SET 2: INDIAN CONSTITUTION AND POLITICAL SYSTEM

A PREFACE TO INDIAN CONSTITUTION

Programme B. A. Political Science Honours

Course Code POL1MN102
Course Title A PREFACE TO INDIAN CONSTITUTION
Type of Course Minor
Semester 1
Academic Level 100-199
Lecture per Tutorial Practical
Credit Total Hours
Course Details week per week per week
4 4 - - 60
Fundamental ability to read and understand academic articles and books
Pre-requisites
with critical knowledge
This course provides a comprehensive exploration of the Indian
Course
Constitution, offering a detailed analysis of its historical evolution, key
Summary
principles, and fundamental rights.

Course Outcomes (CO):

CO CO Statement Cognitive Knowledge Evaluation Tools
Level* Category# used
CO The students shall able to analyse U F Instructor-created
1 judicial verdicts, particularly those exams / Quiz
related to minority rights,
fundamental rights, and religious
freedom, fostering critical thinking
and enhancing legal analysis skills.
CO Students shall be able to analyse the U C Instructor-created
2 organisational structures of the exams / Quiz
Indian Constitution, including its
preamble, and recognise the
principles guiding the governance of
the nation.
CO Students shall be able to examine U C Instructor-created
3 the directive principles of state exams / Home
policy and understand their role in Assignments
shaping governance and public
policy.
CO Students shall critically analyse An K Assignment /
4 contemporary challenges and issues Observation of
gaining an understanding of the Practical Knowledge
roles of judicial activism, judicial
review, and constitutional remedies
in addressing Fundamental rights
CO Students shall demonstrate an An K Seminar Presentation
5 enhanced ability to critically / Group Tutorial
evaluate legal decisions and Work
articulate informed perspectives on
minority rights, fundamental rights,
and religious freedom.
CO By the end of this module, students An P One Minute
6 will gain a solid understanding of Reflection Writing
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 how the Indian Constitution was assignments
created by the Constituent
Assembly and the salient features of
the Indian Constitution
* - Remember (R), Understand (U), Apply (Ap), Analyse (An), Evaluate (E), Create (C)
# - Factual Knowledge(F) Conceptual Knowledge (C) Procedural Knowledge (P) Metacognitive
Knowledge (M)

Detailed Syllabus:
Module Unit Content Hrs Marks
(48+12 (70)
)
I Introduction to Indian Constitution 12 20
1 Constitution: Meaning and Classifications 3
Constitution and Constitutionalism
2 Constituent Assembly and the drafting process 3
3 Salient Features of Indian Constitution 3
4 Preamble: the philosophy of the Constitution 3
Sections from References:
Ackerman, Bruce. 1991. We the People, Volume 1:
Foundations. Cambridge: Belknap Press.
Austin, Granville. 2016. Working a Democratic Constitution:
The Indian Experience. New Delhi: Oxford
Basu, Durga Das. 2018. Introduction to the Constitution of
India. Nagpur: Lexis Nexis.
Bognador, Fabien, and Jacques Ziller. 2015. Comparative
Constitutional Reasoning. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press.
Chester, Lucy. 1995. The Government of England Under
Edward I. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Choudhry, Sujit. 2011. Constitution Making. Oxford: Oxford
University Press.
Dyzenhaus, David. 2015. The Constitution of Law: Legality
in a Time of Emergency. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press.

II Fundamental Rights and the Citizen 12 15

5 Fundamental Rights- Nature and Features 4
6 Fundamental rights in the Constitution ( Article 12-35) 4
7 Criticism of Fundamental Rights 4
Sections from References:
Sharma, Brij Kishore. 2004. Indian Constitution: A
Comprehensive Study. New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers.
Pandey, J.N. 2019. Constitutional Law of India. Allahabad:
Central Law Agency.
Tripathi, Brij Kishore. 2017. Preamble of the Constitution: A
Critical Appraisal. New Delhi: PHI Learning.
Bakshi, P.M. 2013. The Preamble of the Constitution of
India: Its Significance and Interpretation. New Delhi:
Universal Law Publishing Co.
III Directive Principles of State Policy 12 20
8 Directive Principles-Features and Classification 4
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 9 Implementation of Directive Principles 4
10 Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles 2
12 Fundamental Duties 2
Sections from References:
Stone, Geoffrey R. 1987. “Content-Based Speech Regulations
and the Doctrine of Viewpoint Discrimination.” The Supreme
Court Review 1987, no. 1: 103-138.
Bhatia, Gautam. 2016. The Transformative Constitution: A
Radical Biography in Nine Acts. New Delhi: HarperCollins
India.
Pylee, M.V. 2012. India's Constitution. New Delhi: Universal
Law Publishing.
Kashyap, Subhash C. 2010. Constitutional Law of India. New
Delhi: Universal Law Publishing.
Dhavan, Rajeev. 2008. Public Interest Litigation:
Understanding the Law and Its Relevance. New Delhi:
Universal Law Publishing.
Baxi, Upendra. 1982. The Indian Supreme Court and Politics.
Delhi: Oxford University Press.
IV Working of the Constitution 12 15
13 Amending the constitution 4
14 Emergency Provisions 4
15 Elections and Election Commission 4
Sections from References:
Baxi, Upendra. 1982. The Crisis of the Indian Legal System:
Alternatives in Development Law. New Delhi: Indian Law
Institute.
Austin, Granville. 2003. Working a Democratic Constitution:
The Indian Experience. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
Dhavan, Rajeev. 2011. The Constitution of India: Miracle,
Surrender, Hope. New Delhi: Universal Law Publishing Co.
Sarkar, Sudhir. 2013. The Constitution of India: Historical
Roots and the Modern Perspective. New Delhi: Lexis Nexis.
Bhattacharya, Pradeep. 2008. Constitutional History of India:
Including the Judicial Contributions, 1935-2007. New Delhi:
Lexis Nexis.
Kohli, Shubhankar. 2019. Understanding India’s
Constitution: The Spirit, Letter, and Structure. New Delhi:
Lexis Nexis.
Sharma, R.N. 2010. Introduction to the Constitution of India.
New Delhi: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.
V Open Ended Module 12 10
1 Case studies: Example
1. Basic Structure of the Constitution: Kesavanada
Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973)
2. Minority Rights: D. A. V. College Etc v. State Of
Punjab & Ors (1971)
3. Fundamental Rights: Maneka Gandhi v. Union Of
India (1978 )
4. Religious Freedom: Shayara Bano v. Union of India

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 (Triple Talaq case) (2017)
Real-World Issues
Open-Ended Discussions
Group Assignment
Books and References:
Austin, Granville. 2008. Indian Constitution: A Cornerstone of a Nation. New Delhi: OUP.
Avasthi, A. P. 2012. Indian Government and Politics. New Delhi: Lakshmi Narayan
Agarwal.
Basu, Durga Das. 2010. Introduction to the Constitution of India. New Delhi: Prentice Hall.
Chakrabarthy, Bidyut. 2008. Indian Government and Politics. New Delhi: Sage.
Chandra, A., W. H. J. Hubbard, and S. Kalantry. 2019. "The Supreme Court of India: An
Empirical Overview of the Institution." In A Qualified Hope: The Indian Supreme Court
and Progressive Social Change, edited by G. N. Rosenberg, S. Krishnaswamy, and S. Bail,
43-76. Cambridge University Press.
Choudhry, Sujit, Madhav Khosla, and Pratap Bhanu Mehta, eds. 2016. The Oxford
Handbook of the Indian Constitution. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Fadia, B. L. 2010. Indian Government and Politics. New Delhi: Sahitya Bhavan
Publications.
Johari, J. C. 2008. Indian Political System. New Delhi: Anmol Publications.
Kanth, Laxmikanth. 2010. Indian Polity. New Delhi: TATA Magrow.
Kashyap, Subhash C. 2019. Constitution Of India - A Handbook For Students. India:
Vitasta Publishing Pvt. Ltd.
Kashyap, Subhash C. 2008. Our Political System. New Delhi: National Book Trust.
Louis, Prakash. 2014. Rights of the Minorities in India. New Delhi: Manak Publications.
Mody, Zia. 2013. Ten Judgements that Changed India. New Delhi: Shobhaa De Books.
Noorani, G. 2006. Constitutional and Citizen’s Rights. New Delhi: OUP.
Pylee, M. V. 2010. India’s Constitution. New Delhi: Vikas.
Pylee, M. V. 2004. An Introduction to the Constitution of India. New Delhi: S.Chand (G/L)
& Company Ltd.
Raju, M.P. 2002. Minority Rights: Myth or Reality. New Delhi: Media House.
Sathe, S. P. 2002. Judicial Activism in India: Transgressing Borders and Enforcing Limits.
Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Shama, B. K. 2007. Introduction to the Constitution of India. New Delhi: Prentice Hall.
Singh, N. P., and R. Saxsena. 2014. Indian Politics, Constitutional Foundations and
Institutional Functions. New Delhi: PHI.

Note: The course is divided into five modules, with four modules together having total 15 fixed units
and one open-ended module with a variable number of units. There are total 48 instructional hours for
the fixed modules and 12 hours for the open-ended one. Internal assessments (30 marks) are split
between the open-ended module (10 marks) and the fixed modules (20 marks). The final exam,
however, covers only the 20 units from the fixed modules. The 70 marks shown in the last column,
distributed over the first four modules, is only for the external examination.

Mapping of COs with PSOs and POs :

PSO PSO2 PSO3 PSO4 PSO5 PSO6 PO1 PO2 PO3 PO4 PO5 PO6
1

CO 1 3

CO 2 3

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 CO 3 3

CO 4 2 3

CO 5 3

CO 6 3

Correlation Levels:

Level Correlation
- Nil
1 Slightly / Low
2 Moderate / Medium
3 Substantial / High

Assessment Rubrics:

▪ Quiz / Assignment/ Quiz/ Discussion / Seminar

▪ Midterm Exam
▪ Programming Assignments (20%)
▪ Final Exam (70%)
(Please note that these evaluation rubrics serve as illustrative examples within the context of a Data
Structure course and are not intended to be definitive or prescriptive. Suggested methods of
formative/summative assessment are listed in the latest version of the guidelines to BoS.)

Mapping of COs to Assessment Rubrics :

Internal Assignment Project Evaluation End Semester Examinations

Exam

CO 1 ✓ ✓

CO 2 ✓ ✓

CO 3 ✓ ✓

CO 4 ✓ ✓

CO 5 ✓ ✓

CO 6 ✓

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