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The idea of the 'Rule of Law' in the Indian Constitution was adopted from the Constitution of:
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Answer: Option B — United Kingdom
Detailed Solution
The Indian Constitution borrowed several features from the British (UK) Constitution, mainly because India had experienced British parliamentary institutions under colonial rule. The concept of the Rule of Law is one of them.
The idea of the Rule of Law was developed by the British jurist A.V. Dicey in his book "Introduction to the Study of the Law of the Constitution" (1885). According to Dicey, it has three elements:
Absence of arbitrary power: no person can be punished except for a clear breach of law established in the ordinary legal manner before the ordinary courts.
Equality before the law: all persons, whatever their rank or position, are equally subject to the ordinary law of the land, administered by the ordinary courts.
The primacy of the rights of individuals: the constitution is the result of the rights of individuals as defined and enforced by the courts.
In the Indian Constitution, the Rule of Law is reflected in Article 14, which guarantees "equality before the law" (from the UK) and "equal protection of the laws" (from the USA) to all persons. The Supreme Court has held that the Rule of Law is a part of the basic structure of the Constitution.
Features borrowed from the British Constitution include:
- Parliamentary form of government, with a Cabinet responsible to the legislature.
- Rule of Law.
- Legislative procedure.
- Single citizenship.
- The Cabinet system and the post of Prime Minister.
- Prerogative writs.
- Parliamentary privileges.
- Bicameralism (two Houses of Parliament).
Other sources:
- USA: Fundamental Rights, independence of the judiciary, judicial review, impeachment of the President.
- Canada: federation with a strong Centre, residuary powers with the Centre.
- Ireland: Directive Principles of State Policy.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Canada gave the federal system with a strong Centre.
- ✗Ireland gave the Directive Principles.
- ✗Good to know
- ✗The USA gave Fundamental Rights and judicial review.
Quick tip
Remember: UK = parliamentary system, Rule of Law (A.V. Dicey), single citizenship, Cabinet, writs and bicameralism; USA = Fundamental Rights and judicial review.
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Making & Sources of the Constitution — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Making & Sources of the Constitution, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers how the Indian Constitution was made: the Constituent Assembly, its committees and members, the drafting process and key dates, and the features India borrowed from other constitutions, such as the parliamentary system from Britain and Fundamental Rights from the USA. Exams frequently ask who chaired the Drafting Committee (B. R. Ambedkar), who was President of the Constituent Assembly (Rajendra Prasad), and when the Constitution was adopted (26 November 1949) and came into force (26 January 1950). Questions on borrowed features are very common, so learn a table of features and their source countries. Practise the making of the Constitution questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.