Important Concepts of Constitutional Law for CLAT PG 2023

Anytime you look into the syllabus for CLAT PG, the very first topic mentioned is Constitutional Law. 

Nearly 40-50 marks of weightage are offered for the Constitutional Law section in CLAT PG. The questions are asked in form of objective and subjective types of questions. 

Every law subject has a constitutional perspective and interpretations to it. 

You must mainly focus on Landmark cases, recent cases, and current affairs while preparing for the Constitutional Law section. 

This article takes you through Important Concepts of Constitutional Law for CLAT PG 2023 for the exam being conducted on December 2023 for the academic year. 

You can also watch the video embedded in the article, where our subject matter experts discuss preparations for CLAT PG Constitutional law. 

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Important Features of Constitutional Law for CLAT PG

The list below consists of Important Features of Constitutional Law: 

1. Single Citizenship
2. Sovereignty resides in the people
3. Fundamental Duties
4. Lengthiest constitution in the world
5. Fundamental Rights and duties
6. Directive principles of the state policies
7. Quasi Federal in Nature
8. Universal Adult Suffrage
9. Democracy
10. Republic
11. Secular
12. Parliamentary form of Government
13. The unique blend of rigidity and flexibility
14. Fundamental Rights
15. Judicial review and parliamentary sovereignty
16. Independence of Judiciary

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Important Concepts of Constitutional Law for CLAT PG 2023

The CLAT Syllabus topics and respective topics to be covered are listed below: 

1. Preamble 

Study the preamble with cases, know what is a preamble, its importance, interpretation of words in the preamble, and words in the preamble. 

2. Indian Constitutional History 

You can prepare for the Framing of the constitution, understanding each part of the constitution. 

3. Features of the Indian Constitutional

You must prepare for Federalism, Secularism, the Parliamentary system, etc. 

4. Doctrine of Constitutionalism

You must prepare for limitations on amending the power of parliament and cover landmark case laws

5. Citizenship

You must study citizenship of India from Part 2 (Article 5-11), Basic principles of citizenship, eligibility criteria, acquisition and termination of citizenship, understanding of the citizenship act, 1955, recent amendments related to citizenship laws like CAA, NRC, and cases. 

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6. Article 12 

This covers concepts of state, authorities included in this term. 

7. Article 13 

Focus on topics like Supremacy of fundamental rights and judicial review

Article 32 and 226, Doctrine of eclipse, Doctrine of severability, Nonretrospective effect, future laws test, a test of infringement of fundamental rights, whether fundamental rights can be waived or not? 

8. Fundamental rights 

Focus on a couple of articles listed like article 14-18 covering the right to equality, article 19-22 covering the right to freedom, article 23-24 right against exploitation, and article 25-28 deal with the right to freedom of religion, cultural and educational rights is covered in articles 29-30, right to constitutional remedies is covered in article 32. 

9. Types of Writs 

The 5 writs are Habeus Corpus, Mandamus, Certiorari, Prohibition, Quo Warranto, study Writ Jurisdiction of SC (Article 32), and high court (Article 226) Concepts of PIL and Locus standi. 

10. Directive principles of state policies and fundamental duties

Guides to follow to be a welfare state, Fundamental rights or DPSP, DPSP enforcement, Landmarks, and recent cases, Article 51A, Criticism, etc

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11. Union State

Focus on Chapter 1 of Part 5, President, Vice President, Governor, Nature of positions, election procedure, tenure, powers, duties 

12. Parliament 

Focus on chapter 2 of part 5, parliament composition, number of members, nature of positions, election procedure, tenure, powers, duties, and privileges. 

Apart from the above, you can also focus on the Judiciary and Quasi-judicial bodies, tribunals, emergency provisions, amendments of the constitution, official languages, panchayats and municipalities and center state relations, Union list, and state, and concurrent lists. 

In center-state relations, you must cover the Doctrine of Pith and Substance, Doctrine of Colourable legislation, Doctrine of Repugnancy

Check: CLAT PG Question Papers 2023

Other important Constitutional Laws for CLAT PG

Other important topics that can be asked in both subjective and objective parts are Constitutional Bodies topics like Election Commission, UPSC, State PSCs, Comptroller and Auditor General, Attorney General, Finance Commission, national commission for SCs, STs, Advocate General

Non Constitutional Bodies topics like NITI Aayog, National Development Council, National Human Rights Commission, state human rights commission, central bureau of investigation, central bureau of investigation, central vigilance commission, Lokpal and Lokayuktas, and Central and state information commission.

Also, study recent case laws for objective and subjective laws. 

Check: Criminal Law Questions for CLAT PG