At the time of its adoption in 1950, how many Articles did the Constitution of India contain?

Introduction / Context:
The Constitution of India is one of the lengthiest written constitutions in the world. At the time of its commencement on 26 January 1950, it already contained a large number of Articles and Schedules to comprehensively address the political, administrative and socio economic framework of the country. Examinations often ask about the original number of Articles as a basic factual question in Indian polity. This question asks for that original count of Articles.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The options provide different article counts around the four hundred range, including 395, 396, 398 and 399, plus an additional higher number.
- The question specifically refers to the situation at the time of adoption in 1950, not after subsequent amendments.
- We assume awareness that many new Articles have been added or renumbered since then, but they do not affect the original count that the question is interested in.

Concept / Approach:
When the Constitution of India came into force, it consisted of a Preamble, 395 Articles and 8 Schedules. Over the years, amendments have modified, inserted or repealed certain Articles, and more Schedules have been added, raising the current numbers. However, the original figure of 395 Articles remains an important exam fact that should be remembered. The correct approach is to recall this specific number rather than guessing based on the appearance of options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the standard textbook statement that the original Constitution contained 395 Articles and 8 Schedules.Step 2: Note that this is often contrasted with the current, larger count after many amendments.Step 3: Examine the options and find the one that exactly matches the known figure of 395 Articles.Step 4: Recognise that other options are close but do not correspond to any commonly cited count for the year 1950.Step 5: Select option A, 395 Articles, as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by referring to standard polity resources that discuss the making of the Constitution, such as the history of the Constituent Assembly. They uniformly mention that at the time of commencement the Constitution had 395 Articles and 8 Schedules. This is also reflected in the arrangement of Articles in early official printings. Such consistent evidence across multiple sources confirms that 395 is the correct original number.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Options B, C, D and E, which suggest 396, 398, 399 or 402 Articles, are not supported by any authoritative historical record of the original Constitution. They may be designed to confuse students who only vaguely remember that the number was close to 400. None of these numbers correspond to the standard fact taught in Indian polity, making them incorrect choices for this question.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to mix up the original number of Articles with later counts after numerous amendments, or to confuse the number of Articles with the number of Schedules. Some learners also remember that the Constitution is one of the lengthiest in the world and, based on that impression alone, choose a higher number without checking the exact figure. Regular revision of key factual details, especially numbers associated with the Constitution, can help avoid such errors.

Final Answer:
395 Articles were contained in the Constitution of India at the time of its adoption in 1950.