Topic 01 of 5 · Chapter 04 · Indian Polity
Sources of the Indian Constitution — Country-wise
Features borrowed from UK, USA, Ireland, Canada, Australia, Germany, South Africa, USSR, Japan and GoI Act 1935.
📋 In This Article
1. Overview — Why Borrowed?
The framers of the Indian Constitution studied constitutions of over 60 countries and borrowed the best features from each. This was not mere copying — they adapted each feature to suit India’s unique needs, diversity, and conditions.
⭐ Key Fact: The largest single source is the Government of India Act, 1935. About 250 provisions were directly taken from it. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar studied constitutions of over 60 countries while drafting the Constitution.
2. Country-wise Features Borrowed
🇬🇧 United Kingdom (UK)
• Parliamentary system of government
• Rule of Law
• Single citizenship
• Cabinet system
• Writs
• Bicameral Parliament
• Speaker in Lok Sabha
• Privilege of Parliament
• Rule of Law
• Single citizenship
• Cabinet system
• Writs
• Bicameral Parliament
• Speaker in Lok Sabha
• Privilege of Parliament
🇺🇸 United States of America
• Fundamental Rights
• Judicial Review
• Independence of Judiciary
• Preamble
• Impeachment of President
• Removal of Supreme Court judges
• Vice-President as Presiding Officer of Upper House
• Judicial Review
• Independence of Judiciary
• Preamble
• Impeachment of President
• Removal of Supreme Court judges
• Vice-President as Presiding Officer of Upper House
🇮🇪 Ireland
• Directive Principles of State Policy
• Nomination of members to Rajya Sabha
• Method of election of President
• Nomination of members to Rajya Sabha
• Method of election of President
🇨🇦 Canada
• Federal system with strong Centre
• Residuary powers with Centre
• Advisory jurisdiction of Supreme Court
• Appointment of State Governors by Centre
• Residuary powers with Centre
• Advisory jurisdiction of Supreme Court
• Appointment of State Governors by Centre
🇦🇺 Australia
• Concurrent List
• Freedom of trade and commerce
• Joint sitting of Parliament
• Language of the Preamble
• Freedom of trade and commerce
• Joint sitting of Parliament
• Language of the Preamble
🇩🇪 Germany (Weimar)
• Suspension of Fundamental Rights during Emergency
• Emergency provisions
• Emergency provisions
🇿🇦 South Africa
• Amendment procedure (Article 368)
• Election of members of Rajya Sabha
• Election of members of Rajya Sabha
🇷🇺 USSR (Soviet Union)
• Fundamental Duties
• Ideals of Justice (social, economic, political) in Preamble
• Five Year Plans (not constitutional but inspired)
• Ideals of Justice (social, economic, political) in Preamble
• Five Year Plans (not constitutional but inspired)
🇯🇵 Japan
• Procedure established by law (Article 21)
🇫🇷 France
• Republic
• Liberty, Equality, Fraternity ideals in Preamble
• Liberty, Equality, Fraternity ideals in Preamble
3. Government of India Act, 1935 — Main Source
The Government of India Act, 1935 is the single largest source. Features borrowed:
- Federal structure with Centre-State division of powers
- Office of Governor
- Structure of judiciary
- Public Service Commissions (UPSC, SPSC)
- Emergency provisions
- Administrative details
- Three Lists — Union, State, Concurrent
- Bicameral legislature at Centre
💡 Note: The GoI Act 1935 was itself a very detailed document — the longest act ever passed by the British Parliament at that time. India’s Constitution inherited this detailed nature.
4. Key Points for Exam
🔑 Must-Remember Facts
- Largest source: Government of India Act, 1935
- UK: Parliamentary system, Rule of Law, Single citizenship, Writs
- USA: Fundamental Rights, Judicial Review, Preamble, Impeachment
- Ireland: DPSP, Nomination to Rajya Sabha, Election of President
- Canada: Federal with strong Centre, Residuary powers with Centre
- Australia: Concurrent List, Joint sitting of Parliament
- Germany: Suspension of FR during Emergency
- South Africa: Amendment procedure (Article 368)
- USSR: Fundamental Duties, Justice ideals in Preamble
- Japan: Procedure established by law (Article 21)
- France: Republic, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity