Constitutional Development in India

Paper Code: 
POL 312
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

Course Rationale: 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.

 

The objectives of this course are to:

1. Make learners aware of the various processes and circumstances in which the Constitution was crafted.

2. Acquaint the students with understand existing, contemporary and emerging trends in Politics.

Course Objectivies (CO)

Course

Learning outcomes (at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Course Code

Course Title

POL 312

Constitutional Development in India

CO46: Recognize and understand historical processes and circumstances in which the Constitution was drafted.

CO47: Explain and analyze a key historical event and various acts formed post independence.

CO48: Identify and understand why parliamentary system of governance was preferred.

CO49: Think critically about the varieties of experience found in the historical record of the India, exploring direct and indirect diverse sources which formed present the constitution.

Approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures, Discussion, Tutorials, Reading assignments, Demonstration, Team teaching

 

Learning activities for the students:

Self-learning assignments, Effective questions, Seminar presentation, Giving tasks.

Class test, Semester end examinations, Quiz, Solving problems in tutorials, Assignments, Presentation, Individual and group projects
 
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-II

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-III

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-IV

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-V

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

Indian Independence Act 1947

Essential Readings: 
  • Fadia, B.L, (2021), Indian Government and Politics, Agra, Sahitya Bhawan
  • Laxmikanth,M,(2021), Indian Polity,Noida, Mc Graw Hill Education
  • Grover, B.L, (2018), A New Look at Modern Indian History, New Delhi,S.Chand & Co
  • Agarwal, R.C., (2018), Constitutional Development and National Movement of India, New Delhi, Sultan Chand & Sons
  • Chandra, B.,(2017), India’s struggle for independence, New Delhi, Penguin Books
  • Bandhopadhyay,S., (2016),  From Plassey to Partition and after: A History of Modern India, New Delhi, Orient Longman
  • Dr Sidhartha, (2015), Indian National Movement and Constitutional Development,New Delhi, Nisha Publications
  • Pylee,M.V.(2014),  Constitutional History of India, New Delhi,  S.Chand and Co.
  • Johari, J.C.,( 2012),Indian Government and Politics (Vol. I& II), New Delhi, Vishal Publications

 

References: 

Reference Books:

  • Khanna, H.R., (2019), Making of India;s Constitution, New Delhi, Generic
  • Ingole, R.D., (2021), Constitutional Development in India, Uttar Pradesh, Chanralok Prakashan
  • Kashyap,S.C., (2015), Constitutional History of India: Indian Polity, Goverance and the Constitution‎, New Delhi, Centre for Studies in Civilisations
  • Pylee,M.V.(2014),  Constitutional History of India, New Delhi, S.Chand
  • Sharma R.K., (2008), History of Indian National Movement, New Delhi, Sonali Publications
  • Austin, G. (1966), The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation, Oxford University Press, New Delhi

E-Resources:

  • Keith, A.B.,(2017), A Constitutional History of India (1600-1935), London, Routledge., Can be retrieved from:

https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/A_Constitutional_History_of_India_1600_1/YeufDgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=constitutional+development+in+india&printsec=frontcover

  • Mishra, V.B.,(2017), Evolution of the  Constitutional History of India (1773-1947), Delhi, Mittal Publications., Can be retrieved from:

https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Evolution_of_the_Constitutional_History/RojLHsEv7FwC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=constitutional+development+in+india&printsec=frontcover

 

Journals :

  • Economic and Political Weekly
  • India Quarterly
  • Indian Journal of Political Science
  • International Journal of Conflict and Development

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Academic Year: 
2022-23
  • Printer-friendly version
  • PDF version