SUBJECT: SOCIAL SCIENCE (DEMOCRATIC POLITICS)

CHAPTER 2: CONSTITUTIONAL DESIGN

CLASS: IX

NOTE FOR THE STUDENTS:

Dear Students,

You are provided here selected questions with solution for

you to prepare the chapter. For your convenience page no. from your textbook has been also provided
against each question. Remaining questions from the chapter shall be provided to you as home
assignment for which you will be expected to write the answer yourself. Also considering the present
trend of board examination, in which you will get variety of objective type questions. Therefore, as a
sample few questions are provided here with solution for your reference.

VISHAL SRIVASTAVA

(ACADEMIC COORDINATOR)

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Q1. When, where and for what Nelson Mandela sentenced for life imprisonment?
Ans. Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment for treason in1964 along with
other seven leaders in the most dreadful prison; Robben island of South Africa.

Q2. Who spent 28 years in prison for opposing apartheid?

Ans. Nelson Mandela.

Q3. What is Apartheid? In which country it prevailed?

Ans. Racial discrimination imposed by the white Europeans on South Africa.

Q4. How was ‘apartheid’ practiced in South Africa?

Ans.
The system of ‘apartheid’ divided the people labeled on the basis of their colour.
All non whites were treated as inferiors and were deprived of their right to vote.
The blacks could not visit the churches where the whites worshipped.
They were forbidden from living in white areas.
Vehicles, hospitals, schools and colleges, cinema hallsetc., were all separate.

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Q5. Name the autobiography written by Nelson Mandela.

Ans.Long Walk to freedom.

Q6. Define the term segregation.

Ans. System of separate areas for people on the basis of race or colour.

Q7. Explain the role of Nelson Mandela in promoting democracy in the world.
Ans.
Nelson Mandela was one of the most efficient and far sighted leader of the African
Congress.
It was under his leadership that the struggle against apartheid reached its climax.
Due to the participation, he spent 28 years in prison.
In 1950 due to the activities of African National Congress and support from other
countries,
he fought against segregation.
In 1994 the first democratic election were held and Nelson Mandela was elected as the
president of South Africa.

Q8. What happened in Africa at the midnight of April 26, 1994?

Ans.A new national flag of the republic of South Africa was unfurled and a multi-racial
government came into existence.

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Q9. Mention one major feature of the South African Constitution.

Ans. The South African Constitution Emerged as model of democracy. It inspires
democrats all over the world.

Q10. What were the problems faced in making of the constitution for South Africa?
Ans.
The oppressor and the oppressed were planning to live together in the new democratic
South Africa.
There was no trust between the blacks and the whites. They had their fears. They wanted
to safe guard their interests.
The black majority was keen to ensure that the democratic principles of the majority rule
was not compromised.
They wanted substantial social and economic rights.

Q11. What compromises did the black and white make?

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 Ans.
Compromises made by blacks
They agreed that majority rule would not be absolute.
They agreed that the majority would not take away the property of the white minority.
Compromises made by the whites.
They agreed to the principle of majority rule and that of one person one vote.
They also agreed to accept some basic rights for the poor and the worker.

Q12. What is constitution?

Ans. The constitution of a country is a set of written rules that are accepted by all the
people of a country.

Q13. What does constitution do?

Ans. A constitution does many things like –
It generates the degree of trust among the people.
It specifies how the government will be constituted, who will have power to take which
decision.
It lays down limits on the power of government.
It tells us about the rights of the citizens.
It expresses the aspirations of the people.

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Q14. “The constitution of India was drawn up under very difficult circumstances”.
Explain.
Ans.
The making of the constitution was a tough task for a huge and diverse country like India.
People of India were emerging from the status of subjects to that of citizens.
The country was born through a partition on the basis of religious differences.
British left the rulers of the states to decide whether they wanted to merge with India or
Pakistan or remain independent.

Q15. Despite many difficulties, there was a big advantage for the makers of Indian
constitution which was absent in South Africa. What was it?

Ans. Unlike South Africa, the makers of Indian Constitution did not have to create a
consensus about what a democratic India should look like. Much of this consensus
have evolved during freedom struggle.

Q16. When and who first of all drafted the constitution of India?
Ans.
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 In 1928, Motilal Nehru and eight other congress leaders drafted a constitution of India.
In 1931, the resolution at Karachi session of INC dwelt on how independent India’s
constitution should look like.
Both these documents were committed to inclusion of universal adult franchise, right to
freedom and equality and toprotecting the rights of minorities in the constitution of
independent India.
Some basic values were accepted by all leaders

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Q17. What inspired the Indian leaders in the making of constitution?

Ans.
The ideas of the French Revolution.
The practice of parliamentary democracy in Britain
The Bills of right in the US.

Q18. How had the socialist revolution in Russia inspired the makers of the Indian
constitution?
Ans.The socialist revolution in Russia had inspired them to think of shaping a political
system based on social and economic equality.

Q19. What was called the constituent assembly?

Ans. The drafting of the Indian Constitution was done by an assembly of elected representatives
called the constituent assembly.

Q20. When the elections to the constituent assembly were held?

Ans. July 1946

Q21. How many members were there in the constituent assembly?

Ans. The constitution assembly had 299 members.

Q22. When did the constitution of India came into effect?

Ans. The assembly adopted the constitution on November 26, 1949 but it came into effect on
January 26, 1950.

Q23. Who was the chairman of drafting committee?

Ans. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

Q24. What do you mean by ‘Constituent Assembly Debates’?

Ans. Every document presented and every word spoken in the constituent assembly has
been recorded and preserved. These are called ‘Constituent Assembly Debates’.
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Q25. What is an unusual achievement for the Indian Constitution?

Ans. Over the last half a century, no large social groups or political party has ever
questioned the legitimacy of the constitution itself. This is an unusual achievement
for our constitution.

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Q26. Who wrote the young India magazine?

Ans. Mahatma Gandhi wrote Young India Magazine in 1931.

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Q27. What is preamble in our constitution? Also write about the constitution of
India.
Ans.
The constitution begins with short statement of its basic values. This is called the
preamble to the constitution. It contains the philosophy of the constitution.
It provides standard to examine and evaluate any law and action of the government. It is
the soul of the Indian Constitution.

Significance of the Constitution:

It explains the purposes and objectives with the document have been written. It also
provides the guidelines of the constitution.
It explains the structure of the government and the ideals to be achieved in independent
India.
The preamble is considered to be the key of the constitution.

Q28. What are the guiding values of the constitution of India?

Ans. The guiding values of constitution of India are as follows:

We, the people of India b.Sovereign

c.Socialist d.Secular
e.Democratic f.Republic
g.Justice h.Liberty
i.Equality j.Fraternity

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Q29. What do you mean by constitutional amendments? Why are they essential?
Ans. A change in the constitution made by the supreme legislative body in a country is
called constitutional amendments.
Constitutional amendments are essential because:
It needs to be amended regularly to keep it updated.
Constitution makers felt that it has to be in accordance with people’s aspiration and
change in society.
They did not see it as a sacred, static and unalterable law.

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OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Correct the statement and rewrite:

‘African Socialist Congress launched protest marches and strikes against the policies of
segregation.’
Ans: ‘African National Congress launched protest marches and strikes against the policies
of segregation.’
2. Correct the statement and rewrite:
‘The minority group in South Africa are called ‘blacks’ in South Africa.’
Ans: ‘The native people of South Africa are called ‘blacks’ in South Africa.’
3. State whether true or false:
‘For corruption charges was Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment.’
Ans: False
4. South Africa become a democratic country on _________________________.

Ans: 26 April, 1994

5. The 1931 session of Indian National Congress held at _______________________.

Ans: Karachi

6. Correct the statement and rewrite:

‘French Revolution in the world inspired the Indians to set up a socialist economy.’
Ans: ‘Russian Revolution in the world inspired the Indians to set up a socialist economy.’

7. ________________________________ framed the Constitution of India.

Ans: Constituent Assembly

8. Correct the statement and rewrite:
‘Dr. Rajendra Prasad chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly.’
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 Ans: ‘Dr. B.R. Ambedkar chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent
Assembly.’
9. State whether true or false:
An introductory statement in a constitution which states the reasons and guiding values
of the constitution is termed as preamble.
Ans: True

10. The ‘Equality’ which our Preamble provide are ___________________________.

Ans: Status and opportunity

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS:

1. Who amongst the following was not a member of the Constituent Assembly of
India?
a) Dr Rajendra Prasad
b) Dr B. R. Ambedkar
c) H. C. Mukherjee
d) Mahatma Gandhi

2. Who was the chairman of the Drafting Committee for making the Constitution of
India?
a) Rajendra Prasad
b) Baldev Singh
c) H. C. Mukherjee
d) Dr B. R. Ambedkar

3. Who was the President of the Indian Constituent Assembly?

a) Motilal Nehru
b) Dr Rajendra Prasad
c) Sarojini Naidu
d) B. R. Ambedkar

4. Which of the following days is celebrated to mark the enforcement of the Indian
Constitution?
a) Republic Day
b) Independence Day
c) Gandhi Jayanti
d) Constitution Enforcement Day

5. When did the Indian Constitution come into force?

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a) 26th November, 1949
b) 15th August, 1947
c) 26th January, 1950
d) 26th January, 1930

6. Who prepared the Constitution for India in 1928?

a) Motilal Nehru
b) B. R. Ambedkar
c) Dr Rajendra Prasad
d) Jawaharlal Nehru

7. How many members did the Constituent Assembly of India have?

a) 199
b) 299
c) 399
d) 279

8. When did the Constituent Assembly adopt the Constitution of India?

a) 26th November, 1949
b) 15th August, 1947
c) 26th January, 1950
d) 26th January, 1930

9. The first captain of the National Hockey Team who was also the member of the
Constituent Assembly was?
a) Baldev Singh
b) Somnath Lahiri
c) Jaipal Singh
d) K. M. Munshi

10. Mahatma Gandhi’s vision about the Indian Constitution was published in which
magazine?
a) Discovery of India
b) Young India
c) New India
d) Indian Gazette

11. The Preamble to the Constitution of India declares India to be a

(а) Sovereign, Democratic Republic
(b) Sovereign, Socialist, Democratic, Republic
(c) Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic
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(d) None of the above

12. Match the following leaders with their roles in the making of the Constitution of
India:
1. (a) Motilal Nehru - (P) President of the Constituent Assembly
2. (b) B.R. Ambedkar - (Q) Member of the Constituent Assembly
3. (c) Rajendra Prasad - (R) Chairman of the Drafting Committee
4. (d) Sarojini Naidu - (S) Prepared a Constitution for India in 1928

13. The Constitution of India is

(a) flexible
(b) rigid
(c) partly flexible and partly rigid
(d) none of these

14. India is a secular state because

(а) there is no state religion
(b) every citizen has the right to adopt and practice any religion
(c) no discrimination can be made among citizens on the basis of religion
d) all of the above

15. Which among the following is not a feature of the Indian Constitution?
(a) Parliamentary form of government
(b) Federal form of government
(c) Double citizenship
(d) A written constitution

16. 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 neighbors.
(b) Between men and women.
(c) Between the white minority and the black majority.
(d) Between the colored minority and the black majority.

17. 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.

CHECK YOUR ANSWER

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1) : d) Mahatma Gandhi
2) : d) Dr B. R. Ambedkar
3) : b) Dr Rajendra Prasad
4) : a) Republic Day
5) : c) 26th January, 1950
6) : a) Motilal Nehru
7) : b) 299
8) : a) 26th November, 1949
9) : c) Jaipal Singh
10) : b) Young India
11) : (c) Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic
12) : (1) a-S, (2) b-R, (3) c-P, (4) d-Q.
13 : (c) partly flexible and partly rigid
14 : d) all of the above
15. : (c) Double citizenship
16. :(c) Between the white minority and the black majority.
17. :(b) Name of the head of the state.

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