Union of India is a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic with a parliamentary system of government. The republic of India is governed by the Constitution which is the supreme law of the land. It was adopted by the constituent assembly on 26thh November, 1949 and came into force on 26^th January 1950. It touches all the fields of governance and polity. It lays down the framework defining fundamental political principles, establishes the structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens. Constitution of India is federal in nature but Unitary in essence, thus, defining India a “quasi-federal state”.

At present there are 448 Articles, 25 parts, 12 schedules and 5 appendages making it the most extensive and longest written constitution of the world.

[Note: it is important to mention that originally the Constitution of India had 395 articles, 22 parts and 8 schedules. But due to amendments and addition (in some cases deletion) of new articles and parts and schedules the numbers changed. In order not to disturb the original numbering of the articles (i.e 395), the new articles are inserted with alpha numeric enumerations.]

The salient features of the constitution of India are:

1. It is a written constitution: it was framed by the constituent assembly. The oldest member and the 1^st chairman of the constituent assembly was Sachidanand Sinha. Later on Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the president of the assembly.
2. Lengthy Document: clearly specifies the structure and powers of the central government and also the provisions relating to states and union territories. It includes chapters on fundamental rights and duties, directive principles of state policy, citizenship, centre-state relations, Panchayats and municipalities.
3. Borrowed from other existing constitutions but is an unique document.  It is a bag of borrowings modified the provisions adopted and adapted to suit the needs of our country.
4. Supremacy of the constitution: amendments can be made but it should not disturb the basic nature of the constitution.
5. Responsible and responsive form of Government. : The council of ministers to be collectively responsible to the parliament.
6. Federal form of the Government: federal in feature but unitary in essence. Makes India a quasi-federal State.
7. It is neither too rigid (as some provisions can be amended by a simple majority) nor too flexible (as some requires special majority for amendment).

Constitution: A summary

Part	Article	Deals with:
Part I	Art. 1-4	Territory of India, admission, establishment of formation of new state(s).
Part II	Art. 5-11	Citizenship
Part III	Art. 12-35	Fundamental Rights
Part IV	Art. 36-51	Directive Principles of state policy
Part IV-A	Art 51-A	Fundamental Duties
Part V	Art. 52-151	The Union
Chapter I	Art. 52-78	The Executive
Chapter II	Art 79-122	The Parliament
Chapter III	Art. 123	Legislative Power of the President
Chapter IV	Art 124-147	The Union Judiciary
Chapter V	Art. 148-151	Comptroller and Auditor general of India
Part VI	Art. 152-237	The State
Chapter I	Art. 152	General
Chapter II	Art. 153-167	The Executive
Chapter III	Art. 165-212	The State Legislature
Chapter IV	Art  213	Legislative power of the Governor
Chapter V	Art. 214-232	The High Courts in the States
Chapter VI	Art. 233-237	The subordinate courts
Part VII	Art. 238	The States in part B of the First Schedule
Part VIII	Art. 239-242	The Union Territories
Part IX	Art  243A-243O	The Panchayats
Part XA	Art. 243P-243 XG	The Municipalities
Part XB	Art 243 ZH-243 ZT	The Co-operative societies
Part X	Art. 244-244A	The scheduled and Tribal Areas
Part XI	Art 245-263	The relation between centre and state
Part XII	Art. 264-300A	Finance property Contracts and Suits
Chapter I	Art. 264-291	Finance
Chapter II	Art. 292-293	Borrowing
Chapter III	Art. 294-300	Property Contracts Rights Liabilities Obligation and Suits
Chapter IV	Art. 300A	Right to Property
Part XIII	Art. 301- 307	Trade Commerce and Intercourse within the Territories of India
Part XIV	Art. 308-323	Services under the Union and the states
Part XV-A	Art 323-A-323B	Tribunals
Part XV	Art. 324-329A	Elections
Part XVI	Art. 330-342	Special provision relating to Certain Classes
Part XVII	Art. 343-351	Official Language
Part XVIII	Art. 352-360	Emergency Provisions
Part XIX	Art. 361-367	Miscellaneous
Part XX	Art. 368	Amendment of the Constitution
Part XXI	Art. 369-392	Temporary Transitional and Special Provisions
Part XXII	Art. 393-395	Short Title, Commencement, Authoritative Text in Hindi and Repeals

Schedules : First to Twelfth.

The Preamble :

“WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India

into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and

to secure to all its citizens:

JUSTICE, social, economic and political;

LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;

EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;

and to promote among them all

FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and

integrity of the Nation;

IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of

November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO

OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION”

The Preamble of the Indian Constitution provides a framework of ideals and values for the Indian administration. It is expected of the administrative system to facilitate the application of the ideals of liberty, equality, justice, socialism and secularism in the governance of the country.