CLASS : VIII

Chapter1 : - INDIAN CONSTITUTION

 THE MAKING OF CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY

✓ The Constituent Assembly that wrote the Indian Constitution had 299
members. The Assembly adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949 but it
came into effect on 26 January 1950.
✓ The process took 2 years, 11 months and 18 days.
✓ The final document had 22 parts, 395 articles and 8 schedules.
✓ To mark this day we celebrate January 26 as Republic Day every year.
✓ Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, also known as ‘The Father of Indian
Constitution’ was the Chairman of the drafting committee.
✓ He is widely considered to be its chief architect of Indian Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Constitution.
✓ Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as President of
the Constituent Assembly of India, which prepared
the Constitution of India.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad

 Why Does a Country Need a Constitution?

1. A Constitution is a set of rules and principles that

all the citizens in a country can agree as the basic
way and in which they want the country to be ruled.
2. It is required for better future of the country.
3.The Constitution of the country gives a way to the
citizens to live freely as they are being provided their
fundamental rights.

4.The Constitution also restricts the unlimited power of the ruling government so that
the government may not misuse its authority.
5. It protects the minority from the exploitation of majority.

When Nepal was a monarchy, it reflected the final authority of the

king. After transition of Nepal into a democracy, it started the process
of writing a new Constitution for the country.
 PREAMBLE

• The preamble of a Constitution is

the introductory part of the
Constitution.
• It indicates the source from which
the document derives its authority.
• It describes the hopes and
aspirations of the people.
• It embodies the fundamental values
and philosophy on which the
Constitution is based, the aims and
objectives which the founding
fathers of the Constitution wanted to
achieve.
 Key features of Indian Constitution
1) Federalism: It refers to the existence of more than one
level of government in the country. These are at the central,
state and local government. Citizens are governed by laws &
policies made by each of these levels of government.
2) Parliamentary Form of Government: The Constitution of
India guarantees Universal Adult Franchise for all citizens.
This means every citizen of the country irrespective of
his/her social background have a direct role in electing their
representatives.
Representatives are thus accountable to the people in a
parliamentary form of government.
3) Separation of Powers: There are three organs of the
State: (a) the Legislature (b) the Executive and (c) the
Judiciary.
a)The legislature refers to our elected representative;
those who makes laws.
b) The executive is a smaller group of people who are
responsible for implementing laws and running the
government.
c) The judiciary refers to the system of courts in the
country; which settle disputes and makes sure that
laws are obeyed.
Each organ acts as a check on the other organs of the
State and this ensures the balance of power between
all three.
 4) FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS

The Indian Constitution guarantees six Fundamental

Rights of individuals:
(i) Right to Equality
(ii) Right to Freedom
iii) Right against Exploitation
(iv) Right to Freedom of Religion
(v) Cultural and Educational Rights
(vi) Right to Constitutional Remedies.
5) DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY

✓In addition to Fundamental Rights, the

Constitution has a section called directive
principles.
✓These are guidelines for the government.
✓ These guidelines ensure greater social and
economic reforms and help to reduce the
poverty of the masses.
5) SECULARISM
FEATURES OF SECULARISM:
✓ No official religion of the State.
✓ Equal respect and recognition for all religions by the State.
✓ No discrimination by the State on the basis of religion.
✓ Non-interference in the functioning of any religion by the State.
✓ An individual has the right to practice, propagate and profess any
religion.
6) SOCIALISM
✓ Socialism is defined as a system in which government manages
country’s major business and is committed for the fair and equal
distribution of resources among all the people.

The word “State” here refers to a political

institution not the state government.
 INDIAN CONSTITUTION - A LIVING DOCUMENT
✓Constitution is called a living document because it keeps
changing with the needs and requirements of the
situation .
✓It is flexible and can be moulded with the changing time.
✓It is not a constant and static document rather it can be
changed by the process of amendment.
✓ The Constitution accepts the required changes which a
progressive society needs.

➢ Constitutional Amendment refers to change made to an

existing Constitution
➢ The word Socialist and Secularism were added to the Preamble
of the Indian Constitution by the 42nd amendment act of 1976.
 EXERCISE-QUESTION AND ANSWERS
Very short answer type questions
1. Who is referred to as ‘the father of Indian Constitution’?
Ans.Dr. B.R Ambedkar
2. Define Constitution.
Ans. Constitution is the basic fundamental law of the state which sets
out how that state will be organized and the powers and authorities of
government between different political units and citizens.
3. Name three words which were added to the preamble of the
constitution by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976.
Ans. Socialist, Secular and Integrity.
4. What does the term ‘state’ refers to in context of Indian
Constitution?
Ans. It refers to the political institutions including the legislature and
executive at the union and state levels as well as the local bodies.
 EXERCISE- QUESTION AND ANSWERS
Short answer type questions
1. Define Preamble and explain its features.
Ans. A) The preamble of a constitution is the introduction to the
constitution.
B) It embodies the fundamental values and philosophy on which the
constitution is based,the aims and objectives which the founding
fathers of constitution wanted to achieve.
2. Explain the following terms:
a) Secularism b) socialism
Ans. Refer to slide 9
3. Differentiate between fundamental rights and directive principles of
state policy.
Ans. On the next slide.
 EXERCISE- QUESTION AND ANSWERS
Ans. Fundamental Rights:
1. They are negative as they prohibit the state from
doing certain things.
2. They are justiciable in nature.
3. Their aim is to establish political democracy.
Directive Principle of State Policy:
1. They are positive as they require the state to do
certain things.
2. They are non-justiciable in nature.
3. Their aim is to establish social and economic
democracy.
 EXERCISE-QUESTION AND ANSWERS
Long answer type questions:
1. ‘The Indian Constitution is referred to as a living
document’. Justify the statement.
Ans. Refer to slide 10.
2. Describe briefly the key features of Indian
Constitution.
Ans Refer to slide 5 and 6.
3. Name all the fundamental rights provided by the
constitution of India.
Ans. Refer to slide 7.