Constitutional Development in India

Paper Code: 
POL 312
Credits: 
04
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

This paper traces the growth of constitutionalism and parliamentary democracy in India through the various Acts passed during the British regime. It enables the student to understand the background of the Indian Constitution.

12.00
Unit I: 
UNIT 1

Constitutional Development in India : a background - Acts of 1858,1861 & 1892 – provisions and significance

12.00
Unit II: 
UNIT 2

Indian Councils Act- 1909-Morley- Minto Reforms- circumstances leading to the Act, main provisions- central & provincial legislative council, communal electorate, system of elections, significance, critical assessment

12.00
Unit III: 
UNIT 3

Government of India Act 1919- Montague- Chelmsford Reforms- features, provisions & changes- home government, central executive & legislature, significance, drawbacks

Dyarchy- meaning, nature, working, critical assessment

12.00
Unit IV: 
UNIT 4

Government of India Act 1935- circumstances, features, provisions- proposed all India federation, federal legislature, executive and court, responsible government with safeguards, significance and critical assessment

Provincial autonomy- meaning, provincial executive & legislature, working of autonomy, restrictions

12.00
Unit V: 
UNIT 5

Cripps Mission- circumstances, provisions, reasons of failure; Cabinet Mission- causes, provisions, critical assessment

Indian Independence Act 1947

Essential Readings: 
  • Grover, B.L, (2018), A New Look at Modern Indian History, New Delhi,S.Chand & Co
  • Bandhopadhyay,S., (2016),  From Plasset to Partition and after: A History of Modern India, New Delhi, Orient Longman
  • Agarwal, R.C., (2016), Constitutional Development and National Movement of India, New Delhi, Sultan Chand & Sons
  • Chandra, B.,(2016), India’s struggle for independence, New Delhi, Penguin Books
References: 
  • Agarwal, R.C., (2016), Indian Political System, Sultan Chand & Sons, New Delhi, 2002.
  • Austin, G. (1966), The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation, Oxford University Press, New Delhi,1966
  • Fadia, B.L, (2018), Indian Government and Politics, Agra, Sahitya Bhawan
  • Sharma R.K., (2008), History of Indian National Movement, New Delhi, Sonali Publications
Academic Year: 
2019-20
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