The Regulating Act of 1773 was the first significant step by the British Parliament to regulate the East India Company’s affairs in India. It aimed to bring reforms in administration, curb corruption, and establish a centralized authority in Bengal. Warren Hastings became the first Governor-General of Bengal under this Act.

These three Acts – the Amending Act of 1781, Pitt’s India Act of 1784, and the Act of 1786 – were passed to remove the defects of the Regulating Act of 1773, increase British parliamentary control over the East India Company, and empower the Governor-General with greater authority. Together, they laid the foundation of the British Crown’s supremacy in Indian affairs.

The Charter Acts of 1793, 1813, and 1833 shaped the constitutional and administrative evolution of British India. They renewed the East India Company’s privileges, gradually limited its trade monopoly, introduced Crown sovereignty, centralized administration, encouraged education, and set the foundation for codification of laws.

The Charter Act of 1853 was the last of the Company’s charters. It separated legislative and executive functions, introduced open competition for civil services, and allowed Indian representation in law-making. The Government of India Act 1858, passed after the Revolt of 1857, ended Company rule and transferred administration of India to the British Crown. This marked the beginning of direct Crown rule under the Viceroy.

The Indian Councils Acts of 1861 and 1892 marked gradual steps toward Indian participation in governance. The 1861 Act restored legislative powers to presidencies, introduced non-official Indians in councils, and recognized the portfolio system. The 1892 Act expanded council size, allowed limited budget discussions, and indirectly introduced elections for Indian representation. However, both Acts were criticized for offering token reforms without real power.

The Indian Councils Act of 1909, also known as the Minto-Morley Reforms, expanded legislative councils, introduced indirect elections, allowed limited participation of Indians in governance, and for the first time included an Indian in the Viceroy’s Executive Council. However, it also sowed the seeds of communal politics by introducing separate electorates for Muslims.

The Government of India Act of 1919 (Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms) introduced dyarchy in provinces, direct elections, bicameralism at the Centre, and expanded communal representation. The Government of India Act of 1935 went further by providing provincial autonomy, abolishing dyarchy in provinces, introducing federal features, creating a Federal Court, and extending franchise to about 10% of the population. Many features of the Indian Constitution were borrowed from the 1935 Act.

The Indian Independence Act of 1947 ended British rule in India, partitioned the country into two dominions – India and Pakistan – and transferred sovereign powers to them. It abolished the offices of Viceroy and Secretary of State, ended British paramountcy over princely states, and empowered the Constituent Assemblies of both dominions to frame their own constitutions.

The Constitution of India came into effect on January 26, 1950, after being adopted on November 26, 1949. It was drafted by the Constituent Assembly, formed under the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946. The Assembly represented diverse sections of Indian society and worked for nearly 3 years to create the world’s longest written constitution for a sovereign, democratic, and republic India.

Apart from framing the Constitution, the Constituent Assembly also performed legislative functions, adopted national symbols, and elected India’s first President. It had multiple committees – major and minor – that worked on specific aspects like Union powers, fundamental rights, procedures, finance, and the judiciary.

The Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly, established on August 29, 1947, was the most important committee responsible for preparing the draft of the Constitution. Chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, it finalized the Constitution which was enacted on November 26, 1949, and enforced on January 26, 1950. The Constituent Assembly then became the Provisional Parliament of India.

The Constitution of India is the world’s longest written constitution and borrows several features from other constitutions as well as from the Government of India Act, 1935. These sources provided frameworks for federalism, parliamentary democracy, fundamental rights, directive principles, judicial review, and emergency provisions, making the Indian Constitution a unique blend of global best practices adapted to Indian needs.

The Constitution of India, in its final form, is a comprehensive document detailing the framework of the government and fundamental rights. Originally, it consisted of 395 Articles divided into 22 Parts and 8 Schedules. Over time, through various amendments, it has grown to over 448 Articles and 12 Schedules, reflecting the nation's evolving needs.

The legitimacy of the Constituent Assembly, despite not being directly elected by universal adult suffrage, is founded on its representative character, the consensus-driven nature of its proceedings, and the national stature of its members. It derived its authority from the people of India and its acceptance as a sovereign body after 1947.

The Constituent Assembly was a unique body, sovereign in nature after 1947, and performed the dual role of being India's first (provisional) Parliament as well as the body responsible for drafting the Constitution. Though dominated by the Congress, it was ideologically diverse and worked through consensus to frame a democratic, secular, and federal republic.

Local self-governance in India has deep historical roots, evolving from traditional village panchayats to the British-era establishment of municipal corporations. Lord Ripon's Resolution of 1882 is considered the 'Magna Carta' of local self-government, laying the foundation for the modern system that was later enshrined in the Constitution (73rd and 74th Amendments).

The Indian Constitution is not merely a legal document but a social one, deeply influenced by the 19th and 20th-century social reform movements. Ideals championed by reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Jyotirao Phule, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar were directly enshrined as fundamental rights and directive principles, particularly concerning equality, secularism, and the abolition of untouchability.

The Preamble of the Indian Constitution has been amended only once in history by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976. This amendment added three new words – ‘Socialist’, ‘Secular’, and ‘Integrity’ – reflecting the political and social ideology of the government at the time. This was made possible by the Supreme Court's ruling in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973), which held that the Preamble is part of the Constitution.