Indian Constitution: Fundamental Rights & Duties

A constitution is a body of fundamental principles and established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. The other options describe specific principles (equality, flexibility, secularism) but do not define what a constitution is.

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar served as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution and is recognized as the 'Father of the Indian Constitution.' Dr. Rajendra Prasad was President of the Constituent Assembly, not Drafting Committee Chairman.

A republic is a form of government where the head of state is elected by the people rather than inheriting the position through monarchy. 'Democratic' is an adjective describing systems, not a noun. 'Socialist' refers to economic organization. A 'Monarch' inherits power, not elected.

Under the Indian Constitution, the Supreme Court (Article 32) and High Courts (Article 226) have the power to issue writs for the enforcement of fundamental rights.

The Vice President of India serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, meaning they hold the position by virtue of their office.

Subjects not specifically mentioned in the Union, State, or Concurrent lists fall under the Residuary List, which gives the Parliament the power to legislate on them.

Certiorari is a writ issued by a higher court to a lower court or tribunal to quash an order or decision, literally meaning to be more fully informed or to be certified.

The Fundamental Duties in the Indian Constitution were incorporated based on the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee, drawing inspiration from the Constitution of the USSR.

The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) in Part IV of the Constitution aim to establish a welfare state and achieve national goals like social, economic, and political justice. They are non-justiciable guidelines for the government to establish social order and promote Gandhian principles.

The Fundamental Rights are guaranteed by the Constitution (Articles 12-35). Right to Information is a statutory right under the RTI Act, and there is no 'Right to Holiday' in the Constitution.

The Right to Property was originally a Fundamental Right under Article 31, but it was removed by the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act in 1978 and converted into a legal right under Article 300A.

The 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 added the words 'Socialist', 'Secular', and 'Integrity' to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.

The Constitution of India was adopted and enacted on 26 November 1949, which is why this date is celebrated as Constitution Day.

The Preamble of the Indian Constitution describes India as a 'Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic'.