CLASS IX; POLITICAL SCIENCE: CONSTITUTIONAL DESIGN (L-2)

IMPORTANT POINTS-
1) CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY- The drafting of the document called the Constitution was done by an assembly of
elected representatives called the Constituent Assembly. It was chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
2) YOUNG INDIA- Written by Mahatma Gandhi in 1931.
3) Jawaharlal Nehru gave his famous speech’ Tryst with Destiny’ to the Constituent Assembly at the stroke of
midnight on August 15, 1947.
4) statement in a Constitution which states the reasons and guiding values to the Constitution.
5) Dr. Rajendra Prasad- President of the Constituent Assembly.
6) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar – Chairman of the drafting committee of the Constitution.
7) Motilal Nehru- drafted a constitution for India in 1928.

Q1. What is a Constitution?

Ans. Constitution is the supreme law of the country containing fundamental rules governing the politics and society
in the country.

Q2. Why do we need the Constitution? Or What is the importance of the Constitution? Or List some important
work done by a Constitution.
Ans. A Constitution does many things: -
The Constitution provides the framework within which a government must work.
1. It limits the powers of the government and tells the rights of the citizens.
2. It specifies how the government will be constituted, who will have power to take which decision.
3. It safeguards the fundamental rights of the citizens.
4. It generates a degree of trust and coordination that is necessary for diverse population.
5. It expresses the aspirations of the people about creating a good society.

Q3. Indian Constitution is partly rigid and partly flexible. Explain.

Ans. The Indian Constitution is partly rigid and partly flexible. It is because three types of amendment procedures
have been adopted in our Constitution. These procedures are as follows.
1. Certain provisions of the Constitution can be amended by a two-third majority in Parliament and ratified by
at least fifty percent of the states. (Rigid)
2. Certain provisions of the Constitution can be amended by a simple majority in Parliament. (Flexible)
3. The remaining provisions can be amended by Parliament by two-third majority. (Rigid)

Q4. How was the Indian Constitution framed?

Ans.
1. The Constituent Assembly started framing the Constitution of India on December 4, 1946.
2. After deciding on some basic principles, on 29th August 1947, a Drafting Committee was appointed under the
chairmanship of Dr. Ambedkar.
3. The Constituent Assembly had 299 members.
4. It took about 2 years, 11 months and 18 days to prepare the Constitution of free India but actually the
Constituent Assembly met for 166 days)
5. The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution on 26th November 1949 but came into effect on 26th
January 1950.
6. To mark this day we celebrate 26th January as Republic Day every year.

Q5. Why is the Preamble important? OR If the Preamble is not a legal part of the Constitution, how is it important?
Ans. The Preamble has great importance because: -
1) It is an introduction to the Constitution and shows the guiding values of the Constitution.
2) It tells the objectives of the government and lays down the way the government should run.
3) It contains the philosophy on which the entire Constitution has been built.
4) It provides a standard to examine and evaluate any law and action of the government.
5) It is the soul of the Indian Constitution.

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Q6. ‘Our leaders gained confidence to learn from other countries, but on its own terms’. Explain.
Ans. Many of the leaders were inspired by the following:
1) British Constitution- Parliamentary form of government.
2) US Constitution- Charter of Fundamental Rights.
3) French Constitution- Principal of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.
4) Russia- Concept of social and economic equality.

Q7. ‘’Indian Constitution was drawn up under very difficult circumstances.’’ Elaborate.
Ans.
1. Size and Diversity of the Country- Making a Constitution for a huge and diverse country like India was not
easy.
2. Partition- The country was born through a partition which was a traumatic experience.
3. Violence during Partition- At least 10 lakh people were killed on both sides of the border in partition related
violence.
4. Fate of princely states-The British had left it to the rulers of the princely state to decide whether they
wanted to merge with India or with Pakistan or remain independent.
5. Insecure future- The makers of the Constitution were anxious about the present and future of the country.

Q8. Why should the Constitution of India formulated in 1950, by the Constituent Assembly be acceptable even
today?
Ans. The Constitution of India should be acceptable even today because:
1. No large social group or political party has ever questioned the legitimacy of the Constitution itself.
2. The Constituent assembly represented members from different language groups, castes, classes, religions
and occupations, hence expressed a broad consensus.
3. The Assembly worked in a systematic, open and consensual manner. Discussions, debates and amendments
gave it a final shape.

Q9. Mention five main characteristics or features or guiding principles (or philosophy) of the Preamble of the
Indian Constitution.
Ans.
1. Sovereign: People have supreme right to make decisions on internal as well as external matters.
2. Socialist: Wealth is generated socially and should be shared equally by the society.
3. Secular: Citizens have complete freedom to follow any religion.
4. Democratic: A form of government where people enjoy equal rights, elect their rulers and hold them
accountable.
5. Republic: the people choose the head of the government and this is not a hereditary position.

Q10. On what four basic ideals does the Preamble of the Indian Constitution lay emphasis?
Ans.
1. Justice: It asserts that all Indian citizens are equal before the law of the land.
2. Liberty: This ideal establishes that there are no unreasonable restrictions on Indian citizens.
3. Equality: This ideal implies that citizens of India cannot be discriminated based on caste, religion and
gender.
4. Fraternity: It means that all citizens should behave as if they are part of the same family. No one should treat
a fellow citizen as inferior.

Q11. Why did the Constitution framers make provisions for Amendment in the Indian Constitution?
Ans. The Constitution framers made provisions for Amendment in the Indian Constitution because:
1. To update it regularly
2. They felt that it is to be in accordance with aspirations of people and change in the society.
3. They did not see it as a sacred, static and unalterable law.