India is an Independent, Sovereign, Republic;

India shall be a Union of erstwhile British Indian territories,

Indian States, and other parts outside British India and
Indian States as are willing to be apart of the Union;
Territories forming the Union shall be autonomous units and
exercise all powers and functions of the government and
administration, except those assigned to or vested in the
Union;
All powers and authority of sovereign an Independent India
and its Constitution shall flow from the people;
The territorial integrity of the republic and its sovereign
rights on land, sea and air shall be maintained according to
justice and law of civilized nations; and
The land would make full and willing contribution to the
promotion of the world peace and welfare of mankind.

All people of India shall be guaranteed and secured social,

economic and political justice; equality of status and
opportunities before law; and fundamental freedoms
of talk, expression, belief, faith, worship, vocation,
association and action subject to law and public morality;
The minorities, backward and tribal areas, depressed and
other backward classes, shall be provided adequate
safeguards;
Making of an egalitarian society
State-led social and economic transformation
Democracy from above
Enlightening masses
Protection of the weakest sections

Main / Salient Features of Indian Constitution

1. Written and Lengthiest: It is written one and is also the lengthiest
in the world.
2. Preamble: At the beginning, there is a Preamble, which is
important in several aspects. It narrates the ideals (Justice,
Equality, Individual Dignity, Fraternity and National Unity) and
aspirations of the Indian people.
3. Republic: India is a Republic. As a Republic, people have a right
to form their own government and to elect the head of the
government.
4. Government of the People: It upholds a form of government
which is of the people, by the people and for the people. People
have the right to elect their own rulers.
5. Fundamental Rights and Duties: It has given SIX Fundamental
Rights to the citizens. The government cannot take away any of
these rights. When these rights are violated, the Judiciary would
come to the rescue of the citizens. In addition to the
Fundamental Rights, it has stated TEN + ONE Fundamental
Duties to be performed by the citizens.

6. Secularism: As per the principle of secularism, the government

must be impartial towards all the religions followed by its citizens.
There shall be no State Religion. At the same time, the
government guarantees freedom of faith and worship to all
citizens. However, the government has the right to restrict
religious freedom when it disturbs public peace, as well as law and
order.
7. Independent and Impartial Judiciary: Under the democratic
system, all citizens are equal before the law. There cannot be
different sets of laws for the different groups of people. The
judiciary is expected to provide justice to all the sections of the
society. Therefore, the Judiciary is given adequate powers. The
Supreme Court acts as a guardian of the Constitution in place of
the Privy Council.
8. Universal Adult Franchise: The system of election of
representatives by all the adults of a country is called as Universal
Adult Franchise. In India, an adult means one who is above the
age of eighteen.
9. Equal Rights to Women: Here, both men and women have been
given equal rights. The exploitation of women is considered an
offence. Both get equal pay for equal work.

10. Eradication of Untouchability: It has prohibited the practice of

untouchability in the country. The practice is deemed a crime
and offenders can be punished.
11. A Welfare State: A State which aims at providing social and
economic security to all its citizens is known as a Welfare
State. Social Security must be provided to the citizens so that
they would live a peaceful life. They should have employment
and adequate income, food, clothes, shelter and health care.
The aged and destitute must get proper protection. It protects
the weaker sections from exploitation, and provides equal
social, economic and political opportunities to all citizens.
12. It is federal in form but unitary in spirit.
13. It is neither too rigid (as some provisions can be amended by
a simple majority) nor flexible (as some provisions require
special majority for amendment).
14. The President of the Union is the Constitutional Head, the
Council of Ministers or the Union Cabinet is the Real Executive
and is responsible to the Lok Sabha.