Basic Principles of the Indian Constitution

All constitutions are a reflection of the ideas and ideals of the people who framed it. Though it is intended to be a document of permanent value, it is bound to reflect the prevailing conditions and circumstances of the period in which it is framed. Indian constitution is no exception to this.
A careful study of the constitution of India shows that it has at least 8 such basic principles which are:-
1. Popular Sovereignty
2. Fundamental Rights
3. Directive Principles
4. Cabinet Government
5. Secularism
6. Socialism
7. Federalism
8. Judicial Independence.
Let's briefly examine the scope of these principles.
Popular Sovereignty- India is a Sovereign Democratic Republic. The starting words of the Preamble in the Constitution emphasizes the ultimate authority of the citizens of India. The Preamble proclaims the solemn resolution of the people to constitute India into a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular and Democratic Republic. It was the will of the Indian citizens due to which constitution came into existence.
Popular Sovereignty here implies that all the powers of the government agencies arises from the will of the citizens of India as expressed in the Indian Constitution and the citizens have the ultimate right to determine in whose hands these powers should remain from time to time through elections. Moreover these representatives selected for Government are answerable to the legislature and through it to the citizens.
The elections to the House of the People (Lok Sabha) and the Legislative Assembly of every State have to hold on the basis of adult suffrage and it is a must that these should be held at least once in every five years. Most important is the democratic ideal followed in the constitution that "one man, one vote, one value" irrespective of the wealth, education, social status or any other importance of the citizen.
India is the largest democracy in the world. In 1952, when the first elections were held for the parliament the total number...