Answer the following questions.

Explain the salient features of our Constitution.

The salient features of the constitution are:

1. The lengthiest constitution of the world: It is the written and lengthiest constitution. Originally, our constitution consisted of 22 chapters, 8 schedules and 395 Articles. Later, after many amendments, it has become a lengthy constitution with 25 chapters, 12 schedules and more than 400 articles.

2. Partly Flexible and Partly Rigid: some parts of Our constitution could be amended by the legislature with simple majority it is the feature of the flexible constitution, But there is a process of an amendment that requires a motion to be passed by both the houses of parliament with special majority hence rigid.

3. Parliamentary form of the government: There is a parliament that consists of the two houses upper(Rajyasabha) and lower house(Loksabha). The lower house consists of the elected members by the people of India and the members of Rajyasabha are indirectly elected. The sovereign power of the nation is vested in the elected Parliament.

4. Republican System: The president is indirectly elected and not directly elected by the people. In India, the President is the Constitutional Head of State.

5. Federal system: The administration is shared between Centre and state. There is a central list which has some subjects and centre has sole authority over those subjects to make laws, similarly state list has subjects under the state’s jurisdiction, and a concurrent list with subjects under both centre and state’s jurisdiction. This division of shared power is called Federalism.

6. Fundamental rights: There are 6 fundamental Rights in our constitution which are fundamental in nature meaning no law under Central and state government can deny any citizen these rights. A citizen can move to the Supreme Court if these rights are not granted or violated.

7. Fundamental Duties: These are duties that are the responsibilities of the citizens. Example: to respect the national flags, symbol etc. to protect the integrity of the country. To protect the environment. To safeguard the public property.

8. Directive Principle and state policy: They are the basis for the establishment of social and economic equality. They are the basic principles required for the administration of the country, under the 4^th schedule of our constitution taken from the Irish Constitution.

9. Independent and centralized judiciary: The courts have the authority to give bold judgments in order to protect the rights of people, hence independent. The Supreme Court, High Court and civil courts function in an integrated manner and are headed by the Supreme Court hence Centralized.

10. Single Citizenship: Th constitution promotes for single citizenship i.e. a person can have a citizenship of only India and of any other country.

11. Adult Franchise: The citizens above the 18 years of age can cast a vote.

12. Bicameral legislature: The central Legislature is called Parliament. The Parliament consists of two Houses – the Lower House (Lok Sabha) and the Upper House (Rajya Sabha).

13. Party System: There is a multi-party system in India. Different parties contest elections, which party wins maximum seat forms government in the state.