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: 
  • RL Grover, Modern Indian History, S.Chand & Co. New Delhi, 1994
  • JC Johri, Indian Government and Politics (Vol. I& II),  Vishal Publications, Delhi, 2002.
  • RC Agarwal, Constitutional Development and National Movement of India,  Sultan Chand & Sons, New Delhi. 2010
  • Bipan Chandra, Freedom Struggle, National Book Trust, New Delhi.2004
References: 
  • BL Fadia, Indian Government and Politics, , Sahitya Bhawan,Agra ,1996.
  • DC Gupta, Indian Government and Politics, Vikas Publishing House, Delhi, 1990.
  • WH Morris Jones, The Government and Politics of India, Universal Book Stall, New Dehi.1991.
  • RC Agarwal, Indian Political System, Sultan Chand & Sons, New Delhi, 2002.
  • Granville Austin, The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation, Oxford University Press, New Delhi,1966
Academic Year: 
2016-17
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