The Indian Constitution has been borrowed from various sources. For instance, India has a parliamentary form of government, which has been borrowed from the British Constitution. The chairman of drafting committee, Dr. Ambedkar had said that – “As to the accusation that the Draft Constitution has re[produced] a good part of the provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935, I make no apologies. There is nothing to be ashamed of in borrowing. It involves no plagiarism. Nobody holds any patent rights in the fundamental ideas of a Constitution….”
| Sr. No. | Sources | Features Borrowed |
| 1. | Government of India Act of 1935 | · Federal scheme
· Governor’s office · Judiciary · Public service commissions · Emergency provisions and administrative details |
| 2. | British Constitution | · Parliamentary government
· Rule of law · Legislative procedure · Single citizenship · Cabinet system · Prerogative writs · Parliamentary privileges · Bicameralism |
| 3. | US constitution | · Fundamental rights
· Independence of judiciary · Judicial review · Impeachment of the president · Removal of Supreme Court and High Court judges · Post of Vice-President |
| 4. | Irish Constitution | · Directive Principles of State Policy
· Nomination of members to Rajya Sabha · Method of election of President |
| 5. | Canadian Constitution | · Federation with a strong centre
· Vesting of residuary powers in the centre · Appointment of state governors by the centre · Advisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court |
| 6. | Australian Constitution | · Concurrent list
· Freedom of trade · Commerce and inter-course · Joint sitting of the two houses of Parliament |
| 7. | Weimar Constitution of Germany | · Suspension of Fundamental Rights during emergency |
| 8. | Soviet Constitution (USSR, now Russia) | · Fundamental Duties
· The ideal of justice (social, economic and political) in the Preamble |
| 9. | French Constitution | · Republic and the ideals of liberty
· Equality and Fraternity in the Preamble |
| 10. | South African Constitution | · Procedure for amendment of the constitution
· Election of members of Rajya Sabha |
| 11. | Japanese Constitution | · Procedure established by law |
