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India: India’s constitution, the longest written constitution in the world, was adopted on January
26, 1950. After gaining independence from Britain in 1947, India’s leaders, such as Jawaharlal
Nehru and B.R. Ambedkar, played crucial roles in its drafting. India’s Constitution is considered
the foundational legal document governing the country’s democratic system.
China: China's legal framework was initially based on the 1949 Constitution after the Chinese
Revolution. The country has seen multiple amendments, especially after economic reforms in the
1980s and the rise of market socialism. The 1982 Constitution is the current one, though it has
been revised several times to reflect changes in China’s political and economic landscape.
India also has a parliamentary system, but it places more emphasis on secularism and democracy.
The Constitution is lengthy, providing for a clear separation of powers among the executive,
legislature, and judiciary.
China operates under a one-party system, where the Communist Party of China (CPC) holds
control over the government, with a structure that merges executive, legislative, and party
leadership. The Constitution supports the centralized power of the Communist Party, contrasting
with Pakistan and India’s more democratic setups.
Pakistan: The President is the ceremonial head of state, and the Prime Minister, as the head
of government, holds significant executive power.
India: The President is the ceremonial head of state, while the Prime Minister and Cabinet
are the real executive authority.
China: The President is a symbolic figurehead, but the General Secretary of the Communist
Party and the Premier hold real power.
Legislature:
Pakistan: The National Assembly (lower house) and the Senate (upper house) make up the
bicameral legislature.
India: India has a bicameral Parliament consisting of the Lok Sabha (lower house) and Rajya Sabha
(upper house).
China: The National People’s Congress (NPC) is the unicameral legislature, though it is
controlled by the Communist Party.
Judiciary:
Pakistan: Independent, with the Supreme Court being the highest authority.
India: Independent, with the Supreme Court having judicial review powers.
China: The judiciary is under the influence of the Communist Party, with limited independence
compared to Pakistan and India.
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India: Also a federal system, with a strong center. Regionalism plays a significant role, with states
having considerable autonomy. There are distinct regional parties that push for greater state
rights.
China: Although referred to as a “unitary state,” China’s vast territory has regions with special
administrative statuses, like Hong Kong and Macau. The central government maintains tight
control, and regionalism is suppressed by the Communist Party.
India: Elections are conducted every five years for both the central and state governments.
India’s multi-party system allows for a range of political ideologies, with parties like the BJP
and Congress dominating national politics.
China: Elections are not held in the same way as in Pakistan and India. The Communist Party
of China (CPC) controls the political system, and elections are tightly managed, with no
competitive multi-party system.
India: Local governments in India have a significant degree of autonomy under the 73rd and
74th Constitutional Amendments. Panchayats (rural) and Municipalities (urban) are vital
parts of governance.
China: Local governments are structured hierarchically, with village and township
governments functioning under the control of the central government. While elections occur
at the village level, they are controlled by the Communist Party.
India: The Indian Constitution has been amended over 100 times. Amendments are used to
update provisions regarding social justice, governance, and rights, and require a complex
process involving Parliament and sometimes state legislatures.
China: Constitutional amendments in China are rare but have occurred to reflect changes in
leadership and policy, such as incorporating market reforms and removing presidential term
limits in recent amendments.
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India: India’s Constitution remains largely intact, with its provisions effectively implemented.
The rule of law, independent judiciary, and democratic practices have allowed it to remain
functional, despite challenges like communalism and political disputes.
China: The Communist Party’s dominance means that the Constitution is more a statement
of policy goals than a truly independent document. While the Constitution has been
amended to reflect economic changes, it remains secondary to the party’s control.
This overview provides a detailed yet simplified comparison of the constitutions of Pakistan,
India, and China, highlighting their key differences and similarities across various aspects of
governance.