Olympiad Test Level 2: Indian Polity- 1

Fundamental rights: Our constitution affirms certain basic principles that every individual is entitled to enjoy. A few of these rights include:

• Right to Equality (Articles 14 to 18)
• Right to Freedom of Religion (Articles 25 to 28)
• Right against exploitation (Article 23-24)
• Right of Freedom to practice any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade, or business (Article 19)
• Right to Constitutional Remedies (Articles 32 to 35)

In all, the Constituent Assembly took 11 sessions over 2 years, 11 months and 18 days to complete the constitution. The Constitution-makers had gone through the constitutions of about 60 countries, and the Draft Constitution was considered for 114 days. The total expenditure incurred in making the Constitution amounted to 64 lakhs.

With the Forty-second Amendment of the Constitution of India enacted in 1976, the Preamble to the Constitution asserted that India is a secular nation.

Unity in Diversity is a concept that signifies unity among individuals who have certain differences among them. These differences can be on the basis of culture, language, ideology, religion, sect, class, ethnicity, etc.

When any of our rights are violated we can seek a remedy through the courts. We can directly approach the Supreme Court or the High Court of a state. The Supreme Court and the High Court have the power to issue directions, orders, or writs for the enforcement of the Fundamental Rights. They can also award compensation to the victims and punishment to the violators.

The Right to Information Act will come into force w.e.f. 12th October, 2005. The Act extends to the whole of India except Jammu & Kashmir. It provides a very definite day for its commencement i.e. 120 days from enactment.

Its members are elected by the Legislative Assembly of States and Union territories by means of Single transferable vote through Proportional representation. It also has 12 members who are nominated by the President of India. A member of the Rajya Sabha must be a citizen of India.

In a unitary government, all the powers of government are vested in the central government whereas, in a federal government, the powers of government are divided between the centre and the units.

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 provided for the Reservation for women in rural local body Panchayat. Article 243D in Part IX of the constitution provides for the reservation of not more than One-third of the total number of seats shall be reserved for women including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

The maximum strength of the Lok Sabha shall not exceed 552. Among 550 representatives, 530 members are directly elected by the people from different states while the remaining 20 are elected from the union territories. The remaining 2 are elected from the Anglo-Indian community.