Constitutional Development in India

Paper Code: 
POL 312
Credits: 
4
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.

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

Learning outcomes (at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Paper Code

Paper 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

 

 

8.00
Unit I: 

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

7.00
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

9.00
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

9.00
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: 

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: 
2020-21
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