The constitution is the system of basic principles that govern a country, state, company or people.

There are various sources of Indian constitution and for some features of it are borrowed. The
Constituent Assembly of India drafted the constitution considering features of constitutions of the
other countries as well as from the Government of India Act 1935.

Indian constitution is the backbone of our country’s democracy. The Indian Constitution is the longest
written constitution in the world with 395 articles, 22 parts and 12 schedules. It originally consisted of
395 articles which have now increased to 448 articles after 105 amendments, as of August 2021.
The Constitution of India was prepared by a House of Representatives. The Legislative Assembly,
under the chairmanship of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, constituted a draft committee to enact a constitution
for India. The first assembly meeting was held on 9 December 1946. On 26 November 1949,
the Indian Constitution was adopted and came into force on 26 January 1950. After sabotaging all
major organizations in the world, the Indian Constitution was formed.

The sources of the Indian constitution

1. United States of America

 Impeachment of the President: – Article 61 of the Constitution calls for the impeachment
of the President of India. The President may be disqualified from office by impeachment.
Impeachment proceedings can be taken in any Parliament House.
 Removal of Judges: – Article 124 (4) of the Constitution allows the President to remove a
judge for misconduct or incapacity, if Parliament approves a majority of the total membership of
each House for impeachment and less than two-thirds of the members don’t Present in each house.
 Fundamental Rights: – Articles 12 to 32 of the Constitution of India include all fundamental
rights. Basic rights are the fundamental human rights given to the people of the country to ensure
an equal place in society.
 Judicial independence: – The idea of judicial independence is that the judiciary should be
different from other government branches.
 Preamble: – The Preamble is introduction of the Indian constitution. It guarantees justice,
freedom, equality for all Indian citizens, and fosters fraternity among the people.
 Judicial Review: – The judiciary has the upper hand in interpreting the constitutional review
provision. Therefore, the judiciary can rescind any order by the legislature or executive if that order
conflicts with the constitution of the country.
 Functions of President and Vice President: – The President of India is the head of the
Indian Armed Forces and the Commander-in-Chief.
 Article 63 of the Indian Constitution states that “there shall be the Vice-President of India.”
Due to death, resignation, impeachment or other circumstances, the Vice- President shall act as
President in the absence of the President. The Vice President of India is now the ex-officio Secretary
of the Rajya Sabha.

2. The United Kingdom

 Single citizenship: – The Constitution of India grants single citizenship to the residents of

the country. The residents of the country are all citizens regardless of the states or territories in
which they reside.
 Legislative process: – The legislative proposal will be brought before the Parliament House
of India in the form of a bill. A bill is a draft legislative law which, when passed by the
Parliamentary Houses and approved by the President, becomes a Parliamentary Act.
 Rule of law: – It essentially states that a state is governed by the laws of that country, not
by representatives or citizens and states that everyone is equal before the law and those who make
it are also included. Article 14 of the Constitution of India codifies the rule of law.
 Cabinet system: – A group of persons appointed by the head of state or prime minister who
is the head of the executive departments of the government and acts as an official advisor.
 Parliamentary form of government: – The President is the head of the state, and the head
of the government is the Prime Minister. In such form of government, a cabinet of ministers headed
by the Prime Minister rules the country. The Parliament consists of two Houses: – Lok Sabha and
Rajya Sabha.

3. Ireland

 Direct Principles of State Policy : – The Directive Principle of State Policy is stated in Part IV
of the Indian Constitution, and it clearly states that it is the responsibility of the state to follow
certain principles in the process of law making. There are three major types of these concepts i.e.,
Democratic guidelines, Gandhian guidelines and liberal intellectual guidelines. Ireland is also
borrowing the process of appointing members to the Rajya Sabha.
 Method of election of head of state i.e. President.

4. Australia

 Article 108: – Joint sitting of both houses in some cases.

 Concurrent List: – This includes the power to be considered by both the Union and the State
Government.
 Freedom of trade and commerce: – Freedom of trade and commerce within the nation and
between states. Similar provisions are laid down in sections 301 to 307 of the Indian Constitution.

5. Canada

 Federal system with a strong central government.

 Power-sharing between central government and state governments.
 Advisory jurisdiction of Supreme Court.
 Appointment of State Governors by the Center.

6. Soviet Union (USSR)

 A constitutionally appointed Planning Commission to oversee economic development.

 The fundamental duty given in Article 51A (G) refers to the duty of a citizen to protect the
environment.

7. Russia

 The ideology of Social, Economic and Political justice in the preface.

8. Germany

 Gave us an immediate clause for suspension of fundamental rights.

9. South Africa

 Provided us with the provision of amendment process and election of members of Rajya

Sabha.
 10. France
The preamble of Indian Constitution borrowed its principles of freedom, equality and fraternity from
the French Constitution. In the tradition of the Constitution of France, the Indian Constitution is known
as the Republic of India.
11. Government of India Act 1935
 Federal Legislature: – The Act stated that the legislature should have two houses, namely
the Council of States and a Federal Legislative Assembly.
Major Sources of Indian Constitution
Provisions
Constitution of the United
States
British constitution
Canadian constitution
 Irish constitution (Ireland)
French constitution
Australian constitution
Constitution of Soviet Union
(USSR)
Source/Country
1. Preamble
2. Fundamental Rights
3. Federal structure of government
4. Electoral College
5. Independence of the judiciary and separation of powers among the
government
6. Judicial review
7. President as Supreme Commander of Armed Forces
8. Equal protection under law
1. Parliamentary form of government
2. The idea of single citizenship
3. The idea of the Rule of law
4. Writs
5. Institution of Speaker and his role
6. Law making procedure
7. Procedure established by Law
1. A quasi-federal form of government – a federal system with a strong
central government
2. Distribution of powers between the central government and state
governments
3. Residual powers retained by the central government
1. Directive Principles of State Policy
2. Nomination of members to Rajya Sabha
3. Method of Election of President
1. Republic and the ideals of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity in the Preamble
1. Freedom of trade and commerce within the country and between the
states
2. Power of the national legislature to make laws for implementing treaties
3. Concurrent List
1. Fundamental Duties under Article 51-AA
2. Constitutionally mandated Planning Commission to oversee the economy
 Constitution of South Africa 1. Procedure for amendmentElection of Rajya Sabha members

Constitution of Germany 1. Emergency powers to be enjoyed by the Union

2. Suspension of Fundamental Rights during emergency.

Constitution of Russia 1. Fundamental DutiesIdea of Social, Economic, and Political Justice in

Preamble

Constitution of Japan 1. Procedure Established by Law

Government  of India Act 1935 1. Federal Scheme

2. Emergency Provisions
3. Public Service Commissions
4. Office of Governor
5. Judiciary
6. Administrative Details

Framing of the constitution

 The constitution of India was adopted by a Constituent Assembly formed under the Cabinet
Mission Plan of 1946. The Constituent Assembly constituted 13 commissions to outline the
constitution.
 Based on the reports of these committees, a draft constitution was drafted by a seven-
member drafting committee headed by Dr. BR Ambedkar.
 In January 1948, the draft constitution was issued and citizens were given eight months.
 After the citizens, the draft was debated in view of the suggestions received by the press,
provincial assemblies and the Constituent Assembly, finally adopted on 26 November 1949 and
signed by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
 Therefore, the Constituent Assembly took 2 years, 11 months and 18 days to complete the
constitution of India. And as discussed above the Indian constitution is a borrowed constitution.
 The legislative system, general citizenship, rule of law, normative state policy, etc. are all
borrowed features of the Indian Constitution. The Constitution of India incorporated the best
features of many existing structures.