1. According to the Objectives Resolution, which of the following was NOT explicitly mentioned as a commitment of the new Indian Constitution?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: A
Explanation:
The Objectives Resolution includes: sovereignty, republic status, union of territories, autonomous units, justice for all, equality, safeguards for minorities, and contribution to world peace. It does NOT mention a unitary form, in fact India adopted a federal structure. The Objectives Resolution committed to territories being 'autonomous units.'
The Objectives Resolution includes: sovereignty, republic status, union of territories, autonomous units, justice for all, equality, safeguards for minorities, and contribution to world peace. It does NOT mention a unitary form, in fact India adopted a federal structure. The Objectives Resolution committed to territories being 'autonomous units.'
2. The Constituent Assembly had how many major Committees on different subjects?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: A
Explanation:
The Constituent Assembly had eight major Committees on different subjects. Usually Jawaharlal Nehru Rajendra Prasad Sardar Patel or B.R. Ambedkar chaired these Committees. Each Committee drafted particular provisions which were then debated by the entire Assembly.
The Constituent Assembly had eight major Committees on different subjects. Usually Jawaharlal Nehru Rajendra Prasad Sardar Patel or B.R. Ambedkar chaired these Committees. Each Committee drafted particular provisions which were then debated by the entire Assembly.
3. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in his speech to the Constituent Assembly (25 November 1949) argued that political democracy cannot last unless:
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: D
Explanation:
In the opinion of Ambedkar, political democracy cannot last unless there lies at the base of it social democracy. 'What does social democracy mean? It means a way of life which recognises liberty equality and fraternity as the principles of life.' He further argued these three cannot be divorced from each other without defeating the purpose of democracy.
In the opinion of Ambedkar, political democracy cannot last unless there lies at the base of it social democracy. 'What does social democracy mean? It means a way of life which recognises liberty equality and fraternity as the principles of life.' He further argued these three cannot be divorced from each other without defeating the purpose of democracy.
4. Which of the following questions was NOT a major point of debate in the Constituent Assembly?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
Major debates: centralised vs decentralised government, relations between States and Centre, powers of the judiciary, and whether to protect property rights. Diplomatic relations with Britain were not a constitutional debate. Significantly universal suffrage was the ONLY provision passed without debate, everything else was rigorously discussed.
Major debates: centralised vs decentralised government, relations between States and Centre, powers of the judiciary, and whether to protect property rights. Diplomatic relations with Britain were not a constitutional debate. Significantly universal suffrage was the ONLY provision passed without debate, everything else was rigorously discussed.
5. The Indian Constitution did NOT gain legitimacy primarily through which mechanism?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: D
Explanation:
The Indian Constitution was never subjected to a referendum. Its legitimacy came instead from: credible leaders who commanded public respect the consensus of the nationalist movement deliberative procedures emphasising public reason and the fact that people adopted it as their own by abiding by its provisions.
The Indian Constitution was never subjected to a referendum. Its legitimacy came instead from: credible leaders who commanded public respect the consensus of the nationalist movement deliberative procedures emphasising public reason and the fact that people adopted it as their own by abiding by its provisions.
6. The law-making procedure and the institution of the Speaker have been borrowed from:
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
British Constitution contributed, First Past the Post system; Parliamentary Form of Government; The idea of Rule of Law; Institution of the Speaker and her/his role; Law-making procedure. The US contributed Fundamental Rights and Judicial Review; Ireland contributed Directive Principles of State Policy; France contributed Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.
British Constitution contributed, First Past the Post system; Parliamentary Form of Government; The idea of Rule of Law; Institution of the Speaker and her/his role; Law-making procedure. The US contributed Fundamental Rights and Judicial Review; Ireland contributed Directive Principles of State Policy; France contributed Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.
7. The principles of Liberty Equality and Fraternity in the Indian Constitution draw from which constitutional tradition?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: A
Explanation:
French Constitution: Principles of Liberty Equality and Fraternity. This is also referenced in Ambedkar's speech where he discussed social democracy as a way of life recognising liberty equality and fraternity, these principles have their roots in the French Revolutionary tradition.
French Constitution: Principles of Liberty Equality and Fraternity. This is also referenced in Ambedkar's speech where he discussed social democracy as a way of life recognising liberty equality and fraternity, these principles have their roots in the French Revolutionary tradition.
8. A constitution must give everyone in society SOME reason to go along with its provisions. A constitution that allows permanent majorities to oppress minorities would fail because:
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
A constitution that for instance allowed permanent majorities to oppress minority groups within society would give minorities no reason to go along with the provision of the constitution... If any group feels their identity is being stifled they will have no reason to abide by the constitution.' Legitimacy requires giving everyone a reason to accept the constitutional framework.
A constitution that for instance allowed permanent majorities to oppress minority groups within society would give minorities no reason to go along with the provision of the constitution... If any group feels their identity is being stifled they will have no reason to abide by the constitution.' Legitimacy requires giving everyone a reason to accept the constitutional framework.
9. Which of the following CORRECTLY describes the relationship between the Objectives Resolution and the Preamble to the Indian Constitution?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
The resolution encapsulated the aspirations and values behind the Constitution. Based on this resolution our Constitution gave institutional expression to these fundamental commitments: equality liberty democracy sovereignty and a cosmopolitan identity. The Objectives Resolution moved by Nehru in 1946 was the philosophical foundation of the Constitution.
The resolution encapsulated the aspirations and values behind the Constitution. Based on this resolution our Constitution gave institutional expression to these fundamental commitments: equality liberty democracy sovereignty and a cosmopolitan identity. The Objectives Resolution moved by Nehru in 1946 was the philosophical foundation of the Constitution.
10. Nepal's experience with constitution-making is an example of:
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
Nepal had five constitutions in 1948 1951 1959 1962 and 1990 and all these constitutions were granted by the King of Nepal. Nepal finally emerged as a democratic republic in 2008 after abolishing the monarchy and adopted a new constitution in 2015, illustrating that constitutions imposed from above without popular legitimacy tend to be unstable.
Nepal had five constitutions in 1948 1951 1959 1962 and 1990 and all these constitutions were granted by the King of Nepal. Nepal finally emerged as a democratic republic in 2008 after abolishing the monarchy and adopted a new constitution in 2015, illustrating that constitutions imposed from above without popular legitimacy tend to be unstable.
11. Constitutions are often subverted not by the people but by:
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
Constitutions are often subverted not by the people but by small groups who wish to enhance their own power. Well crafted constitutions fragment power in society intelligently so that no single group can subvert the constitution. This is the rationale for checks and balances.
Constitutions are often subverted not by the people but by small groups who wish to enhance their own power. Well crafted constitutions fragment power in society intelligently so that no single group can subvert the constitution. This is the rationale for checks and balances.
12. The Indian Constitution is described as a 'living document.' This characterisation refers to:
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: A
Explanation:
The Indian Constitution is described as a living document. By striking a balance between the possibility to change the provisions and the limits on such changes the Constitution has ensured that it will survive as a document respected by people. This arrangement also ensures that no section or group can on its own subvert the Constitution.
The Indian Constitution is described as a living document. By striking a balance between the possibility to change the provisions and the limits on such changes the Constitution has ensured that it will survive as a document respected by people. This arrangement also ensures that no section or group can on its own subvert the Constitution.
13. Which of the following CORRECTLY identifies the role of public reason in the authority of the Indian Constituent Assembly?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
The Constitution drew its authority from the fact that members of the Constituent Assembly engaged in what one might call public reason... They did not simply advance their own interests but gave principled reasons to other members for their positions.
The Constitution drew its authority from the fact that members of the Constituent Assembly engaged in what one might call public reason... They did not simply advance their own interests but gave principled reasons to other members for their positions.
14. How many members of the Constituent Assembly were from the Scheduled Castes?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: D
Explanation:
The Assembly had twenty-eight members from the Scheduled Castes. Despite members not being elected by universal suffrage there was a serious attempt to make the Assembly a representative body. Members of all religions were given representation.
The Assembly had twenty-eight members from the Scheduled Castes. Despite members not being elected by universal suffrage there was a serious attempt to make the Assembly a representative body. Members of all religions were given representation.
15. The lesson the framers of the constitution drew from the Partition violence was reflected in which commitment of the Constitution?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: A
Explanation:
The Constitution was committed to a new conception of citizenship where not only would minorities be secure but religious identity would have no bearing on citizenship rights. This directly responded to the communal violence of Partition by constitutionally separating religious identity from civic identity.
The Constitution was committed to a new conception of citizenship where not only would minorities be secure but religious identity would have no bearing on citizenship rights. This directly responded to the communal violence of Partition by constitutionally separating religious identity from civic identity.
16. The Indian Constitution's conception of national identity is different from the German conception in what way?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: D
Explanation:
German identity was constituted by being ethnically German. The constitution gave expression to this identity. The Indian Constitution on the other hand does not make ethnic identity a criterion for citizenship' This cosmopolitan non-ethnic conception of citizenship is one of India's Constitution's most distinctive features.
German identity was constituted by being ethnically German. The constitution gave expression to this identity. The Indian Constitution on the other hand does not make ethnic identity a criterion for citizenship' This cosmopolitan non-ethnic conception of citizenship is one of India's Constitution's most distinctive features.
17. Which of the following is NOT one of the three questions used to determine whether a constitution has authority?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: A
Explanation:
There are three questions for determining constitutional authority: (1) Were the people who enacted the constitution credible? (2) Did the constitution ensure power was intelligently organised so it was not easy for any group to subvert it? (3) Does the constitution give everyone some reason to go along with it? A formal referendum is not a criterion, and India's Constitution explicitly did not use one.
There are three questions for determining constitutional authority: (1) Were the people who enacted the constitution credible? (2) Did the constitution ensure power was intelligently organised so it was not easy for any group to subvert it? (3) Does the constitution give everyone some reason to go along with it? A formal referendum is not a criterion, and India's Constitution explicitly did not use one.
18. Ambedkar chaired which key body within the Constituent Assembly?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
The Constituent Assembly had eight major Committees and Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Patel, or B.R. Ambedkar chaired these Committees. Dr. Rajendra Prasad (President of the Constituent Assembly) praised Ambedkar specifically as Chairman of the Drafting Committee saying 'We could never make a decision which was or could be ever so right as when we put him on the Drafting Committee and made him its Chairman.
The Constituent Assembly had eight major Committees and Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Patel, or B.R. Ambedkar chaired these Committees. Dr. Rajendra Prasad (President of the Constituent Assembly) praised Ambedkar specifically as Chairman of the Drafting Committee saying 'We could never make a decision which was or could be ever so right as when we put him on the Drafting Committee and made him its Chairman.
19. The more a constitution preserves which two qualities the more likely it is to succeed?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
The more a constitution preserves the freedom and equality of all its members the more likely it is to succeed. This connects constitutional success to its ability to give all members of society a reason to go along with it, which requires that no group be systematically disadvantaged.
The more a constitution preserves the freedom and equality of all its members the more likely it is to succeed. This connects constitutional success to its ability to give all members of society a reason to go along with it, which requires that no group be systematically disadvantaged.
20. Which of the following CORRECTLY summarises Ambedkar's argument about the relationship between liberty equality and fraternity?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: D
Explanation:
'These principles of liberty equality and fraternity are not to be treated as separate items in a trinity. They form a union of trinity... Without equality liberty would produce the supremacy of the few over the many. Equality without liberty would kill individual initiative. Without fraternity liberty and equality could not become a natural course of things.' This is a foundational statement on Indian constitutional philosophy.
'These principles of liberty equality and fraternity are not to be treated as separate items in a trinity. They form a union of trinity... Without equality liberty would produce the supremacy of the few over the many. Equality without liberty would kill individual initiative. Without fraternity liberty and equality could not become a natural course of things.' This is a foundational statement on Indian constitutional philosophy.
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