Indian Polity Basics: The Facts That Appear Again and Again
A compact revision sheet of Constitution basics: dates, parts, fundamental rights, directive principles and duties, and the structure of Parliament.
Polity questions appear in SSC, banking, UPSC prelims and many state exams. A short list of core facts covers a large share of them.
The Constitution
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Adopted | 26 November 1949 |
| Came into force | 26 January 1950 |
| Drafting Committee chairman | Dr B. R. Ambedkar |
| Constituent Assembly president | Dr Rajendra Prasad |
| Preamble | states India is sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic and a republic |
The words "socialist" and "secular" were added by the 42nd Amendment in 1976.
Fundamental Rights (Part III, Articles 12–35)
| Right | Articles |
|---|---|
| Right to Equality | 14–18 |
| Right to Freedom | 19–22 |
| Right against Exploitation | 23–24 |
| Right to Freedom of Religion | 25–28 |
| Cultural and Educational Rights | 29–30 |
| Right to Constitutional Remedies | 32 |
Right to Property is no longer a fundamental right. It is now a legal right under Article 300A.
Directive Principles (Part IV, Articles 36–51)
These are guidelines for the government, aimed at a welfare state. They are not enforceable in court.
Fundamental Duties (Article 51A)
Added by the 42nd Amendment (1976). There are now eleven, after the 86th Amendment added a duty about education for children.
Union government
| Body | Key facts |
|---|---|
| President | head of state; elected indirectly; Article 52 |
| Vice-President | chairs the Rajya Sabha |
| Prime Minister | head of government; leads the Council of Ministers |
| Lok Sabha | lower house; currently 543 elected members |
| Rajya Sabha | upper house; maximum 250 members; 12 are nominated |
| Supreme Court | apex court; Articles 124 onward |
Terms and ages
- Lok Sabha term: 5 years, unless dissolved.
- Rajya Sabha: permanent house; one-third members retire every two years.
- Minimum age: 25 for the Lok Sabha and 30 for the Rajya Sabha.
Other important bodies
- Election Commission: Article 324.
- Comptroller and Auditor General: Article 148.
- Finance Commission: Article 280.
Tips
- Learn article numbers with what they cover.
- Use tables and mnemonics.
- Revise in short daily sessions.
Note
Amendments and appointments change over time, so check current information for recent facts.
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