I am reproducing the Preamble of the constitution of India here for reference:
WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly
resolved to constitute India into a 1[SOVEREIGN
SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC] and
to secure to all its citizens:
resolved to constitute India into a 1[SOVEREIGN
SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC] and
to secure to all its citizens:
JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and
worship;
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;
and to promote among them all
FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual
and the 2[unity and integrity of the Nation];
IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-
sixth day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT,
ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS
CONSTITUTION.
1 Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 2, for “SOVEREIGN
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC” (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
2 Subs. by s. 2, ibid., for “unity of the Nation” (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC” (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
2 Subs. by s. 2, ibid., for “unity of the Nation” (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
The constitution of India consists of 395 articles (many of which are repealed - listed in the 395th article) divided into 22 parts. In addition it consists of 12 schedules and 2 appendices. There have been 94 amendments to the constitution since its inception. The last one (94th Amendment) was through the Constitution (Ninety-fourth Amendment) Act, 2006.
The complete text of the Constitution can be obtained from the GoI website at http://india.gov.in/govt/constitutions_india.php .
For easy reading online without downloading the files, i've created an online version which can be read from https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B4mYDYyBBNkkMDI1YWE0ZTMtMDRjNS00ZDU2LThmZWYtNjZmNjBkZWE1NGE3&hl=en
The various parts of the constitution are
- Part I - Union and its Territory
- Part II - Citizenship.
- Part III - Fundamental Rights
- Part IV - Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties.
- Part V - The Union.
- Part VI - The States.
- Part VII - States in the B part of the First schedule (Repealed).
- Part VIII - The Union Territories
- Part IX - Panchayat system and Municipalities.
- Part X - The scheduled and Tribal Areas
- Part XI - Relations between the Union and the States.
- Part XII - Finance, Property, Contracts and Suits
- Part XIII - Trade and Commerce within the territory of India
- Part XIV - Services Under the Union, the States and Tribunals
- Part XV - Elections
- Part XVI - Special Provisions Relating to certain Classes.
- Part XVII - Languages
- Part XVIII - Emergency Provisions
- Part XIX - Miscellaneous
- Part XX - Amendment of the Constitution
- Part XXI - Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions
- Part XXII - Short title, date of commencement, Authoritative text in Hindi and Repeals
- First Schedule (Articles 1 and 4) — States and Union Territories – This lists the states and territories on of India, lists any changes to their borders and the laws used to make that change.
- Second Schedule (Articles 59, 65, 75, 97, 125, 148, 158, 164, 186 and 221) — Emoluments for High-Level Officials – This lists the salaries of officials holding public office, judges, and Controller and Auditor-General of India.
- Third Schedule (Articles 75, 99, 124, 148, 164, 188 and 219) — Forms of Oaths – This lists the oaths of offices for elected officials and judges.
- Fourth Schedule (Articles 4 and 80) – This details the allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of Parliament) per State or Union Territory.
- Fifth Schedule (Article 244) – This provides for the administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes (areas and tribes needing special protection due to disadvantageous conditions).
- Sixth Schedule (Articles 244 and 275)— Provisions for the administration of tribal areas in Assam,Meghalaya,Tripura,,Mizoram.
- Seventh Schedule (Article 246) — The union (central government), state, and concurrent lists of responsibilities.
- Eighth Schedule (Articles 344 and 351) — The official languages.
- Ninth Schedule (Article 31-B) - This covers land and tenure reforms; the accession of Sikkim with India. It may be reviewed by the courts[17].
- Tenth Schedule (Articles 102 and 191) — "Anti-defection" provisions for Members of Parliament and Members of the State Legislatures.
- Eleventh Schedule (Article 243-G) — Panchayat Raj (rural local government).
- Twelfth Schedule (Article 243-W) — Municipalities (urban local government).
