adopted, enacted and gave to themselves the constitution of

Constituent Assembly and making India .*Some provision of the constitution came into force on 26
of the Constitution November 1949 itself but it completely came into force on 26
January 1950. *The number of women in constituent assembly
*The first formal demand for the Constituent Assembly was 15. *They were 1- Vijayalakashmi Pandit, 2- Rajkumari
was made by the Swaraj Party at a conference in Ranchi held Amrit Kaur, 3- Sarojini Naidu, 4- Sucheta Kripalani, 5- Purnima
on May, 1934. *The idea of a Constituent Assembly was put Bannerjee, 6- Leela Roy, 7- G . Durgabai, 8- Hansa Mehta,
forward for the first time by M.N. Roy in the year 1934. *The 9- Kamala Chaudhri, 10- Renuka Ray, 11- Malati Chaudhri,
Indian National Congress officially demanded a Constituent 12- Dakshyani Velayudhan, 13- Begum Aizaz Rasul, 14- Annie
Assembly to frame the Constitution of India for the first time Mascarene and 15- Ammu Swaminadhan.
in the year 1934. *In 1938 Jawahar Lal Nehru, on behalf *The Interim government of India was formed on 2
of INC declared that the constitution of free India must be September, 1946 however it did not include any member from
framed, without outside interference, by a constituent Assembly the Muslim League. *Finally on 26 October 1946, 5 Members
elected on the basis of adult Franchise. The Demand was finally of the Muslim League were also included in the Cabinet.
accepted in principle in August offer of 1940. *The Constituent
Assembly was constituted under the scheme formulated Interim Cabinet- 1946
by the Cabinet Mission Plan. *Number of representatives Members Portfolios Held
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from provinces was based on their population i.e. One Jawaharlal Nehru Vice President of the
representative per 10 Lakh people. Of these, 296 were to be council External Affairs &
allotted to British India and 93 Seats to the Princely States. Out Common Wealth Relations
of 296 seats allotted to the British India, 292 members were to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Home, Information &
be drawn from the eleven governor's provinces and four from Broadcasting
the four Chief Commissioners provinces, one from each. *The Dr. Rajendra Prasad Food & Agriculture
representatives of Princely states were to be nominated by the Dr. John Mathai Industries & Supplies
heads of the Princely states. *The elections to the constituent Jagjivan Ram Labour
assembly for 296 seats were held in July-August 1946. The Sardar Baldev Singh Defence
Indian National Congress won 208 seats, the Muslim League C.H. Bhabha Works, Mines & Power
Liaquat Ali Khan Finance
won 73 seats and the small groups and independents got the
Abdur Rab Nishtar Posts & Air
remaining 15 seats. *In the beginning Princely states did not
Asaf Ali Railways & Transport
participate in Constituent Assembly, but with the third session
C. Rajagopalachari Education & Arts
of the Constituent Assembly commencing on 28 April, 1947 I.I. Chundrigar Commerce
the representative of the Princely States of India began to join Ghazanfar Ali Khan Health
it gradually. *Constituent Assembly was a result of Indirect Jogendra Nath Mandal Law
election. *This election was not based on the Adult franchise.
*According to Government of India act 1935, voting Important Committees of the Constituent Assembly
rights were limited based on the tax, education and property. Notes- *The Constituent Assembly appointed various
*The Viceroy invited the elected representatives for the first Committees to deal with the different tasks of Constitution
meeting of Constituent assembly on 9 December 1946. *207 making. *The details of the important Committees and their
members participated in the first meeting. The meeting was chairman is as follows-
presided over by Dr. Sachchidanand Sinha as the temporary Committee Chairman
President. Later, on 11 December 1946 Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Union Constitution Committee Jawaharlal Nehru
was unanimously elected as the President of the Constituent
Committee on Rules of Procedure Dr. Rajendra Prasad
assembly. It took 2 years, 11 months and 18 days (according to
Steering Committee Dr. Rajendra Prasad
the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha website, 2 years, 11 months and Drafting Committee Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar
17 days, It seems that it has not included the day of adoption of Advisory Committee for Sardar Vallabhbhai
the Constitution by the Constituent Assembly) to complete the Fundamental Rights, Minority Patel
task of Constitution making. *Total 11 Sessions (165days) were and tribes, excluded Region
held. *On 26 November 1949 i.e. the last day of 11th session, (i) Fundamental Rights J.B Kripalani
the Constitution was adopted. Except these 11 sessions the Sub – Committee
constituent assembly finally met on 24 January 1950 for the (ii) Minorities Sub – Committee H.C. Mukherjee
signature of members on the constitution. *Benegal Narsing Union Powers Committee Jawaharlal Nehru
Rau (B.N. Rau) was appointed as the constitutional advisor Provincial Constitution Committee Sardar Vallabhbhai
to the assembly. *On 26 November 1949, the people of India Patel.

D–27 General Studies Indian Polity and Governance

 *Drafting Committee was comprised of 7 members including 2. The concept of "A Union of States in the Indian
the chairman Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar other 6 members are Constitution" has been derived from:
as follows :
(a) The American Declaration of Independence
*Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar, N. Gopalaswamy, K.M Munshi,
Mohammad Saadullah, B.L. Mitter and D.P Khaitan. *Later (b) The Australian Constitution
on B.L. Mitter was replaced by N.Madhav Rau and T.T. (c) The British North-American Act
Krishnamachari was included in the Committee on the demise
(d) The Swiss Constitution
of D.P. Khaitan.
*The Constituent Assembly appointed the Ad hoc Committee U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017
on the National Flag on 23 June 1947. *Its Members were Dr. Ans. (c)
Rajendra Prasad (Chairman), Abul Kalam Azad, Sarojini Naidu,
C. Rajagopalachari, K.M. Munshi and Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar. The concept of "A union of States" in the Indian constitu-
tion has been derived from the British North American Act,
Sources of the Constitution 1867. According to Article 1(1) of the Indian constitution,
*A major portion of Indian Constitution is borrowed from "India that is Bharat, shall be a Union of states". According
Government of India Act 1935 (Blue Print of Indian to 'Constituent Assembly Debates' vol. VII, "The Drafting
Constitution). *Rule of law, Parliamentary form of government, Committee considers that following the language of the
Cabinet System, Single Citizenship, Bicameral Legislature, Law
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British North America Act, 1867, it would not be appropriate

making procedures, Parliamentary Privileges and prerogative to describe India a Union although its constitution may be
writs are provisions borrowed from the Constitution of federal in structure.
Britain. *Preamble, Judicial review, Independence of Judiciary,
Fundamental rights, post of Vice-President, procedure of 3. In Indian political system which one is supreme?
impeachment of President and removal of Supreme Court and (a) The Supreme Court
High Court judges provisions taken from the Constitution of (b) The Constitution
USA. *DPSP (Directive Principle of State Policy), method of
election of President, nomination of members to the council (c) The Parliament
of State (Rajya Sabha) are provisions inspired from the (d) Religion
Constitution of Ireland. *Federation with a strong centre,
U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013
Advisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, residuary powers
to be vested in the centre and appointment of Governors by the 45th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2001
centre are provisions borrowed from Constitution of Canada. Ans. (b)
*Joint sitting of both houses of the Parliament, language of
Preamble, Freedom of trade, commerce and inter-course and The Constitution is supreme in Indian political system. The
idea of concurrent list are borrowed from Constitution of Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. It lays down
Australia. *Provision related to Emergency (except Financial the framework defining fundamental political principles,
emergency) imported from Constitution of Germany. establishes the structure, procedures, powers and duties of
Procedure Established by law from Japan and procedure of Government institutions and sets out fundamental rights,
Constitutional’ Amendment and election of members of Rajya directive principles and the duties of the citizens.
Sabha are borrowed from South Africa. *Fundamental Duties 4. The concept of ‘Judicial Review’ in India has been
and the ideals of Justice (social, economic and political) in
adopted from the Constitution of –
the preamble are imported form USSR. Republican system,
principle of liberty, equality and fraternity in the preamble are (a) U.K (b) U.S.A.
borrowed from the Constitution of France. (c) U.S.S.R. (d) Australia
1. The idea of the Preamble has been borrowed in Indian U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1998
Constitution from the Constitution of –
Ans. (b)
(a) Italy (b) Canada
(c) France (d) U.S.A. The concept of ‘Judicial Review’ in Indian Constitution
U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2015 has been adopted from the Constitution of the United
Ans. (d) States. Judicial review is the power of the courts to examine
the actions of the legislative, executive and administrative arms
The idea of the Preamble was borrowed from the Constitution of the Government and to determine whether such actions are
of United States. Whereas the language of Preamble was consistent with the Constitution. Actions judged inconsistent
borrowed from the constitution of Australia. are declared unconstitutional and therefore null and void.

D–28 General Studies Indian Polity and Governance

 5. Given below are two statements: (a) Both a real and a nominal executive
Assertion (A) : The scope of Judicial review is limited (b) A system of collective responsibility
in India. (c) Bicameral legislature
(d) The system of judicial review
Reason (R) : Indian constitution has some borrowed
I.A.S. (Pre) 1998
items.
Ans. (d)
Select the right answer from the code given below:
Code : The Constitution of India adopted the process of ‘Judicial
Review’ from the U.S. Constitution which is not applicable
(a) Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the right in the British Parliamentary System while rest of the options
explanation of (A). are applicable to both the Parliamentary systems.
(b) Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is not the right
9. The system of judicial review exists in
explanation of (A).
(a) India only (b) U.S.A only
(c) (A) is correct, but (R) is wrong.
(c) India and U.S.A. (d) U.K. only
(d) (A) is wrong, but (R) is correct.
U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2012
U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017
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U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2008

Ans. (b) Ans. (c)
The scope of Judicial review is limited in India. As decided The system of Judicial Review exists in both India and U.S.A.
in the Kesavananda Bharathi case (1973), the basic structure
doctrine forms, the basis of power of the Indian Judiciary 10. Which of the following characteristics is common
to review and strike down amendments to the Constitution between the Federal system of India and America?
of India. (a) A Single Citizenship
Thus, assertion (A) is correct. On the other hand Indian
(b) Three lists in the Constitution
Constitution has borrowed some of its provisions from the
Constitutions of different countries. (c) Dual Judicial System
Therefore, reason (R) is also correct. However reason (R) (d) A Federal Supreme Court for Interpretation of the
does not explain the assertion (A) correctly. Constitution

6. The feature of Federal system of the Indian Constitution I.A.S. (Pre) 1993
is inspired by the constitution of: Ans. (d)
(a) Canada (b) United Kingdom The characteristic of “Federal Court for Interpretation of
(c) U.S.A. (d) Ireland Constitution” is common in both Indian and American
U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006 federal systems.
While in the United States there is one Judicial system at the
Ans. (a)
Union level and other at the State level. There is absence of
The Constitution of India is federal in nature. The concept three list in the constitution of USA.
of Federal System in our Constitution is inspired from the The Indian Constitution provides single citizenship, where
Constitution of Canada. as, U.S. Constitution provides dual citizenship. Thus option
(d) is the correct answer.
7. The Indian Federalism is based on the pattern of which
country? 11. Which of the following statements is true?
(a) U.S.A. (b) Canada (a) The Federal form of Government is in United States
(c) Australia (d) Germany of America.
U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2017 (b) The government of India is federal and unitary both.
Ans. (b) (c) The government of France is of federal form.
(d) The Prime Minister of Pakistan is appointed by the
See the explanation of above question.
people.
8. The Indian Parliamentary System is different from the 38th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1992
British Parliamentary System in that India has: Ans. (a)

D–29 General Studies Indian Polity and Governance