Parts of Indian Constitution
The Constitution of India, adopted on 26 January 1950, is not merely a collection of laws. It is the supreme law of the land—the ultimate authority that governs the relationship between the State and citizens, and among the organs of the State themselves.
Originally, the Constitution consisted of:
- 395 Articles
- 22 Parts
- 8 Schedules
However, the Constitution is not static. As Indian society, governance, and administrative needs evolved, the Constitution also evolved through amendments. Today (as of 2025), it contains:
- 448 Articles
- 25 Parts
- 12 Schedules
👉 This expansion itself tells us something very important:
The Indian Constitution is a living document, not a frozen one.
Why Are “Parts” So Important in the Constitution?
Think of the Constitution as a vast, detailed book. Without proper chapters, reading it would be chaotic.
The Parts of the Indian Constitution act like well-organised chapters, each dealing with a broad theme such as:
- Rights of citizens
- Duties of the State
- Structure of Union and State governments
- Elections, emergencies, and amendments
So, the Parts provide order, clarity, and logic to constitutional governance.
Supremacy of the Constitution
One of the most unique features of the Indian system is this:
India follows the supremacy of the Constitution, not the supremacy of Parliament.
This means:
- Parliament is powerful, but not absolute
- Every law passed by Parliament must conform to the Constitution
- Courts can strike down unconstitutional laws (Judicial Review)
This principle ensures limited government and rule of law, which is the essence of constitutionalism.
How New Parts and Articles Are Added
Whenever a new Article or Part is added:
- The original numbering is not disturbed
- Alphabetical numbering is used (e.g., Article 21A, Part IXA)
This maintains the structural integrity of the Constitution while allowing flexibility.
Growth of the Constitution Through New Parts
Some Parts were not present in the original Constitution, but added later to address governance gaps:
- Part IX (Panchayats) – Rural local self-government
- Part IXA (Municipalities) – Urban local self-government
- Part IXB (Co-operative Societies) – Democratic functioning of cooperatives
- Part XIVA (Tribunals) – Speedy and specialised justice
👉 These additions reflect deepening democracy and decentralisation.
Snapshot Overview: Parts of the Indian Constitution
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Constitution adopted | 26 November 1949 |
| Originally | 22 Parts |
| Presently | 25 Parts |
| Nature | Written, detailed, and amendable |
List of Parts of Indian Constitution
| Part | Articles Covered | Subject / Theme | Brief Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part I | Articles 1 – 4 | The Union and its Territory | Defines India as a Union of States; regulates formation of new states and alteration of boundaries. |
| Part II | Articles 5 – 11 | Citizenship | Lays down provisions for citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution and rules for acquisition/termination. |
| Part III | Articles 12 – 35 | Fundamental Rights | Guarantees six categories of Fundamental Rights to citizens, inspired by the US Bill of Rights. |
| Part IV | Articles 36 – 51 | Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) | Guidelines for the State to establish a just society; non-justiciable but fundamental to governance. |
| Part IVA | Article 51A | Fundamental Duties | Lists 11 duties of citizens, added by the 42nd Amendment (1976) on recommendation of Swaran Singh Committee. |
| Part V | Articles 52 – 151 | The Union | Deals with the Union Government – Executive (President, PM, Council of Ministers), Parliament, and Judiciary. |
| Part VI | Articles 153 – 237 | The States | Deals with State Governments – Governors, State Legislature, and High Courts. |
| Part VII | [Repealed] | States in Part B | Dealt with Part B states; repealed by the 7th Amendment (1956). |
| Part VIII | Articles 239 – 242 | Union Territories | Provides for administration of Union Territories by the President through Administrators. |
| Part IX | Articles 243 – 243O | The Panchayats | Establishes Panchayati Raj system (73rd Amendment, 1992) for rural local self-government. |
| Part IXA | Articles 243P – 243ZG | The Municipalities | Establishes urban local bodies (74th Amendment, 1992) with structure, powers, and responsibilities. |
| Part IXB | Articles 243ZH – 243ZT | Co-operative Societies | Provides for regulation and management of co-operatives (97th Amendment, 2011). |
| Part X | Articles 244 – 244A | Scheduled and Tribal Areas | Deals with administration of Scheduled Areas (Fifth Schedule) and Tribal Areas (Sixth Schedule). |
| Part XI | Articles 245 – 263 | Relations between the Union and States | Lays down legislative, administrative, and financial relations between the Centre and States. |
| Part XII | Articles 264 – 300A | Finance, Property, Contracts, and Suits | Covers distribution of revenues, borrowing powers, property rights, and legal suits involving government. |
| Part XIII | Articles 301 – 307 | Trade, Commerce, and Intercourse | Ensures freedom of trade and commerce across India; modeled on Australian Constitution. |
| Part XIV | Articles 308 – 323 | Services under Union and States | Covers recruitment, conditions of service, and role of Public Service Commissions. |
| Part XIVA | Articles 323A – 323B | Tribunals | Provides for Administrative Tribunals and other tribunals for speedy justice (42nd Amendment, 1976). |
| Part XV | Articles 324 – 329A | Elections | Deals with conduct of elections; empowers Election Commission of India. |
| Part XVI | Articles 330 – 342 | Special Provisions for Certain Classes | Safeguards for SCs, STs, and Anglo-Indians, including reservation of seats. |
| Part XVII | Articles 343 – 351 | Official Language | Declares Hindi in Devanagari script as official language; provides for use of English and development of regional languages. |
| Part XVIII | Articles 352 – 360 | Emergency Provisions | Provides for National Emergency, President’s Rule, and Financial Emergency. |
| Part XIX | Articles 361 – 367 | Miscellaneous | Covers protection of President/Governors, privy purses, interpretation of Constitution, etc. |
| Part XX | Article 368 | Amendment of the Constitution | Provides the procedure for constitutional amendments – flexible yet rigid. |
| Part XXI | Articles 369 – 392 | Temporary, Transitional, and Special Provisions | Deals with temporary and special provisions for certain states and union territories. |
| Part XXII | Articles 393 – 395 | Short title, Commencement, Authoritative Text, Repeals | Specifies short title, date of commencement, authoritative text in Hindi, and repeals of previous laws. |