Constitutional Design

I. SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT I. SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
A. NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS
Questions within the Lesson

Page No. 42

Q.1. What would have happened in South Africa if the black majority had decided to take
revenge on the whites for all their oppression and exploitation?
Ans. Chaos and war. The white nations would have attacked S. Africa and perhaps she could have
lost her independence once again!

Q.2. This image captures the spirit of South Africa today. South Africans call themselves a
‘rainbow nation’. Can you guess why?
Ans. It is called a ‘rainbow nation’ because this nation comprises many races — Whites, Blacks,

Q.3. This is not fair! What was the point in having a Constituent Assembly in India if all the
Ans. It is fair. The basics were decided by the Congress Party which did not at that time represent
the whole country, and it was not an elected representative of the people. The Constituent
Assembly was the people’s representative body and took every one’s views and opinions into

Q.4. Compare the Preambles to the Constitutions of the United States of America, India and
Page No. 43

Coloured and Indians.

Page No. 44

basics were already decided?

consideration.

Page No. 52

South Africa.

•
•
•
•


Make a list of ideas that are common to all these three.
Note down at least one of the major differences among these.
Which of the three makes a reference to the past?
Which of these does not invoke God?


Ans. 1. Common Features :

•
All three begin with “We the people”.
•
All three want to establish liberty, justice and fraternity.
•
All three want to promote general welfare of the people.
2. Difference : USA does not mention the word Republic or the word Democratic like India
and South Africa.
3. South Africa
4. India.
Questions in the Exercise

Q.1. Here are some false statements. Identify the mistake in each case and rewrite these
correctly based on what you have read in this chapter.
(a) Leaders of the freedom movement had an open mind about whether the country should be
democratic or not after independence.
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(b) Members of the Constituent Assembly of India held the same views on all provisions of
the Constitution.
(c) A country that has a constitution must be a democracy.
(d) Constitution cannot be amended because it is the supreme law of a country.
Ans. (a) Leaders of the freedom movement were decided on certain basic values and wanted India
to be a democratic republic.

(b) No. There were sharp differences on many issues. They were solved after long discussions
and debates and a consensus was reached.
(c) Not necessarily. Every country has a Constitution but all are not democraciesdictatorships, theocracies or monarchies.
(d) A Constitution is not inflexible. It has to change according to the changes in society and
Q.2. Which of these was the most salient underlying conflict in the making of a democratic
(a) Between South Africa and its neighbours.
(c) Between the white minority and the black majority
(d) Between the coloured minority minority and the black majority.
Ans. (c) between the white minority and black majority.
Q.3. Which of these is a provision that a democratic Constitution does not have?
(a) Powers of the head of the state (b) Name of the head of the state
(c) Powers of the legislature (d) Name of the country
Ans. Name of the head of the state.
Q.4. Match the following leaders with their roles in the making of the Constitution:
— some are
reflect people’s aspirations.

constitution in South Africa?

(b) Between men and women
(a) Motilal Nehru
(b) B.R. Ambedkar
(c) Rajendra Prasad
(d) Sarojini Naidu
— (iv); (b) — (iii); (c) —
Q.5. Read
again the extracts from Nehru’s speech ‘Tryst with Destiny’ andfollowing:
(a) Why did Nehru use the expression “not wholly or in full measure” in the first sentence?
(b) What pledge did he want the makers of the Indian Constitution to take?
(i) President of the Constituent Assembly
(ii) Member of the Constituent Assembly
(iii) Chairman of the Drafting Committee
(iv) Prepared a Constitution for India in 1928
Ans. (a)

 (i); (d) — (ii).

 answer the

(c) “The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from
every eye.” Who was he referring to?
Ans. (a) He says this because India was partitioned into India and Pakistan.

(b) The pledge of service of the millions who suffer.
(c) Mahatma Gandhi.
Q.6. Here are some of the guiding values of the Constitution and their meaning. Rewrite them
by matching them correctly.
(a) Sovereign (i) Government will not favour any religion
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(b) Republic (ii) People have the supreme right to make decisions
(c) Fraternity (iii) Head of the state is an elected person
(d) Secular (iv) People should live like brothers and sisters

Ans. (a) Sovereign — People have the supreme right to make decisions.

(b) Republic — Head of the state is an elected person.
(c) Fraternity — People should live like brothers and sisters.
(d) Secular — Government will not favour any religion.
Q.7. Here are different opinions about what made India a democracy. How much importance
would you give to each of these factors?
•
Democracy in India is a gift of the British rulers. We received training to work with
representative legislative institutions under the British rule.
•
Freedom struggle challenged the colonial exploitation and denial of different freedoms to
Indians. Free India could not be anything but democratic.
•
We were lucky to have leaders who had democratic convictions. The denial of democracy
in several other newly independent countries shows the important role to these leaders.
Ans. I would give the maximum importance to the second opinion. Freedom struggle was the biggest
factor in teaching us the values of freedom of thought, expression and belief. It taught us that
we had to be united, live as brothers and sisters to fight the common enemy. It taught us the
democratic value of equality, how social equality was as important as political one. It taught
people that inspite of differences, some basic values are accepted by all.

•
Second important factor was the quality of leadership. Gandhiji, Nehru, Bose, Azad, to
name a few, were great democrats who believed in equality, liberty and fraternity. They
believed that the suffering of the people had to be alleviated.
•
The British gave the Indians training to work with legislative institutions, but they were
[Important]

certainly not believers of democracy. They did not allow every one to vote, they
the power in their hands, they created divisions among Hindus and Muslims, did not treat
Indians as equal to them. In fact it was the freedom struggle which taught Indians to value
democracy.

Q.8. Read the following extract from a conduct book for ‘married women’, published in 1912.
‘God had made the female species delicate and fragile both physically and emotionally,
pitiably incapable of self-defence. They are destined thus by God to remain in made
protection – of father, husband and son
despair, but feel obliged that they
Do you think the values expressed in this para reflected the values underlying
had all

— all their lives. Women should, therefore, not
can dedicate themselves to the service of men.’

 our

Constitution? Or does this go against the constitutional values?

Ans. They certainly go against our constitutional values. The Constitution makes no gender
differences. Equal rights are given to women. They can vote, take up any job, have property
rights and are paid (according to the constitution) equal wages for equal work. The statement
of 1912 makes women inferior to men and does not give them equal status.

Q.9. Read the following statements about a Constitution.
Give reasons why each of these is
true or not true.
(a) The authority of the rules of the constitution is the same as that of any other law.
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(b) Constitution lays down how different organs of the government will be formed.
(c) Rights
of citizens and limits on the power of the government are laid down in the
Constitution.
(d) A Constitution is about institutions, not about values.
Ans. (a) Not true. Constitution is the supreme law. Its authority cannot be challenged even by the
government. It is not like an ordinary law.

(b)
Yes, it is true. It defines the role of the legislature, the executive and the judiciary and how
they should be formed and by whom.
(c)
Yes, true. The Fundamental Rights state clearly the rights of the citizens. They also state
the power of the executive, lay down the rules of how the legislature and the judiciary can
(d)
Not true. The Constitution contains all the values which the institutions have to promote.
The Preamble to the Constitution is a shining example of this and states clearly that
justice, liberty, equality and fraternity have to be promoted. Secularism has to be followed
and socialism and democracy should be the basis of the government.
OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS (AS PER CCE PATTERN)

B.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS [1 MARK]
Q.1. On what charges was Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment?
(b) For breaking the laws
(c) For corruption charges
(d) For possessing illegal property
Q.2. What is apartheid?
[V. Important]
control the government.

(a) For treason
Ans. (a)

(a) Election in proportion to population
(b) Official policy of discrimination against the Blacks
(c) Equality among all
(d) None of the above
Q.3. In which way did the system of apartheid discriminate among the South Africans?
(a) Restricted social contacts between the races
(b) Segregation of public facilities
(c) Created race-specific job categories
(d) All the above
Ans. (b)

Ans. (d)

Q.4. Name the organisation that led the struggle against the policies of segregation.
(a) African National Conference (b) African Neutral Congress
(c) African National Congress (d) All National Party
Ans. (c)

Q.5. Why did the white regime decide to change its policies?
(a) Increase in protests and struggles
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(b) Government realised that repression was becoming difficult
(c) Rise of sympathetic attitude in government for the blacks
(d) Both (a) and (b)
Ans. (d)
Q.6. Which of these did not form a part of the changed attitude of South African government?
[Important]
(a) Discriminatory laws were repealed
(b) Ban on political parties and media was lifted
(c) Nelson Mandela was freed from imprisonment
(d) More discriminatory laws were passed
Q.7. When did South Africa become a democratic country?
(b) 26 April, 1994
(d) 27 April, 1996
Q.8. With the end of apartheid, who became the first President of South African Republic?
(b) P.W. Botha
(d) None of the above
Q.9. Name the autobiography of Nelson Mandela.
(b) South Africa Wins Freedom
(d) Our Freedom
Q.10. What did the black population want in the new Constitution?
Ans. (d)

(a) 26 April, 1995
(c) 24 March, 1994
Ans. (b)

(a) F.W. de Klerk
(c) Nelson Mandela
Ans. (c)

(a) The Long Walk to Freedom
(c) Walk to Freedom
Ans. (a)

(a) A black President
(b) Substantial social and economic rights
(c) Whites should be turned out of the country
(d) Apartheid for the whites
Q.11. What did the white minority want from the new Constitution?
(a) Protect its privileges and property
(c) Reservation in legislature
Ans. (b)

(b) A separate country for themselves
(d) Some special rights
Ans. (a)

Q.12. During negotiations for making the Constitution, the whites agreed to
(a) The principle of majority rule
(b) One person one vote
(c) Accept some basic rights for the poor and the workers
(d) All the above
Ans. (d)
Q.13. Which of the following sentences is correct?
(a) All countries that have constitutions are necessarily democratic
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(b) All countries that are democratic necessarily have constitutions
(c) Both (a) and (b) (d) None of the above
Ans. (b)
Q.14. When did Motilal Nehru draft a Constitution for India?
(a) 1927 (b) 1926 (c) 1929 (d) 1928
Ans. (d)
Q.15. Where was the 1931 session of Indian National Congress held?
(b) Karachi (c) Calcutta (d) Delhi
Q.16. Which of these features were accepted by all the Indian leaders much before they sat
down to make the Constitution?
(b) Right to freedom
(c) Protection of the rights of minorities (d) All the above
Q.17. According to which Act were the elections held to provincial legislatures in India in 1937?
(a) Government of India Act, 1935 (b) Government of India Act, 1919
(c) Government of India Act, 1909 (d) None of the above
Q.18. Which of these inspired our leaders while framing the Constitution?
(a) Ideals of the French Revolution (b) Parliamentary democracy in Britain
(d) All the above
(a) Nagpur
Ans. (b)

(a) Universal adult franchise
Ans. (d)

Ans. (a)

(c) Bill of Rights in US
Ans. (d)

Q.19. Which revolution in the world inspired the Indians to set up a socialist economy?
(a) French Revolution
(c) Russian Revolution
Q.20. Name the body which framed the Constitution of India?
(a) General Assembly
(c) Constitutional Assembly
Q.21. When did the Assembly adopt the Constitution?
[Important]

(b) Turkish Revolution
(d) American War of Independence
Ans. (c)

(b) Constituent Assembly
(d) People’s Assembly
Ans. (b)

(a) 26 November, 1949 (b) 26 December, 1949
(c) 26 January, 1950 (d) 26 January, 1949
Ans. (a)
Q.22. Who was the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly?
(a) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(c) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
Ans. (c)
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) Abul Kalam Azad
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Q.23. How many amendments were considered before adopting the Constitution?
(a) Around 500 (b) Around 2000 (c) Around 1550 (d) Around 1000
Ans. (b)
Q.24. Who said the following?
“I shall work for an India in which the poorest shall feel that it is their country ..... in
which all communities shall live in perfect harmony.”

(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Jawahar Lal Nehru
(c) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
(d) Sarojini Naidu
Q.25. Who among these leaders was a bitter critic of Mahatma Gandhi?
(b) Sarojini Naidu
(d) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Q.26. Whose famous speech are these lines a part of?
“The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from
every eye. That may be beyond us, but as long as there are tears and suffering, so long

(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) Vallabhbhai Patel
Q.27. “The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from
every eye.” Who was Nehru referring to in his speech?
(b) Mahatma Gandhi
(c) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
(d) Vallabhbhai Patel
Ans. (a)

(a) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
(c) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
Ans. (c)

our work will not be over.”

[Important]

(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(c) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
Ans. (b)

(a) Abdul Ghaffar Khan
Q.28. The Constitution begins with a short statement of its basic values. What is it called?
(a) Preface (b) Preamble
Q.29. Match these guiding values with their meanings.
(A) Sovereign (i) government will not favour any particular religion
(B) Republic
(ii) People will have supreme right to make decisions without outside
interference
(C) Fraternity (iii) Head of the state is an elected person
(D) Secular (iv) There should be a feeling of brotherhood among all the people
Ans. (b)

(c) Introduction (d) Article
Ans. (b)

(a) A-(iii), B-(i), C-(ii), D-(iv)
(b) A-(ii), B-(iii), C-(iv), D-(i)
(c) A-(i), B-(iv), C-(iii), D-(ii)
(d) A-(iv), B-(iii), C-(i), D-(ii)
Ans. (b)
Q.30. Which of these countries is/are examples of a Republic?
(a) USA (b) India (c) South Africa (d) All the above
Ans. (d)
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Q.31. What kind of ‘Justice’ does our Preamble provide?
(a) Economic Justice (b) Political Justice (c) Social Justice (d) All the above
Ans. (d)
Q.32. Which of these positions is correct in relation to the ‘Sovereign’ status of India?
(a) USA can decide India’s foreign policy
(b) USSR can support the CPI (M) in setting up its government here
(c) The Indian government only can decide its internal and external policies
(d) Pakistan can control India’s Armed Forces
Ans. (c)

Q.33. Who was the chairman of the Constituent Assembly?
(b) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(d) Mahatma Gandhi
Q.34. Which of the following days is celebrated to mark the enforcement of the constitution?
(b) Independence Day
(d) Constitution Enforcement Day
Q.35. The Indian constitution has borrowed from
(i) Ideas from French Revolution (ii) The British Constitution
(iii) The Bill of Rights of the US (iv) Israeli Constitution
(b) i, ii, iii, (c) ii, iii, iv (d) i, ii, iv
Q.36. The Constituent Assembly met for how many days?
(c) 365 (d) 150
[CBSE 2010]


(a) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) B.R. Ambedkar
Ans. (b)

[CBSE 2010]


(a) Republic Day
(c) Gandhi Jayanti
Ans. (a)

[CBSE 2010]


(a) i, ii, iv
Ans. (b) i, ii, iii

(b) 280
[2010 (T-1)]


(a) 114
Q.37. Who was the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian constitution ?
(a) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
(c) C. Rajgopalachari
Q.38. When did the Indian constitution come into force?
(a) 26th Nov, 1949 (b) 15th August, 1947 (c) 26th Jan, 1950
Q.39. Who prepared the draft of a constitution for India in 1928?
Ans. (a)

[2010 (T-1)]


(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Ans. (a)

[2010 (T-1)]


(d) 26th Jan, 1930
Ans. (c)

[2010 (T-1)]


(a) Motilal Nehru (b) B. R. Ambedkar (c) Dr. Rajendra Prasad (d) Jawaharlal Nehru
Ans. (a)
Q.40. When was the Constitution of India adopted? [2010 (T-1)]
(a) 26th Nov, 1949 (b) 26th Jan, 1949 (c) 26th Jan, 1950 (d) 26th Nov, 1950
Ans. (a)
Q.41. Drafting Committee was chaired by: [2010 (T-1)]
(a) Gandhiji (b) Pt. J.L. Nehru (c) Baldev Singh (d) Dr B.R. Ambedkar
Ans. (d)
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Q.42. Mahatma Gandhi wrote :
[2010 (T-1)]
(a) Young India
(b) New India
(c) Discovery of India (d) The Wonder That Was India
Ans. (a)
Q.43. In the constituent assembly, the first captain of the Indian hockey team also had a role.
[2010 (T-1)]
(a) Baldev Singh (b) Somnath Lahiri (c) Jaipal Singh (d) K.M. Munshi
Ans. (a)
Q.44. Congress session of 1931 was held at :
(b) Lucknow (c) Kanpur (d) Madras, now Chennai
Q.45. In which year did Motilal Nehru and others draft a constitution for India?
(c) 1929 (d) 1932
Q.46. Who was the President of India's Constituent Assembly?
(b) Rajendra Prasad (c) Sarojini Naidu (d) B. R. Ambedkar
C. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS [3 MARKS]
Q.1. In which way was the system of ‘apartheid’ oppressive?
Ans. The apartheid system was particularly oppressive for the blacks. They were forbidden from
living in white areas. They could work in white areas only if they had a permit. Trains, buses,
taxis, hotels, hospitals, schools and colleges, swimming pools, public toilets etc. were all
separate for the whites and blacks. They could not even visit the churches where the whites

[2010 (T-1)]


(a) Karachi
Ans. (a)

[2010 (T-1)]


(a) 1931 (b) 1928
Ans. (b)

[2010 (T-1)]


(a) Motilal Nehru
Ans. (b)

[Important]

worshipped. Blacks could not form associations or protest against the terrible treatment.

Q.2. What was the appeal made by the black leaders to the fellow blacks after the emergence
of the new democratic South Africa?
Ans. After the emergence of the new democratic South Africa, black leaders appealed to fellow
blacks to forgive the whites for the atrocities they had committed while in power. They urged
the people to build a new South Africa based on equality of all races, and of men and women,
on democratic values, social justice and human rights.

Q.3.
What is meant by the term ‘Constitution’?
Ans. The constitution of a country is a set of written rules that are accepted by all people living in
that country. It is the supreme law that determines the relationship among the people living in

[Important]

a territory (called citizens) and also the relationship between the people and government. It
specifies how the government will be constituted and who will have the power to take different
decisions.

Q.4. Describe
the advantages that Indians had when they participated in the legislatures
which were set up as a result of the elections of 1937.
Ans. Although the legislatures set up in India as a result of elections of 1937 were not fully
democratic, the experience gained by Indians in the working of the legislative institutions
proved to be very useful for the country in setting up its own institutions and working in them.

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Q.5. Give a description of the composition of the Constituent Assembly. [Important]
Ans. The Constituent Assembly was elected mainly by the members of the existing Provincial
Legislatures. This ensured a fair geographical share of members from all the regions of the
country. Congress, which was the dominant party in the Assembly, itself included a variety of
political groups and opinions. It represented members from different languages, castes,
religions, classes and occupations.

Q.6. What did Ambedkar mean by ‘Contradiction’ in his concluding speech to the Constituent
Assembly?
Ans. In his concluding speech to the Constituent Assembly Dr. Ambedkar said that India
entering a life of ‘contradictions’ on 26th Jan 1950. By this he meant that in politics Indians
would have equality but in social and economic life, there would be inequality. In politics India
would be recognising the principle of one man one vote, with one value, but in social and
economic life, the principle of one man one value would be denied.

Q.7. Why was a constitution necessary for a country like South Africa?
Ans. The oppressor and the oppressed, i.e. the whites and the blacks were planning to live together,
as equals. It was not going to be easy for them to trust each other. They wanted to safeguard
their interests. The only way to build and maintain trust was to write down some rules. This
set of basic rules was the constitution needed for South Africa.

Q.8. What do you understand by secularism? Why is India called a secular country?
Ans. India is a country of many religions and it respects all religions. No religion is given the status
of state religion and equal respect is given to all beliefs, faiths and practices. Citizens have
complete freedom to follow any religion.

Q.9. What are Constitutional Amendments? State its significance in a democratic country like
Ans. Constitutional Amendments are changes in the constitution made by the Supreme Legislative

was

[CBSE 2010]


[CBSE 2010]


India.

body in a country. The constitution of India is a very long and detailed document. Therefore
it needs to be amended quite regularly to keep it updated.

Q.10. What were the difficulties faced during the making of Indian constitution? [2010 (T-1)]
Ans. It was drawn up under very difficult circumstances. Making a constitution for a huge country
like India was not an easy affair. The country was born through partition. The problem of
princely states was left undecided by the Britrish. There were anxieties about the present and
future of the country.

Q.11. State the steps involved in the framing of Indian consitution.
Ans. The drafting of the document called the constitution was done by an assembly of elected
representatives called the Constituent assembly Elections to the Constitutuent Assembly were
held in July 1946. Its first meeting was held in December 1946. It had 299 members. The assembly

[2010 (T-1)]


[2010 (T-1)]


adopted the constitution on 26 November 1949 and it came into force on 26 January 1950.

Q.12. The
Preamble of our constitution is a short statement of values. Which country has
inspired India to incorporate the Preamble? Why does it start with ‘‘We The People of
India?’’ [2010 (T-1)]
Ans. Taking inspiration from American model, most countries including India have chosen to begin
their constitutions with a importance to the people of India by saying that it is the people who
have drawn up and enacted the constitution. It has not been handed down to them by a king
or any outside power.

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D. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS [4 MARKS]
Q.1. Regarding the constitution-making, what was the compromise reached at between the
blacks and whites?
Ans. The constitution of South Africa was drawn together by the party of whites which had rules
through oppression and the party that led the freedom struggle. The constitution gave to its
citizens the most extensive rights available in any country. After long negotiations both parties
agreed to a compromise. The whites agreed to the principle of majority rule and that of one
person one vote. They also agreed to accept some basic rights for the poor and the workers.
The blacks agreed that the majority rule would not be absolute. They agreed that the majority

would not take away the property of the white minority.

Q.2. What does the constitution effectively do that makes a country a democratic one?
Ans. A constitution does many things to make a country a democratic one :
(i) It generates a degree of trust and coordination that is necessary for different kind of people
(ii) It specifies how the government will be constituted and who will have the power of taking
(iii) It lays down limits on the powers of the government and tells us what the rights of the
(iv) It expresses the aspirations of the people about creating a good society.
Q.3. Why did the makers of the Indian constitution have anxieties about the present and the
Ans. The makers of the Indian constitution had anxieties because making of the constitution for a
huge and diverse country like India was not an easy affair. The country was born through
partition on the basis of religious differences. At least ten lakh people were killed on both sides
of the border in partition related violence. Another problem was that the British had left it to
the rulers of the princely states to decide whether they wanted to merge with India or with

to live together.

which decisions.

citizens are.

future of the country?

Pakistan or to remain independent.

Q.4. Describe how the Constituent Assembly worked to prepare the constitution for India.
Ans. The Constituent Assembly worked in a systematic, open and consensual manner. First some
basic principles were decided and agreed upon. Then a Drafting Committee chaired by Dr. B.R.
Ambedkar prepared a draft constitution for discussion. Several rounds of thorough discussion
took place, clause by clause. More than 2000 amendments were made. The members
deliberated for 114 days spread over 3 years. Every document presented and every word
spoken in the Constituent Assembly was recorded and preserved. These are called ‘Constituent
Assembly Debates’.

Q.5. In his speech ‘Tryst with Destiny’, Nehru said, ‘Freedom and power bring responsibility.'
Explain what he meant by this.
Ans. By saying that ‘Freedom and power bring responsibility’, Nehru meant that it is the
responsibility of Indians to not relax with ease after having got the freedom, but to constantly
strive to fulfil the pledges taken. He said that the service of India meant the service of the
millions who suffered, it meant the embing of poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality
of opportunity.

Q.6. What is the preamble of the constitution? What is the significance of 'We the people of
India' and 'secular' in the preamble? [CBSE 2010]
Ans. It is an introductary part of the constitution. It is called the key of the Constitution. "We the

12


people of India" means the constitution has been drawn up and enacted by the people through
their representatives. Secular means that citizens have complete freedom to follow any
religion. But there as no official religion.

Q.7. Describe any three fealures of the Indian constitution.
[CBSE 2010]
Ans. (i) It establishes a Sovereign, Democratic, Republic in India (ii) It establishes a secular state
in India (iii) It provides Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties.

(i) The Constitution begins
with a short statement called the preamble. Sovereign means
people have supreme right to make decisions on internal as well as external matter. No
dictate the government of India. Democratic means
government where people enjoy equal political rights, elect their rulers and hold them
accountable. Republic means the head of the state is an elected person and it is not a

(ii) Secular means citizens have complete freedom to follow any religion – Government treats
all religions beliefs and practices with equal respect.
(iii) The Indian constitution provides justice – social, economic and political.
Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship.
Equality of status and opportunity.
Fraternity assuring dignity of the individual and unity and integrity of the nation.
Q.8. What is constitution? Why do we need a constitution?
Ans. It is a set of written rules that are accepted by all the people of a country. It is needed as it
is the supreme law that determines the relationship among citizens of a country. It defines how
the government will be formed and also limits the powers of the government and defines the

Q.9. The Indian constitution is both rigid and flexible. Explain.
Ans. The Indian Constitution is neither wholly flexible nor wholly rigid. It is partly rigid and partly
external power

can

a

 form of

hereditary position.

[CBSE 2010]


rights of the citizens.

[CBSE 2010]


flexible. It is not so flexible as the British constitution is,
constitution is.
Some of the articles of the constitution can be amended by a simple majority of the parliament,


e.g. changing the names of states, altering boundries of states, matters relating to citizenship
etc. Some of the articles of the constitution can be amended with 2/3 majority of the members
of parliament, e.g. the election of the president of India. If any change in it is intended then
it has to be passed first by a majority of the total members in each house of parliament.
Q.10. Mention the landmark years in the making of the Indian constitution.
Ans. As far back as 1928, Motilal Nehru and eight other Congress leaders drafted a constitution for
India. In 1931 at the Karachi Session of Indian National Congress leaders pondered what

nor so rigid as the American

[2010 (T-1)]


India's constitution should be like. Elections held in 1937 to provincial Legislatures and
Ministeri all over British India. It was beneficial for Indians to gain experience. That is why
Indian Constitution adopted many insitutional details from colonial laws like the Government
of India Act 1935.

Q.11. What is the aim of a socialist state? How can that be achieved? [2010 (T-1)]
Ans. We all us generated socially and should be shared equally by society. Government should
regulate the ownership of land and industry to reduce socioeconomic equalities. Social
inequalities have to be reduced, Government should work for the welfare of all.

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Q.12. What was the African Policy of Apartheid? How could that come to an end? [2010 (T-1)]
Ans. Apartheid was the name of a system of racial discrimention unique to South Africa. The White
Europeans imposed this system on South Africa. The native people of Africa are black. They
had 3/4 of the population. The whites treated all non-whites as inferiors. The non-whites did
not have voting rights. The blacks were forbidden from living in the white area. Trains, buses,
hospitals, schools, hotels, taxis, cinemas etc were all separate for the whites and blacks. The
blacks, coloured and Indians fought for their rights-arranged marches protests and strikes. The
racist government for tortured them. On 26 April 1994. Apartheid came to an end with the birth

of the Republic of South Africa.

Q.13. Define the following terms mentioned in the Preamble to the constitution of India.
(c) Secular (d) Republic
Ans. Sovereign means people have supreme right to make decisions on internal and external
matters. No external power can dictate to the Government of India.
Socialist means that wealth is generated socially it should be shared equally by society.
Secular means that citizens have complete freedom to follow any religion but there is no

Republic means the head of the State is an elected person and not a hereditary position.

Q.14. What is the Preamble? Explain any three guiding principles explained in the Preamble.
Ans. Preamble is a short statement of the basic values of the constitution. Taking inspiration from
American model, most countries have adopted constitutions with a preamble. The preamble of
the Indian constitution reads like a poem on democracy. It contains the philosoply on which
the entire constitution has been built; 1. Democratic–It will have a democratic government
where people will enjoy equal rights; 2. Equality–All citizens will be equal before the law;
and 3. Fraternity– All world would behave as if they are members of the same family.

(a) Sovereign (b) Socialist
[2010 (T-1)]


official religion.

[2010 (T-1)]


Q.15. Why do we need a constitution? Give any four points.
Ans. Every country has diverse groups of people. People have differences. Hence the need to have
a set of rules. To maintain a trust it as best to write down these rules. Thus the constitution
of a country is a set of written rules that are acceptd by all. A constitution.

1. generates trust and coordination.
2. specifies how government will be constituted.
3. lays down limits on the powers of the government.
4. expresses the aspirations of the people.
[2010 (T-1)]


II. FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
A. PROJECT
Topic Covered
Objective
Skills Developed
:
:
:
Struggle against apartheid in South Africa.
To create awareness of racial discrimination in South Africa and the
struggle to dismantle the apartheid system.
Analytical understanding of racial discrimination in South Africa.
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Time Required : 1–2 days
Method : (a) Explain how the apartheid system discriminated against the blacks
(b) Focus on the leadership of Nelson Mandela and the struggle
launched by the African National Congress
(c) Also explain the problems in making of a new constitution for
democratic South Africa.
(d) In ‘conclusion’ throw light on the main features of the new
constitution of South Africa, the values and ideals cherished by it.

B.
ACTIVITIES
(1)
Make a poster on the life and struggle of Nelson Mandela, highlighting the main events.
(2)
Each student shall read some portions of Nelson Mandela’s autobiography ‘The Long Walk
to Freedom’. Later on, read important extracts from it in the class.
C. ASSIGNMENTS
(1)
Make a chart listing the similarities and dissimilarities between the South African struggle for
National Movement. Focus on the following points
(a) Nature of colonialism (b) Relationship between different communities. (c) Leadership of
Gandhiji and Nelson Mandela (d) Method of struggle (e) Parties that led the struggle – ANC/
(2)
Visit the office of a local club or a cooperative society or union or a political party. Get a copy
of their rule book/constitution and study it. Are these rules in accordance with the principles
of democracy? Note down its main features.
freedom and the Indian

:


INC.


D. POSTER MAKING
Collect pictures/sketches of fifteen prominent members of the Constituent Assembly and make
poster. Below each picture, write a short notedescription of political activities, role played in the Constituent Assembly, role played later on.

E. GROUP DISCUSSION
In his concluding speech to the Constituent Assembly. Dr B.R. Ambedkar commented, “On the
26th of January 1950, we are going to enter a life of contradictions. In politics we will have
equality and in social and economic life, we will have inequality....” Do you agree with the
views of Dr Ambedkar?

a

–


 name, year of birth and death, brief

Organise a group discussion in the class on the above topic.
(Guidelines : The class could be divided into groups of 5 – 6 students. Each group could be
given 10 –15 minutes.)


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