### Syllabus: Understanding Indian Constitution

Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP) · Political Science · Gauhati University

### 1\. Course information

| Particular | Details |

| Subject | Political Science |

| Semester | 3rd Semester |

| Course Code | POL-VAC |

| Course Name | Understanding Indian Constitution |

| Course Category | VAC (Value Added Course) |

| Course Type | Theory |

| Credits | 3 |

| Course Level | 100–199 |

| Required Classes | 45 |

| Contact Classes | 45 |

| Non-contact Classes | 0 |

### 2\. Course objectives

* To introduce students to the historical evolution, philosophical foundations and salient features of the Constitution of India.

* To develop an understanding of constitutional rights, duties, Directive Principles of State Policy, and the structure and functioning of the Union Executive and Parliament.

* To examine India's federal structure, particularly Centre–State relations, the characteristics of Indian federalism and the constitutional role of the Governor.

### 3\. Course outcomes

After completing the course, students should be able to:

* CO1: Explain the historical background, Constituent Assembly process and core principles that shaped the Constitution of India.

* CO2: Analyse the constitutional provisions relating to Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties, Directive Principles of State Policy, the Union Executive and Parliament.

* CO3: Critically evaluate Indian federalism, Centre–State relations and the role of the Governor in the constitutional system.

### 4\. Detailed syllabus

### Unit I: The Making of the Indian Constitution

* The Historical Background

* Constituent Assembly of India

* Philosophy of the Constitution and its Features

### Unit II: Rights and Duties

* Fundamental Rights of the Indian Citizen

* Fundamental Duties of the Indian Citizen

* The Directive Principles of State Policy

### Unit III: Government and Legislature

* Union Executive:

    * President

    * Vice-President

    * Prime Minister

    * Council of Ministers

* Parliament:

    * Lok Sabha

    * Rajya Sabha

### Unit IV: Federalism in India

* Centre–State Relations

* Characteristics of Federalism in India

* Role of the Governor

### 5\. Suggested readings

* D. D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, 26th edition, LexisNexis, 2023.

* M. P. Jain, Indian Constitutional Law, 9th edition, LexisNexis, 2022.

* F. S. Nariman, The Constitution of India, 2019.

* S. Y. Quraishi, An Undocumented Wonder: The Making of the Great Indian Election, Rupa Publications, 2014.

* S. Y. Quraishi, The Great March of Democracy: Seven Decades of India's Elections, Penguin Random House India, 2019.

* The Verdict: Decoding India's Elections, 2019.

* Indian Politics: Constitutional Foundations and Institutional Functioning, PHI Learning, 2021.

* The Constitution of India, latest edition, Eastern Book Company.

* Representation of the People Act, 1950 and Representation of the People Act, 1951, latest edition, Eastern Book Company.

* Manual on Election Law, Eastern Book Company, 2025.