Chapter 2: Constitutional Design - NCERT Solutions
Exercises
Q1. 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.
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.
a. Leaders of the freedom movement had an open mind about whether the country should be democratic or not after independence.
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.
Answer -
a. Leaders of the freedom movement were committed to making India a democratic country after independence.
b. Members of the Constituent Assembly had different views on many provisions of the Constitution.
c. Having a constitution does not necessarily mean a country is democratic; some countries have constitutions but are not democracies.
d. The Constitution can be amended to meet changing needs of the country.
a. Leaders of the freedom movement were committed to making India a democratic country after independence.
b. Members of the Constituent Assembly had different views on many provisions of the Constitution.
c. Having a constitution does not necessarily mean a country is democratic; some countries have constitutions but are not democracies.
d. The Constitution can be amended to meet changing needs of the country.
Q2. Which of these was the most salient underlying conflict in the making of a democratic constitution in South Africa?
a. Between South Africa and its neighbours
b. Between men and women
c. Between the white majority and the black minority
d. Between the coloured minority and the black majority
a. Between South Africa and its neighbours
b. Between men and women
c. Between the white majority and the black minority
d. Between the coloured minority and the black majority
Answer -
d. Between the coloured minority and the black majority
d. Between the coloured minority and the black majority
Q3. 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
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
Answer -
b. Name of the head of the state
b. Name of the head of the state
Q4. Match the following leaders with their roles in the making of the Constitution:
| Leader | Role |
|---|---|
| a. Motilal Nehru | i. President of the Constituent Assembly |
| b. B.R. Ambedkar | ii. Member of the Constituent Assembly |
| c. Rajendra Prasad | iii. Chairman of the Drafting Committee |
| d. Sarojini Naidu | iv. Prepared a Constitution for India in 1928 |
Answer -
| Leader | Role |
|---|---|
| a. Motilal Nehru | iv. Prepared a Constitution for India in 1928 |
| b. B.R. Ambedkar | iii. Chairman of the Drafting Committee |
| c. Rajendra Prasad | i. President of the Constituent Assembly |
| d. Sarojini Naidu | ii. Member of the Constituent Assembly |
Q5. Read again the extracts from Nehru’s speech ‘Tryst with Destiny’ and answer the following:
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?
c. “The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye”. Who was he referring to?
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?
c. “The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye”. Who was he referring to?
Answer -
a. Nehru used “not wholly or in full measure” because India’s independence was just the beginning and true freedom would take more time to achieve fully.
b. He wanted the makers of the Constitution to pledge to build a just and equal society.
c. He was referring to Mahatma Gandhi.
a. Nehru used “not wholly or in full measure” because India’s independence was just the beginning and true freedom would take more time to achieve fully.
b. He wanted the makers of the Constitution to pledge to build a just and equal society.
c. He was referring to Mahatma Gandhi.
Q6. Here are some of the guiding values of the Constitution and their meaning. Rewrite them by matching them correctly.
| Guiding Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
| a. Sovereign | i. Government will not favour any religion |
| 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 |
Answer -
| Guiding Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
| a. Sovereign | ii. People have the supreme right to make decisions |
| b. Republic | iii. Head of the state is an elected person |
| c. Fraternity | iv. People should live like brothers and sisters |
| d. Secular | i. Government will not favour any religion |
Q7. How did your school celebrate the Constitution Day on November 26th? Prepare a brief report.
Answer - On Constitution Day, my school organized activities like quiz competitions, essay writing, and speeches to spread awareness about the Constitution. We also remembered the makers of the Constitution and learned about its importance in our democracy.
Q8. Here are different opinions about what made India a democracy. How much importance would you give to each of these factors?
a. Democracy in India is a gift of the British rulers. We received training to work with representative legislative institutions under the British rule.
b. Freedom Struggle challenged the colonial exploitation and denial of different freedoms to Indians. Free India could not be anything but democratic.
c. We were lucky to have leaders who had democratic convictions. The denial of democracy in several other newly independent countries shows the important role of these leaders.
a. Democracy in India is a gift of the British rulers. We received training to work with representative legislative institutions under the British rule.
b. Freedom Struggle challenged the colonial exploitation and denial of different freedoms to Indians. Free India could not be anything but democratic.
c. We were lucky to have leaders who had democratic convictions. The denial of democracy in several other newly independent countries shows the important role of these leaders.
Answer -
a. The British rule introduced parliamentary institutions which helped Indians learn democratic practices.
b. The Freedom Struggle inspired the people to demand rights and freedoms, making democracy essential.
c. The leadership with strong democratic values ensured India adopted democracy successfully.
a. The British rule introduced parliamentary institutions which helped Indians learn democratic practices.
b. The Freedom Struggle inspired the people to demand rights and freedoms, making democracy essential.
c. The leadership with strong democratic values ensured India adopted democracy successfully.
Q9. Read the following extract from a conduct book for ‘married women’, published in 1912. ‘God has 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 male protection – of father, husband and son– all their lives. Women should, therefore, not despair, but feel obliged that they can dedicate themselves to the service of men’. Do you think the values expressed in this para reflected the values underlying our constitution? Or does this go against the constitutional values?
Answer -
The values in this extract go against the constitutional values. Our Constitution supports equality and freedom for all, including women. It guarantees women’s rights and does not accept discrimination based on gender.
The values in this extract go against the constitutional values. Our Constitution supports equality and freedom for all, including women. It guarantees women’s rights and does not accept discrimination based on gender.
Q10. 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.
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.
a. The authority of the rules of the constitution is the same as that of any other law.
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.
Answer -
a. This is not true because the constitution is the supreme law of the land and has higher authority than ordinary laws.
b. This is true because the constitution provides the structure and powers of the government.
c. This is true because the constitution protects citizens’ rights and limits government power.
d. This is not true because the constitution also contains the values and principles on which the country is based.
a. This is not true because the constitution is the supreme law of the land and has higher authority than ordinary laws.
b. This is true because the constitution provides the structure and powers of the government.
c. This is true because the constitution protects citizens’ rights and limits government power.
d. This is not true because the constitution also contains the values and principles on which the country is based.