THE CONSTITUTION of INDIA | DD BASU | Chapter 34 | HOW THE CONSTITUTION HAS WORKED

The Living Constitution: 75 Years of Challenges, Amendments & Judicial Activism | UPSC GS II Polity Deep Dive. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This comprehensive lecture unpacks the fascinating 75-year journey of the Indian Constitution, exploring how this single document continues to shape the lives of over a billion people. We analyze the constitutional text, the critical political forces, and the societal challenges that have constantly redefined India's democratic framework, essential for UPSC preparation. Lecture Focus (Short, Concise Pointers): • Understanding why the Constitution is termed a 'Living Instrument' and the foundational warnings issued by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar regarding political character. • The paradox of Constitutional Flexibility: Analyzing the 100+ amendments, including the massive overhaul of the 42nd Amendment, and the debate on stability versus adaptability. • The call for a comprehensive Constitutional Revision to codify unwritten British conventions and legislative privileges, aiming for system clarity and consistency. • Mixed success in implementing Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), highlighting major failures in areas like the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and Prohibition. • The structural feature of India's quasi-federal system and the consistent, deliberate trend towards a strong unitary center to preserve national unity. • How the Constitution has withstood severe threats to integrity from separatist forces based on regional, religious (Punjab), and linguistic divisions. • The Judicary's role as the 'superhero' and guardian: Differentiating between Judicial Review and the controversial rise of Judicial Activism, marked by the Basic Structure Doctrine. • Challenges to secularism and unity: Examining the political demands for proportional representation and separate personal laws, exemplified by the Shah Bano case. • The systemic failures of Parliamentary Democracy, focusing on the decline of political character, electoral violence, and the potential for renewal through youth participation. • Recent historical shifts that have reshaped the Constitution, including the move from the Coalition Era to single-party dominance and the renewed debate on secular models. If you are ready for a real deep drive into the foundations of Indian Polity, make sure you hit that Subscribe button and turn on the notification bell so you don't miss our next deep dive. #UPSC #IndianPolity #ConstitutionOfIndia #JudicialReview #BasicStructureDoctrine #UPSCGS2 #ConstitutionalAmendments #LivingInstrument #DD_Basu_Chapter #PolityDeepDive