Experts have designed these Class 7 SST Notes Chapter 10 The Constitution of India An Introduction Class 7 Notes for effective learning.
Class 7 The Constitution of India An Introduction Notes
Class 7 SST Chapter 10 The Constitution of India An Introduction Notes
Class 7 SST Chapter 10 Notes – The Constitution of India An Introduction Notes Class 7
→ Constitution: A constitution is the most important document which contains rules, laws and lays down the basic principles and framework of the nation.
→ Civilisational Heritage: It is a different aspect of life that a civilisation creates and leaves behind, like culture, art, architecture, food, dress, festivals, literature etc. for future generations.
→ Doordarshan: It is India’s government service broadcaster, established in 1959 to disseminate news, information, events, programmes etc.
→ Kartavya Path: Kartavya Path was earlier known as Rajpath. It stretches from Rashtrapati Bhavan (the President’s House) to India Gate.
→ Helium: Helium is a safe gas, that doesn’t catch fire or react with paper or ink. It has been used to protect the Constitution in a glass case over time.
→ Parliament: The Parliament is the supreme law-making body and highest forum of debate and discussion. It consists of the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and the President of India.
→ Legislature: The Legislature is an organ of the government that makes laws. The Parliament is the national legislature and the Vidhan Sabha (and Vidhan Parishad) exists at the state level.
→ Executive: The organ of the government that implements the laws made by the legislature. (President, Prime Minister, ministers, and civil servants)
→ Judiciary: The judiciary upholds the law and it resolves disputes. It consists of different layers of courts, with the Supreme court at the top.
→ Pluralism: Pluralism refers to a value system of society which supports and respects multiple cultures, religions, or beliefs.
→ Constituent Assembly: A Constituent Assembly is a body of elected representatives that is formed to draft, make or adopt a new constitution for a country.
→ Dr. Sachidananda Sinha: Dr.Sachidananda Sinha was an important freedom fighter, Indian lawyer and educationist. He was the first provisional Chairman of the Constituent Assembly of India.
→ Unity in Diversity: It reflects the idea of oneness in spite of diverse cultures, languages, religions, and traditions. It is a core value of Indian society that promotes peaceful coexistence.
→ Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: It signifies the idea that all living beings on Earth are part of one big family, supporting the idea of compassion and peace. The word is a Sanskrit phrase.
→ Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah: It is a Sanskrit shloka/verse highlights the message of universal happiness, respect, peace and well-being for all.
→ Janapadas: It means the land where a tribe or group of people settled and was one of the first important political and territorial units in ancient India.
→ A No Bhadrah Kratavo Yantu Vishwatah ( “आ नो भद्रा: क्रतवो यन्तु विश्वः: )
It means “Let noble thoughts come to us from all directions” reflecting openness and readiness to accept multiple and diverse ideas.
→ Fundamental Rights: These are the rights guaranteed by the Constitution to ordinary citizens, essential for their overall development. They can be enforced in a court of law if violated.
→ Fundamental Duties: The Constitution lays down the Fundamental Duties under Article 51 A, outlining the sense of obligation that citizens have towards the nation.
→ Constitutional Amendments: A change in the Constitution made by the supreme legislative body in a country,- in case of India it is the Parliament
→ Aadhaar: The Government of India provides every resident of India with a 12-digit unique identification number, serving as proof of identity.
→ Preamble: The summary of main core values of the constitution which states the reasons and guiding values of the Constitution.
→ Constitutional Amendment: A change in the Constitution made by the supreme legislative body in a country.
→ Draft: A preliminary version of a legal document.
→ We, the People of India: The Constitution has been made and enacted by the people of India through their representatives.
→ Sovereign: The people of the country have supreme right to take decisions on internal as well as external matters.
→ Socialist: Wealth is generated through collective effort and should be shared equally by society. Government should work to regulate the ownership of land and industry to reduce socio-economic inequalities.
→ Secular: Citizens have complete freedom and right to follow any religion they like and choose. There is no official religion. Government treats all religions equally.
→ Democratic: A form of government where leaders and rulers are elected by the people. The government is run according to some basic rules.
→ Republic: A country where people choose their leaders through elections, not by heredity.
→ Justice: Fair treatment to all people, ensuring that everyone is treated equally and their rights are protected.
→ Liberty: There is freedom given to citizens regarding what they think, how they wish to express their ideas, their choice of life, dress and the way they wish to follow up their thoughts in action.
→ Equality: Everyone is treated equally. All individuals are equal before the law and the law does not discriminate against them on any background. The government is bound to ensure equal opportunity for all.
→ Fraternity: A sense of brotherhood prevails in our society. We should treat everyone fairly and as part of one big family. No one should consider any fellow citizen as inferior.
The Constitution of India An Introduction Class 7th Notes
- The Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950. The process of making it took around 3 years to complete.
- Interestingly, the original Constitution of India is preserved in a glass case filled with Helium gas and kept safely in the Parliament.
- A Constitution is a very important and sacred document which is a source of pledge and oath to all important government functionaries including – The President, The Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and others.
WHAT IS A CONSTITUTION?
- A constitution is the most important document which contains rules, laws and lays the basic principles and framework of the nation.
- It defines the three organs of the government, their roles and functions.
- Mentions how the three organs of the government will work independently and also act as a check and balance on each other.
- Nature of the government is democratic republic.
- Lays down the fundamental rights and duties of every citizen, which keeps a check on the functioning of the government.
- Creates path for long-term aspirations of nation.
WHY DO WE NEED A CONSTITUTION?
- Constitution is like the rulebook of the country.
- Defines the nature of government, its procedure of formation and mechanism of functioning.
- A constitution lays down the procedure of making laws and their implementation.
- At the same time, it defines the functions of the three organs of the government and their formation, which can be done through election, selection and or as constitutionally defined.
- It reflects the values of the nation- like Justice, Fraternity, Equality, Respect, Freedom and pluralistic society.
WRITING THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
- The task of writing our constitution was given to a Constituent assembly, which was formed on 9 December, 1946.
- It consisted initially of 389 members (before Partition) and finally reduced to 299 after the Partition of India and Pakistan in 1947.
- 15 women members were there in the committee.
Dr. Sachidananda Sinha was the President of the Constituent Assembly at the start of the process of the writing of the Constitution.
After Dr. Sachidananda Sinha, Dr. Rajendra Prasad became the President of the Constituent Assembly.
How was Our Constitution Developed?
- Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the Chairman of the constituent assembly, which framed the constitution. He was also the first president of India from 1950 till 1962.
- Drafing committee was headed by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, who was a known social reformer at that time. He was also first Law and Justice minister of Independent India.
- The Constituent Assembly completed the task of writing the constitution from 9 December 1946, to 26 November 1949, almost 3 years.
- It was a body of representatives who were elected by the legislative assemblies of the provinces.
- Members were elected through an election which was held in July 1946.
WHAT SHAPED AND INFLUENCED THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION?
- The Constitution, drafted by the Constituent Assembly, was drawn from the experience of the freedom movement, India’s heritage and insights from other nations constitutions.
Influence of the Indian Freedom Movement
- The learning experience gained during the freedom struggle included core values like equality for all, justice for all, freedom, fraternity, respect for nature and upholding the culture and heritage of our past.
India’s civilisational heritage and history
- The idea of India as a unified nation is deeply rooted in the constitution.
- Diversity and different perspectives of people cutting across length and breadth of the nation.
- Respect for the environment.
- Consciously making efforts to learn and upgrade knowledge, respect for women,
- The notion vasudhaiva kutumbakam, that the world is one family and sarve bhavantu sukhinah, the welfare of all beings is the core concept of the Constitution.
Learnings from across the world
- The Constitution of India is also inspired by the ideal of ā no bhadrāh kratavo yantu viśhwatah-by showing that we are open to new and noble thoughts entering without any hindrance.
Country-Source Ideals and Values taken in the Indian Constitution United Kingdom Parliamentary System, Rule of law United States of America (USA) Fundamental Rights, Independent Judiciary Ireland Directive Principles of State Policy Australia Concurrent List France Liberty, Equality, Fraternity( From the French revolution)
KEY FEATURES OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
- The Indian Constitution is the longest written constitution, originally it had 395 Articles divided into 22 parts and 8 Schedules and now it has over 470 Articles divided into 25 parts and 12 Schedules.
- India has a parliamentary form of government consisting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
- The Constitution declares India as a democratic country and all citizens above 18 years have the right to vote.
- There is an independent, integrated and powerful judiciary system.
- There are three organs of government- legislature, executive and judiciary with ‘separation of powers’ as a core part of it.
- There are three levels of government: Central, State and Local.
- The Constitution contains the Fundamental Duties, Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles of State Policy.
- The makers of the Constitution provided Fundamental Rights for immediate needs and Directive Principles for long-term progress.
- Directive Principles of State Policy are certain directions given in the form of principles to the government to make policies for the benefit of all and attain the welfare of common people.
- They cannot be enforced by any court. It is just a moral obligation on the part of the government.
- Their purpose is to guide the country towards becoming a welfare state.
- Articles like 38, 41, 44, 47, 48-A and 49 of the Indian Constitution promote justice, welfare, a uniform civil code, health, nutrition, environmental protection and the preservation of national heritage.
- Fundamental Rights are guaranteed by the constitution to all citizens and are necessary for individual development.
- These rights are enforceable by the courts and any violation can be challenged.
- There is a limit on the excessive use of power by the government.
- Some important fundamental rights are the Right to Equality under Article 14, the Right to Freedom under Article 21, the Right against Exploitation, and the Right to Education under Article 21 -A.
- Some fundamental duties are to respect the constitution, the National Flag and the National Anthem, to defend the country, to value our cultural heritage, to protect the environment, strive for excellence, and ensure children get an education.
THE CONSTITUTION IS A LIVING DOCUMENT
- The Constitution of India is not a static document; it is a living one. The Constitution makers were aware that in the future, with changes with time and circumstances, new laws would be required.
- Some laws would become outdated and would require deletion or modification. In such scenarios, the provision for Constitutional amendments was included.
- These changes can be made only by the Parliament, through extensive debates, discussions and voting in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
- Some important amendments are the addition of Fundamental Duties in 1976 and Local Self-Government in 1992.
UNDERSTANDING THE PREAMBLE: THE GUIDING VALUES OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
- The Preamble of India is a brief introductory statement in the constitution of India, which includes its core values (the guiding principles) of the constitution.
- It mentions the core values, ideals, objectives, and basic principles on which the Constitution is based.
- The important ideals highlighted in the Preamble to the Constitution of India are:
India is a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic, guaranteeing justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, while ensuring individual dignity, unity, and integrity of the nation.