EXERCISE

Very Short Answer Questions

Q1. Which political party won the elections held in 1945 in England?
Answer: The Labour Party won the elections held in England in July 1945.

Q2. When did the “Cabinet Mission” come to India?
Answer: The “Cabinet Mission” came to India in March 1946.

Q3. Who was the first Chairman of the Constituent Assembly?
Answer: The senior member of the Constituent Assembly, Dr. Sacchidananda Sinha, presided over the first sitting. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly.

Q4. Who was the President of the Drafting Committee of Indian Constitution?
Answer: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee.

Q5. In which constitutional amendment were the words “Socialist” and “Secular” incorporated in the “Preamble”?
Answer: The words “Socialist” and “Secular” were incorporated in the Preamble through the 42nd constitutional amendment on December 18, 1976.

Q6. From which Latin word has the English word “Federation” been derived?
Answer: The English term ‘Federation’ is derived from the Latin word “Foedus”.

Q7. Which country is regarded as the “Homeland” of federation?
Answer: The United States of America (USA) is regarded as the “Homeland of Federation”.

Q8. Is there Dual citizenship system in India?
Answer: No, there is no provision for dual citizenship in India; a citizen is only a citizen of India and not of any other constituent state.

Q9. From which country’s constitution has the concept of India’s Parliamentary democracy been followed?
Answer: The makers of the Indian constitution followed the constitution of England while adopting a Parliamentary form of government.

Short Answer Questions

Q1. Why did the British government send the Cabinet Mission to India?
Answer: The Labour Party government of England, which came to power in the 1945 elections, felt the necessity of a constitution for a newly independent and democratic India. As such, they sent the “Cabinet Mission” to India in March 1946 to create a suitable environment and make the necessary preparations for framing a new constitution.

Q2. According to which Act, India’s administration was governed between 15 August, 1947 to 26 January, 1950 and who enacted this Act?
Answer: India was governed in accordance with the provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935, between August 15, 1947, and January 26, 1950. This act was passed by the Parliament of England.

Q3. Why are the words “We the people of India” incorporated in the Preamble?
Answer: The words “We the people of India” were included in the Preamble to make it clear that the ultimate authority of the constitution rests with the Indian people themselves. This signifies that the constitution belongs solely to them and that they are the main force behind its creation.

Q4. What is meant by the term Sovereign?
Answer: Sovereignty is the supreme and absolute power of a state. When a state is sovereign, it means it is not subordinate to any foreign power externally and is not directed by any other internal force. India is a sovereign state.

Q5. According to which constitutional amendment the two words “Socialist” and “Secular” have been incorporated in the Preamble and in which year?
Answer: The words “Socialist” and “Secular” were incorporated into the Preamble through the 42nd constitutional amendment on December 18, 1976.

Q6. What is meant by “Quasi-federal state”?
Answer: A “Quasi-federal state” is a political system that has characteristics of both a federal and a unitary government. India’s political system is described as quasi-federal because while it has federal features, some characteristics of a unitary government are also merged in the system. The central government is more powerful than the state governments, and the constituent states do not have the right to secede from the Indian Union or have a separate constitution.

Q7. Which Indian Act had introduced limited Parliamentary democracy in pre-independence India?
Answer: The Government of India Act, 1935, had introduced a limited form of a parliamentary government in pre-independence India.

Long Answer Questions

Q1. Discuss how the ideals of the Indian Constitution have been manifested in its Preamble.
Answer: The ideals of the Indian Constitution are clearly reflected in its Preamble, which serves as the guiding spirit of the entire Constitution. It declares India to be a sovereign, socialist, secular and democratic republic, ensuring that the country is free from external control, wealth is distributed fairly, all religions are treated equally, and the people themselves elect their representatives. The Preamble also highlights the commitment to justice—social, economic and political—so that every citizen can live with fairness and dignity. It guarantees liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship, giving citizens the freedom to follow their own ideas and religions. The ideal of equality of status and opportunity ensures that no one is discriminated against on the basis of caste, religion, gender or wealth. At the same time, the principle of fraternity promotes a sense of brotherhood and national unity, while upholding the dignity of every individual. Thus, the Preamble embodies the core values and aspirations of the people of India and manifests the noble ideals on which the Constitution is based.

Q2. Write in detail about what is meant by Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic and Republic.
Answer: The Preamble of the Indian Constitution outlines five key ideals that define the nature of the Indian state:

1. Sovereign: This means that India is an independent state that holds supreme and absolute power. It is not subordinate to any foreign power externally and is free from any internal direction by other forces.
2. Socialist: Incorporated via the 42nd constitutional amendment in 1976, this term indicates that there should be no inequality among Indian citizens regarding income, status, or standard of living.
3. Secular: This word was also added by the 42nd constitutional amendment. It means that India does not have an official or state religion, and the government treats all religions equally. No special interest or concession is shown to any particular religion.
4. Democratic: This signifies that India is a democratic state where the country’s administration is run by representatives elected by the people. The government is responsible to the people, and the people administer the country for themselves.
5. Republic: This means that the Head of the state, the President, is elected by the people. The position is not hereditary, nor is the person selected by someone else.

Q3. Discuss the objective resolutions put forward by Pandit Nehru in relation to the Indian constitution.
Answer: On 13th December 1946, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru presented the Objective Resolutions in the Constituent Assembly, which later became the guiding principles of the Indian Constitution. The main points of the Objective Resolutions were:

1. India shall be an Independent, Sovereign Republic.
2. All power and authority of the government and its organs shall be derived from the people of India.
3. The Constitution shall guarantee justice—social, economic and political; equality of status and opportunity; and freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship.
4. Adequate safeguards shall be provided for minorities, backward and tribal areas, and other weaker sections of society.
5. The integrity of the territory of India and its sovereign rights on land, sea and air shall be maintained.
6. India shall contribute to the promotion of world peace and welfare of mankind.

Q4. Discuss the characteristics of the Indian federal system.
Answer: The main characteristics of the Indian federal system are:

1. Union of States: India is a Union of States under Article 1 of the Constitution. The states have no right to secede from the Union.
2. Single Constitution: There is only one Constitution for the entire country.
3. Distribution of Powers: Powers are divided between the Union and State Governments through the Union List, State List, and Concurrent List, but more powers are given to the Centre.
4. Stronger Central Government: The Union Government has more authority than the states.
5. Governor as Union’s Representative: The Governor of each state is appointed by the President.
6. Single Citizenship: There is only one citizenship, that of India.
7. Quasi-Federal Nature: The Indian system is described as “federal in form but unitary in spirit.” It has both federal features (division of powers, state governments, judiciary) and unitary features (strong centre, emergency powers).
8. Cooperative Federalism: India’s federal system works on centre-state cooperation, which is why political scientists call it a “Cooperative Federation.”