The Bag of Borrowings: Sources of Constitution

The Hook: The Indian Constitution is often called a "bag of borrowings" or a "patchwork". Why?
Because Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and the drafting committee ransacked all the known constitutions of the world, picking the best features from each to create a unique blend suited for India.

1. The Biggest Source (The Blueprint)

📜 Government of India Act, 1935

Nearly 75% of the Constitution is based on this single Act. It provided the structural skeleton.

• Federal Scheme (Center & States).
• Office of the Governor.
• Judiciary structure.
• Public Service Commissions (UPSC/SPSC).
• Emergency Provisions (Administrative details).

2. The Foreign Bag (Country-wise)

🇬🇧 Britain (UK)

• Parliamentary form of Government.
• Rule of Law.
• Single Citizenship.
• Cabinet System.
• Bicameralism (Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha).

🇺🇸 USA

• Fundamental Rights.
• Judicial Review.
• Independence of Judiciary.
• Impeachment of the President.
• Post of Vice-President.

🇮🇪 Ireland

• Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP).
• Method of Election of President.
• Nomination of members to Rajya Sabha.

🇨🇦 Canada

• Federation with a strong Centre.
• Vesting of Residuary Powers in the Centre.
• Appointment of State Governors by the Centre.

🇦🇺 Australia

• Concurrent List.
• Joint Sitting of two houses of Parliament.
• Freedom of trade and commerce.

🇩🇪 Germany (Weimar)

• Suspension of Fundamental Rights during Emergency.

🇷🇺 USSR (Russia)

• Fundamental Duties.
• Ideal of Justice (Social, Economic, Political) in Preamble.
• Five Year Plans (Now NITI Aayog).

🇫🇷 France

• Republic (Head of state is elected, not hereditary).
• Ideals of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity in the Preamble.

🇿🇦 South Africa

• Procedure for Amendment of the Constitution.
• Election of members of Rajya Sabha.

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Revision Flashcards

Fundamental Rights

Borrowed from?

USA

The Bill of Rights in the US Constitution inspired our Part III.

Single Citizenship

Borrowed from?

Britain (UK)

Unlike the USA (dual citizenship), India follows the UK model of a single national citizenship.

DPSP

Borrowed from?

Ireland

Directive Principles of State Policy are non-justiciable guidelines for the government.

Concurrent List

Borrowed from?

Australia

The list where both Center and State can make laws.

Exam-Style MCQs

Q1. The feature of 'Suspension of Fundamental Rights during Emergency' is taken from which country's constitution?

A) Canada

B) Germany (Weimar)

Correct! The Weimar Constitution of Germany.

C) USSR

Q2. The concept of 'Judicial Review' in the Indian Constitution is borrowed from:

A) UK

B) USA

Correct! The power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional comes from the American model.

C) Australia

Q3. Which of the following was the biggest source for the Indian Constitution?

A) Constitution of USA

B) Government of India Act, 1935

Correct! It provided the basic structural framework and administrative details.

C) Constitution of Britain

Part of the Indian Polity Revision Series.