Topic 01 of 6 · Chapter 03 · Indian Polity
Lengthiest Written Constitution & Sources
Why India has the world’s longest constitution, what makes it unique, and features borrowed from other countries.
📋 In This Article
1. Why India Has the Longest Written Constitution
The Indian Constitution is the longest written constitution in the world. Originally it had 395 articles, 8 schedules, and 22 parts. Currently it has 470+ articles, 12 schedules, and 25 parts.
💡 Reasons for its length:
- India is a vast and diverse country — needed detailed provisions for every situation
- Borrowed from multiple constitutions — added provisions from many sources
- Includes provisions for both Union and State governments — unlike USA which has separate state constitutions
- Contains administrative details that other constitutions leave to ordinary law
- Includes Fundamental Rights, DPSP, and Fundamental Duties in detail
- Provides for special provisions for minorities, SCs, STs, backward classes
- Contains emergency provisions in detail
- Influenced by the Government of India Act, 1935 which was itself very detailed
⭐ Comparison: US Constitution has only 4,400 words (shortest). Indian Constitution has 1,46,385 words (longest). The US Constitution has been amended only 27 times in 230+ years, while India has 105+ amendments in 70+ years.
2. Key Numbers to Remember
| Feature | Original (1949) | Current |
|---|---|---|
| Articles | 395 | 470+ (after amendments) |
| Schedules | 8 | 12 |
| Parts | 22 | 25 |
| Amendments | — | 106 (as of 2026) |
| Appendices | — | 5 |
✅ Schedules Added Later: 9th Schedule (1951 — 1st Amendment), 10th Schedule (1985 — 52nd Amendment — Anti-defection), 11th Schedule (1992 — 73rd Amendment — Panchayati Raj), 12th Schedule (1992 — 74th Amendment — Municipalities)
3. Features Borrowed from Other Countries
| Country | Features Borrowed |
|---|---|
| UK (Britain) | Parliamentary system, Rule of Law, Single citizenship, Cabinet system, Writs, Bicameral Parliament, Speaker in Lok Sabha |
| USA | Fundamental Rights, Judicial Review, Independence of Judiciary, Preamble, Impeachment of President, Removal of Supreme Court judges |
| Ireland | Directive Principles of State Policy, Nomination of Rajya Sabha members, 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 |
| Australia | Concurrent List, Freedom of trade and commerce, Joint sitting of Parliament |
| Germany (Weimar) | Suspension of Fundamental Rights during Emergency |
| South Africa | Amendment procedure (Article 368), Election of Rajya Sabha members |
| USSR (Soviet) | Fundamental Duties, Ideals of Justice (social, economic, political) in Preamble |
| Japan | Procedure established by law |
| France | Republic, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity ideals |
⭐ Most Important: The largest single source is the Government of India Act, 1935. About 250 provisions were directly taken from it. That is why critics called it a “borrowed Constitution.”
4. Government of India Act, 1935 — Main Source
The Government of India Act, 1935 is the single largest source of the Indian Constitution. The following features were borrowed from it:
- Federal structure with Centre-State division of powers
- Office of Governor
- Judiciary — structure of courts
- Public Service Commissions
- Emergency provisions
- Administrative details
- The three lists — Union, State, Concurrent
📌 Critics’ View: Naziruddin Ahmad called the Indian Constitution a “borrowed Constitution” because of its heavy reliance on the GoI Act 1935 and other constitutions. However, the framers adapted these features to suit India’s unique needs.
5. Key Points for Exam
🔑 Must-Remember Facts
- Indian Constitution is the longest written constitution in the world
- Original: 395 articles, 8 schedules, 22 parts
- Current: 470+ articles, 12 schedules, 25 parts
- Largest source: Government of India Act, 1935
- Parliamentary system from UK
- Fundamental Rights from USA
- DPSP from Ireland
- Federal with strong Centre from Canada
- Concurrent List from Australia
- Emergency suspension of FR from Germany (Weimar)
- Fundamental Duties from USSR
- Procedure established by law from Japan
- US Constitution is the shortest (4,400 words)
- India has 105+ amendments (as of 2021)