Welcome to Our New Website!

By • 14 April 2023

We are excited to announce the launch of Constitutionofindia.net 3.0 on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti 2023! This latest version features significant upgrades in functionality, an expanded range of resources, and a comprehensive redesign aimed at emphasizing accessibility and readability.

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The Constituent Assembly’s Concerns over President’s Ordinance Powers

22 May 2023 • By

Last Friday, the President promulgated an ordinance overturning a significant Supreme Court judgment. Did our Constitution framers intend for the ordinance powers to be used in such a manner?

2 mins

Delhi and Washington D.C. : The Two Capitals’ Pursuit of Self-Governance

19 May 2023 • By

Longstanding conflicts over the control of a nation's capital city between national and state governments are not exclusive to India. This piece draws parallels between India and the United States, examining the historical debates and current developments surrounding self-government their capital cities.

5 mins

The Influence of Dewey’s Ideas of Social Forces on B.R. Ambedkar

16 May 2023 • By

A recent book by Scott Stroud carefully explores the influence of philosopher John Dewey and his pragmatic philosophy on B.R. Ambedkar. Here, we focus on one strand of this influence: Dewey’s ideas of social forces and the role of the individual in effecting social change. 

3 mins

Manipur Violence: The Puzzling Demand for Scheduled Tribe Status

12 May 2023 • By

The recent eruption for communal violence in Manipur, precipitated by the demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status by the Meitei community, has caught everyone off guard with its unexpected intensity and scale. But what does ST status mean for the Meiteis, and will it meet their concerns?

3 mins

Our Early Legislators on the Grounds for Divorce

8 May 2023 • By

On 1 May, the Supreme Court made significant interventions in the divorce law governed by the Hindu Marriage Act (HMA), utilising its power under Article 142 to expand the range of grounds on which individuals can seek divorce. Read what our early lawmakers had to say about this subject here.

2 mins

Bhagat Singh Hanged, Karachi Resolution Passed

23 March 2023 • By

On 23 March 1931 the British hanged Bhagat Singh for his involvement in the Lahore Conspiracy Case. Just a week later, the the Indian National Congress passed the iconic Karachi Resolution 1931. Were these two historic events connected?

3 mins

Should Courts Review Delimitation?

22 March 2023 • By

There are allegations that the recent delimitation exercises have redrawn constituency boundaries to give an advantage to a particular political party. Should courts intervene?

4 mins

The Women’s Indian Association and Indian Constitutional Thought

8 March 2023 • By

Explore the contribution of the Women's India Association to constitutional thought, long before 1946.

6 mins

B.N. Rau’s ‘Outlines of a New Constitution’

26 February 2023 • By

Sir Benegal Narsing Rau played a key role in the making of our Constitution, as Constitutional Adviser. In this blog, we draw attention to a document authored by him in 1946, which aimed at resolving the political deadlock over India's constitutional future, by presenting a solution acceptable to both the Congress and the Muslim League.

3 mins
Governor R.N. Ravi addressing the Tamil Nadu Legislature

The Tamil Nadu Governor and Constitutional Conventions

25 February 2023 • By

On 9 January 2023, the Governor of Tamil Nadu chose to skip certain portions of the speech prepared by the state government, while addressing the first session of the Legislative Assembly in the new year. This kicked off a huge political row, with the ruling party in Tamil Nadu alleging a serious breach of “convention”.

3 mins
An image of Ladakh valley

Ladakh’s Sixth Schedule Demand

25 February 2023 • By

Ladakh has been witnessing huge protests demanding constitutional safeguards for the region under the Sixth Schedule. We examine if this demand is legitimate.

3 mins

Distribution of Wealth: The Unfulfilled Vision of the Constitution’s Framers

7 February 2023 • By

The gap between India’s rich and poor continues to grow at an alarming rate, as evidenced by a recent report from Oxfam India. What did our Constitution framers think was the best way to combat wealth inequality?

2 mins

Why India’s Vice President is Wrong About Parliamentary Sovereignty

7 January 2023 • By

On 7 December 2022, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar declared that ‘Parliament is the exclusive and ultimate determinative of the architecture of the Constitution’ and insisted that ‘the basic structure is primacy of the will of the people’. Are we at the beginning of another inter-institutional debate, 40 years after the Basic Structure Doctrine?

3 mins

Democracy ki Pathshala: A Collaboration with the Patrika Foundation

3 January 2023 • By

Our collaboration with Rajasthan Patrika over the months of October to December 2022 as an educational outreach project

1 mins

The British Game of Sovereignty

20 December 2022 • By

The United Kingdom are allowed to field four separate teams in international football. The reason: their unique constitutional arrangement based on devolution of the UK parliament.

3 mins

Why did B.R. Ambedkar Accept the Poona Pact?

19 December 2022 • By

What were the reasons behind Ambedkar accepting the Poona Pact despite the lack of inclusion of separate electorates within its provisions?

3 mins

संशोधन

12 December 2022 • By

भले ही किसी भी संविधान को बनाने में कितनी भी सावधानी रखी गई हो, वो किसी देश के राजनीतिक और सामाजिक हालात में होने वाले बदलावों का पूर्वानुमान नहीं लगा सकता। इसलिए हमारे संविधान निर्माताओं ने संशोधन नियमों को बनाते समय सही संतुलन ढूंढने को कोशिश की।

1 mins

DEMOCRATIC DECENTRALIZATION जब सरकारों की जनता के प्रति जवाबदेही तय हुई

5 December 2022 • By

भारत के विकेंद्रीकरण सरकार के निचले स्तरों तक लोकतांत्रिक प्रक्रियाओं का विस्तार है। स्थानीय स्तर पर होने वाले चुनावों के साथ-साथ, विकेंद्रीकरण का तात्पर्य उन शक्तियों और कार्यों के हस्तांतरण से भी है जिनका निर्वाहन स्थानीय सरकारें उत्कृष्ट रूप से कर सकती हैं।

1 mins

कैसे हुई भारतीय संघवाद की उत्पत्ति?

21 November 2022 • By

किसी भी संविधान के निर्माताओं के सामने सबसे महत्वपूर्ण निर्णयों में से एक संघीय या एकात्मक संरचना के बीच चयन करना। हमारा संविधान केंद्र और राज्यों के बीच विधायी, प्रशासनिक और वित्तीय शक्तियों को विभाजित करता है।

1 mins

सामाजिक-आर्थिक परिवर्तन पर लक्षित हैं निर्देशक तत्व

14 November 2022 • By

राज्य के नीति निदेशक तत्व भारतीय संविधान की सबसे नवीन और अनूठी विशेषताओं में से एक हैं। अनुच्छेद 37 उनके उद्देश्य को स्पष्ट करता है। ये सिद्धांत शासन के लिए मौलिक हैं और इन्हें ध्यान में रखना राज्य का कर्तव्य होगा।

1 mins

मौलिक अधिकार

6 November 2022 • By

ब्रिटिश शासन के खिलाफ लंबे संघर्ष ने हमारे संविधान निर्माताओं को नागरिकों की स्वतंत्रता और उस स्वतंत्रता को संरक्षित करने का महत्त्व सिखाया। जब भी भारतीयों ने एक संवैधानिक भविष्य की कल्पना की, उन्होंने इन मौलिक अधिकारों को भी इस भविष्य में शामिल किया।

1 mins

जानें… भारतीय संविधान की शक्तियां व विशेषताएं

31 October 2022 • By

‘हम, भारत के लोग...' वाक्यांश से शुरू होकर, प्रस्तावना यह बिल्कुल स्पष्ट करती है कि संविधान का अधिकार भारत की जनता के हाथ में है। ये शब्द नागरिकों की संप्रभुता पर जोर देते हैं कि नागरिक संविधान की सारी शक्ति का स्रोत होंगे और राजनीतिक व्यवस्था लोगों के प्रति जवाबदेह और जिम्मेदार होगी।

1 mins

आजादी की लड़ाई से प्रेरित है हमारा संविधान

22 October 2022 • By

भारतीय संविधान का समृद्ध इतिहास है, जो स्वतंत्रता संग्राम की ऐतिहासिक घटनाओं से प्रभावित है। समकालीन भारतीय संविधान को आकार देने वाले विचारों की जड़ें लगभग 1895 से ही विकसित होने लगी थीं।

1 mins

How did Ambedkar and Gandhi imagine Indian Federalism?

13 October 2022 • By and

B.R. Ambedkar's and M.K. Gandhi's contrasting views on the caste system, have garnered wide attention. Here, we compare their views on an important constitutional design feature: Federalism.

3 mins
The Making of India's Constitution

The Making of India’s Constitution: 5 Essential Primary Sources

3 October 2022 • By

Five Primary Sources that are critical to engaging with India's Constitution-making project.

4 mins

Desk Brief: Who Should Get Reservations?

23 September 2022 • By

The 103rd Amendment Act introduced reservations based on economic criteria, which up till then had been based only on social and economic backwardness. What did our Constitution-framers think about this important matter?

3 mins

Desk Brief: How our Constitution Makers Cut Their Teeth in Municipal Governance

20 September 2022 • By

Many Constituent Assembly members held different roles within municipal governance. But why was the Assembly reluctant to grant Constitutional provisions to municipal bodies?

3 mins

Sir T. Madhava Rao’s 1874 Constitution for the Princely States: Is This India’s First Historical Constitution?

19 September 2022 • By

A new historical document uncovered by Rahul Sagar could possibly be the first historical constitution document for India, before what is currently considered as the first, the Swaraj Bill of 1895.

2 mins

Chileans Overwhelmingly Reject a New Progressive Constitution

12 September 2022 • By

In September 2022, the Chilean population voted to reject the Draft of a new Chilean Constitution. What does the rejection of a highly progressive draft constitution mean for future constitution-making projects?

4 mins

Monarchy and the Indian Republic

12 September 2022 • By

How did India decide to join the Commonwealth group of nations despite being a Republic?

3 mins

5 Essential Writings on Constitution Making

7 September 2022 • By

Here we highlight 5 works in the field of constitution making that help readers to understand the processes involved in this field.

3 mins

This Month in Constitution Making (September 1945): Newly-elected Labour Party announces a Constituent Assembly for India

1 September 2022 • By

How did the results of the 1945 UK General election have cascading effects on the setting up of two separate constitution-making bodies in India and Pakistan respectively?

3 mins

National Constitution Society

1 September 2022 • By

In 2018, the Centre for Law and Policy Research, Bangalore (CLPR) initiated a network of Constitution societies in schools and colleges across India known as the National Constitution Society (NCS) to develop and sustain constitutional engagement among the student community in India. The NCS work provides a unique platform for students from universities across the country to interact and collaborate with each other towards building a vibrant constitutional culture in India.

1 mins

Transfer of Power: The Delayed Announcement of the Boundaries of India and Pakistan

30 August 2022 • By and

On the evening of 13 August 1947, Sir Cyril Radcliffe submitted a report to the Viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten, that settled the territorial boundaries of India and Pakistan, referred to as the Commissions' ‘awards’. The British archives reveal why there was a delay in the publication of the awards.

2 mins

Our Independence Movement Constitution

12 August 2022 • By

What made the Indian Independence Movement so unique? How did the experiences of the Independence movement leaders shape the framing of our Constitution?

3 mins

Independence: A Tale of Two Declarations

9 August 2022 • By

What impact did the American Declaration of Independence have on the Declaration of Purna Swaraj introduced by the Indian National Congress in 1930?

3 mins

Desk Brief: Why Didn’t Sri Lanka Invoke Financial Emergency Provisions?

4 August 2022 • By

We examine the financial emergency provisions in the Sri Lankan Constitution, its connection to the Indian constitution and why it may not have been invoked during the crisis.

2 mins

Desk Brief: The Constituent Assembly on Retired Judges Taking Up Executive Office

19 July 2022 • By

We explore what our Constitution Framers thought about retired judges taking up government posts.

3 mins

पहला संवैधानिक संशोधन

16 July 2022 • By

1 mins

आजाद भारत का पहला बजट

16 July 2022 • By

1 mins

This Month in Constitution Making (July 1947): Constituent Assembly Reacts to India’s Partition

11 July 2022 • By

In this desk brief, we break down the reactions to the announcement of Partition in the Indian Constituent Assembly.

3 mins

How a 1934 U.S. Case Shaped the Press Freedom Debate in the Assembly

28 June 2022 • By and

How was the debate on the Seventh Schedule of the Draft Constitution of India 1948 influenced by U.S. case law?

3 mins

Desk Brief: Why is the President of India Not Elected by the People?

22 June 2022 • By

Why does India 'indirectly' elect the President? What were the views of our Constitution framers on this issue?

2 mins

This Month in Constitution Making (June 1934): Congress Makes The First Official Demand For A Constituent Assembly

13 June 2022 • By

in 1934, one demand of the Indian National Congress change the course of the Independence Movement - to form a Constituent Assembly.

3 mins

Desk Brief: Indian Framers Refused a Constitutional Right to Bear Arms

30 May 2022 • By

How did our Constitution framers debate on the issue of the right to bear arms freely?

3 mins

Desk Brief: A Brief History of the Supreme Court’s ‘Complete Justice’ Power

19 May 2022 • By

We explain the concept of 'complete justice' as laid out in the Indian Constitution for the Supreme Court of India.

3 mins

Why India’s Constitution Framers Hated the Sedition Law

13 May 2022 • By

The views of 'sedition' from our Constitution framers as compared to present day.

2 mins

This Month in Constitution Making (May 1949): India Decides to Remain in the Commonwealth of Nations

4 May 2022 • By

How Nehru ended up convincing the Constituent Assembly to join the Commonwealth Group of Nations.

3 mins

Workers’ Rights in M.N. Roy’s Constitution of Free India : A Draft (1944)

2 May 2022 • By

We examine the provisions of the Constitution of Free India: A Draft (1944).

2 mins

Desk Brief: Sardar Patel’s Spirited Defence of the Indian Civil Services

23 April 2022 • By

What did the ICS officers and their role mean to our Constitution framers?

2 mins

This Month in Constitution Making (April 1947): Princely States Join the Constituent Assembly

6 April 2022 • By

How did the group of Princely States join the Union of India?

3 mins

Desk Brief: Why Do Some Union Expenses Not Require Parliament’s Approval?

31 March 2022 • By

We look at how our Constitution framers decided the separation of powers with regards to Parliament and budgetary approval.

2 mins

Desk Brief: Did Indians Participate in Constitution Making?

29 March 2022 • By

A paper by Ornit Shani, a political scientist, explores the role of regular Indians in the Indian constitution-making process.

3 mins

Regional Translations of the Indian Constitution

27 March 2022 • By

The Constitution of India has been translated into all 22 scheduled languages by the Government of India. Access the translated versions of the Constitution here.

1 mins

2021 कॉन्स्टिटूशन ऑफ़ इंडिया डॉट नेट के साथ

11 March 2022 • By

1 mins

How A 1933 U.S. Law Shaped India’s Financial Emergency Provision

25 February 2022 • By and

What was the impact of FDR's actions during the Great Depression on the Indian Constituent Assembly?

2 mins

Desk Brief: Constitution Framers Refused to Regulate Religious Attire

16 February 2022 • By

In light of the recent case on religious attire in educational institutions, we explore the thoughts of the Constituent Assembly on this matter.

2 mins

This Month in Constitution-Making (February 1947): Britain Announces It Will Quit India

9 February 2022 • By

The background behind the announcement of Britain quitting India in February 1947.

2 mins

Desk Brief: Indian Framers Deliberately Chose ‘Union of States’

5 February 2022 • By

Why is India referred to as a 'Union of States' and not a 'federation?

2 mins

Desk Brief: Independent India’s First Budget

3 February 2022 • By

Breaking down Independent India's First Budget.

3 mins

Desk Brief: ‘We the People in the Name of Gandhi’?

31 January 2022 • By

What was the debate regarding the Preamble of the Indian Constitution?

3 mins

Desk Brief: 2021 with Constitutionofindia.net

31 January 2022 • By

We step back and review 2021 through a curated set of Constitutionofindia.net pieces.

3 mins

Tightening the Noose on Interfaith Marriage

31 January 2022 • By

What is the impact of the fusing of anti-conversion bills with interfaith marriage legislation?

2 mins

Finding Bose in the Indian Constitution

26 January 2022 • By and

How did the views of Subhas Chandra Bose manifest in the Constituent Assembly Debates?

2 mins

The Jammu & Kashmir Constituent Assembly

10 January 2022 • By

We look at the Jammu & Kashmir Constitution and how it came into fruition through some of our Constitution framers.

3 mins

लोकतंत्र में विरोध

7 January 2022 • By

1 mins

जबरन मजदूरी किसे माना गया है ?

7 January 2022 • By

1 mins

Should Minors Have the Right to Convert?

4 January 2022 • By

The Indian Constituent Assembly engages with adulthood in the context of religious conversion.

2 mins

This Month in Constitution-Making (January 1947): The Constituent Assembly passes the Objectives Resolution

4 January 2022 • By

How did Nehru convince the Constituent Assembly to accept the provisions of the Objectives Resolution?

4 mins

Desk Brief: What Counts as Forced Labour?

31 December 2021 • By

The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is observed on 2 December to bring the world's attention to forced labour.

2 mins

Desk Brief: Is Religious Conversion about Individuals or Groups?

24 December 2021 • By

How was religious conversion debated on in the Constituent Assembly? Was it an individual right or something represented as a group?

2 mins

पच्चीसवां संविधान संशोधन

22 December 2021 • By

1 mins

Desk Brief: Opposing Democracy?

16 December 2021 • By

How our Constitution framers envisioned the functioning of a robust Parliament with a strong opposition

2 mins

B.R Ambedkar’s Justification To Restrict Fundamental Rights

10 December 2021 • By

B.R Ambedkar was faced with criticism from his Constituent Assembly colleagues: why were there restrictions on Fundamental Rights in the Draft Constitution?

2 mins

Desk Brief: The 25th Amendment

30 November 2021 • By

We examine the development of the right to property from a Fundamental Right to a constitutional right.

2 mins

संविधान निर्माण में यह महीना (अक्टूबर, 1949): संविधान सभा ने न्यायालय की अवमानना को अभिव्यक्ति की स्वतंत्रता की सीमाओं में जोड़ा

27 November 2021 • By

1 mins

Desk Brief: The Day We Adopted Our Constitution

26 November 2021 • By

The day the Indian Constituent Assembly adopted the Indian Constitution on 26 November 1949 - how it happened.

3 mins

This Month in Constitution-Making (November 1946): Was The Constituent Assembly Valid Despite Muslim League Absence?

8 November 2021 • By

Did the absence of the Muslim League from the Indian Constituent Assembly test its validity of existence?

3 mins

Does Affirmative Action Conflict with Efficiency?

14 October 2021 • By

What were the reasons given by our Constitution framers when debating the impact and consequences of affirmative action?

2 mins

ईश्वर के नाम पर

12 October 2021 • By

1 mins

This Month In Constitution Making (October, 1949): Constituent Assembly Adds Contempt of Court to Free Speech Limitations

5 October 2021 • By

Why did TT Krishnamachari want to add 'contempt of court' as a constraint to the Fundamental right of Freedom of speech?

2 mins

Desk Brief: Article 372 and Laiq Ali’s Escape

30 September 2021 • By

The connection between newly independent India's detention laws and the powers of the President of India.

2 mins

Affirmative Action in Indian Constitutional History: An Overview

30 September 2021 • By

How has the concept of affirmative action been discussed through Indian history, especially during the Indian freedom struggle and in Historical Constitutions?

3 mins

24वां संविधान संशोधन

28 September 2021 • By

1 mins

Desk Brief: Why Hindi is not our National Language

27 September 2021 • By

How did the Constituent Assembly decide on Hindi's inclusion as an official language of the country?

3 mins

Desk Brief: Extending Affirmative Action to the Supreme Court?

20 September 2021 • By

Is it time that we now have laws that ensure that the Supreme Court is more inclusive and comprise all marginalised communities - not just gender diversity?

3 mins

This Month in Constitution-Making (September 1949): Constituent Assembly Settles on a Name for the Union

20 September 2021 • By

Read about how our Constitution framers debated on the naming of the country as per Article 1 of the Constitution of India 1950

2 mins

जयपाल सिंह- भारतीय हॉकी और जनजातीय अधिकारों की कप्तानी

11 September 2021 • By

1 mins