary type of GovernmentPost of Prime MinisterBicameral ParliamentCouncil of MinistersProvision of Speaker in Lok SabhaLegislationCitizenshipWritsRule of LawPreambleThe United StatesFundamental RightsIndependent JudiciaryJudicial ReviewImpeachment of PresidentRemoval of Judges (of Supreme Court & High Courts)Functions of Vice-PresidentFederal System (with strong Center)CanadaResiduary powers in the CenterAppointment of Governors (in states) by the CenterAdvisory Jurisdiction of Supreme CourtPrinciple of co-operative federalismAustraliaFreedom of Inter-State tradeTrade and CommerceConcurrent ListJoint siting of the two Houses of ParliamentDirective Principles of State PolicyIrelandPresidential ElectionNominating the members of Rajya SabhaRepublicFranceLiberty, Equality, and Fraternity in the PreambleFundamental DutiesRussiaIdea of Social, Economic, and Political Justice in PreambleProcedure for amendmentSouth AfricaElection of Rajya Sabha membersEmergency powers to be enjoyed by the UnionGermanySuspension of Fundamental Rights during emergencyProcedure Established by LawJapanThe federal schemeGovt. of India Act 1935Role of federal judiciaryOffice of the GovernorEmergency provisionsPublic Service CommissionsAdministrative details
The Vedic Age - Summary
THE ARYANSMost histrians believe that the Aryans lived in North-east Iran or in CentralAsia.Due to difficulties in their original homeland,they migrated to other places.Some moved to Europe,others to western Asia and some moved to India.VEDIC TEXTSThe Aryans composed the four Vedas-Rig Veda,Sama Veda,Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda.These texts contain religious hymns in praise of different gods and goddesses.These hymns were passed on orally from one generation to another until thay were finally written down.EARLY VEDIC PERIODThe main source of information about this period is the Rig Veda.This is why this period is also known as the Rig Vedic Age.POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONThe Aryan were divided into many tribes,called janas.Each tribe settled in a particular area.People were loyal towards the tribe to which they belonged.Very often,the different tribes fought against one another.SOCIAL LIFESocial divisions The Rigvedic society came to be divided between the fair-skinned Aryans and the dark-skinned Aryans called the dasas or dayus.Recreation Chariot-racing hunting gambling singing dancing and playing musical instruments such as the flute were the popular forms of entertainment.ECONOMIC LIFEThe early Aryans moved around from place to place.They domesticated the cow.There are many references to it in the Rig Veda.The Cow was an important elements of wealth.Aman,s prosperity was estimated in terms of the numbert of cows he owned.The horse was also an important animal.It was used to pull chariots.LATER VEDIC PERIOD:The period from 1000-600 BC is called the Later Vedic Age.The Three later Vedas-Sama Veda,Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda,are our main source of information about this period.We also get to know about this period from the Brahmans,the Upanishada and the two epic-the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.SOCIAL LIFEVillages The villages were much bigger and better-planed now.Each village consisted of a nhumber of huts.These were built of straw,bamboo and wood and were usually rectangular in shape.The huts were srrounded by fences.Feiled lay close to the huts.GURUKUL SYSTEM OF EDUCATIONThe Aryans used to send their sons to the gurukul,the residence of the teacher.Here the pupils stayed as member of the guru's family.They learned the Vedas and subject such as logic,mathematics,grammar and medicine.Education was imparted orally.RELIGION LIFEThe gods of the Rig Vedic Age lost their important.Prajapati(Brahma),Vishnu and Shiva became the important gods.Brahma was worshipped as the creato of the world.Vishnu as the preserver;and Shiva as the destroyer.The Vedic Age ended around 600 BC when big territorial units callled 'janapadas'came to be formed.The tribsl set up of the Aryans gave way to the formation of republic and monarchies.
The Gupta Empire - Summary
CHANDRAGUPTA I (AD 320-335)The first ruler of the dynasty was Sri Gupta but the first powerful ruler was Chandragupta I.His capital was Pataliputra.He built up a large and powerful empire.SAMUDRAGUPTA (AD 335-375)Samudragupta,son of Chandragupta I,was greatest ruler of the dynasty.We know about his conquests from the Allahabad Piller Inscription (Prayag Prashasti) composed by Samudragupt's cpurt poet,Harisena.CHANDRAGUPT II (AD 375-415)Chandragupta II,son of Samudragupta,succeeded his father to the throne.He is also known as Vikramaditya.He defeated the Shakas and rained control over three-ports-Broach,Cambay and Sopara that controlled trade with the western world.This added to the properity of the empires.FA HIEN'S ACCOUNTFa Hien was a Chinese pilgrim.He came to india to study the Buddhist scritures.He reached India in AD 405 and spent the next six years visiting the Buddhist wrote a detailed account of his stay in India and about the different aspects of Life under tha Guptas.EDUCATIONThe Gupta king encouraged education Kumaraghupta founded the unversity at Nalanda,in Bihar.Other famous universities of the period were located at Taxila Vallabhi and Ujjain.ECONOMYAgrictulture was the main occupation of the people.Most of the revenue came from land.Towards the end of the Gupta period,there was a decline in trade.The invasion of the Hunas may have been responsible for this decline.The towns which depends on trade also suffered.SCIENCEThe study of all branches of science,particularly astronomy,mathematics.metallurgy and medicine flourished under the Guptas.RELIGIONHinduism was the most popular religion.Most Gupta king were worshippers of Vishnu.They gave donations for constructing temple.They also performed religious sacrifices.
ISRO - Important Notes
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is going to test indigenously developed scramjet engine technology based on air-breathing propulsion in July 2016. The test will be conducted on test platform named Advanced Technology Vehicle (ATV) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota. Key Facts The test platform ATV will comprise a scramjet engine hitched to a two-stage sounding rocket (RH- 560). The vehicle has been characterised and being fabricated at the VSSC (Vikram Sarabhai Space Center) and the ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri. The air-breathing engine of ATV will be released at a height of 70 km and ignited at hypersonic speed during the coasting phase. Apart from the hypersonic ignition at Mach 6, ATV’s capability to sustain the combustion for 5 seconds will be also tested. The test is expected to help ISRO to achieve good thrust value with the scramjet engine as maintaining combustion in hypersonic conditions poses technical challenges.The Reusable Launch Vehicle Program was launched by ISRO in 2016. It aims to cut down the launch cost by reusing the spacecraft. So far, the RLV (Reusable Launch Vehicle) has been tested over water. For the first time, ISRO will test in land. The RLV will function as a space shuttle that will carry a payload to space and glide back to the earth. While returning, it is to land like a normal aircraft. The landing of the RLV is to be tested at Challakere in Chitradurga district in Karnataka. Highlights The Aeronautical Test Range has 2.2 km runway The RLV will be dropped from a helicopter The test is critical to India’s Human Space Flight program – Gaganyaan. The following four aspects of the RLV are to be tested Hypersonic flight Autonomous landing Powered Cruise flight Hypersonic Flight with air – breathing propulsion. There are two stages in the recovery process. The first stage is similar to that of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 booster. The second stage is an advanced version of RLV testing done in 2016.
Piracy - All details to know
Piracy off the coast of Somali has become a big threat in the past years. In their biggest coup pirates captured the Sinus Star, a Saudi Arabian oil tanker, near the Horn of Africa and freed it two months later.Somali pirates have very modern equipment including satellite phones and GPS. They also have lots of weapons, like grenades, rockets or AK-47 rifles. Pirates get the information of approaching ships from contacts at harbours nearby. Then they go for their targets with speedboats, sometimes from the coast and sometimes from larger mother ships nearby.They board ships by launching ropes with hooks and iron at one end. After bringing the ship under their control they take them to a harbour in Somalia and bring the hostages to a safe place. Nothing happens to them there because Somalia is in the middle of a civil war and there is no powerful government.Warships from countries around the world are now patrolling the region but the area in which the pirates operate is too big. About 25% of the Indian Ocean is at risk and pirates move quickly and often at night.It is very difficult to capture and arrest them because the crimes happen in international waters and nobody is really responsible. Some political experts say that they should be put before an international court led by the United Nations. The UN, however, doesn’t have the money for such a court but it has allowed countries to chase pirates before they seek refuge in Somali waters.The pirates hold the ship and its crew as hostages and demand money for their release. Some of them do it because they have no jobs in Somalia and hunger is widespread. In the past year Somali pirates have received about $ 150 million in ransom money. They use some of the money to buy faster boats, more weapons and to strengthen their organization.The hijackings cost the shipping industry a lot of money. Ships may have to travel other, less dangerous routes and invest more money in security and