The Indian Constitution Summary
Why Does a Country Need a
Constitution?
The Constitution serves
several purposes. First,
It lays out certain ideals which form the basis of kind of country we aspire to live in.
It lays out certain ideals which form the basis of kind of country we aspire to live in.
It helps serve basic set of rules to govern the nation.
It defines the nature of political system. It provides
guidelines how government should be elected and its machinery should work.
It ensures that a dominant group does not use its power against
other, less powerful people or groups
A Constitution guarantees certain
fundamental rights to all its citizens.
The members of the Constituent Assembly had
a huge task before them. Justify statement with appropriate reasons.
The country was made up of
several different communities who spoke different languages, belonged to
different religions, and had distinct cultures.
The partition of the country
into India and Pakistan
was imminent, some of the Princely States remained undecided about their
future,
The socio-economic condition of the vast mass
of people appeared pity.
The Indian Constitution: Key
Features
1. Federalism:
This refers to the existence
of more than one level of government in the country. In India, we have governments
at the state level and at the centre. Panchayati Raj is the third tier of government
The Constitution contains
lists that detail the issues that each tier of government can make laws on.
2. Parliamentary
Form of Government
Constitution of India
guarantees universal adult suffrage for all citizens.
This means that the people of
India
have a direct role in electing their representatives.
Every citizen of the country,
irrespective of his/her social background, can also contest in elections.
These representatives are
accountable to the people.
3. Separation of
Powers
: There are three organs of
the State. These are the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. The
legislature refers to our elected representatives. The executive is a smaller
group of people who are responsible for implementing laws and running the
government. The judiciary, of which prevent
the misuse of power by any one branch of the State
4. Fundamental
Rights
: The Constitution, thus,
guarantees the rights of individuals against the State as well as against other
individuals.
5.Secularism:
A secular state is one in
which the state does not officially promote any one religion as the state religion.
Exercise and additional questions
Exercise and additional questions
Q1. Why does a democratic country
need a Constitution?
Answer: The
constitution serves several purposes such as:
It lays out certain ideals which form the basis of kind of country
we aspire to live in.
It helps serve basic set of rules to govern the nation.
It defines the nature of political system. It provides
guidelines how government should be elected and its machinery should work.
It ensures that a dominant group does not use its power against
other, less powerful people or groups
Q2. What would happen if there were
no restrictions on the power of elected representatives?
If there are no restrictions on the power of the elected
representatives the leaders might misuse the powers given to them. The Indian
Constitution provides safeguards against this misuse of power by our political
leaders. The Constitution lays down rules that guard the citizens against
misuse of power.
Q3. Discuss the difference between State
and Government.
State refers to a political institution that represents a sovereign people
who occupy a definite territory.
‘Government’ is responsible
for administering and enforcing laws. The government can change with elections.
The government (or the executive) is one part of the State.
Q4. When constituent assembly
drafted constitution for India?
Between December 1946 and November 1949, the Constituent
Assembly drafted a constitution for independent India.
Q5. Who is known as Father of the
Indian Constitution?
Answer: Dr Baba saheb Ambedkar
Q6. Which Fundamental Rights will the following
situations violate?
If a 13-year old child is working in
a factory manufacturing carpets.
If a politician in one state decides
to not allow labourers from other states to work in his state.
If a group of people are not given
permission to open a Telugu-medium school in Kerala.
If the government decides not to promote
an officer of the armed forces because she is a woman.
Answer: (a) Right against exploitation. The Constitution prohibits
trafficking, forced labour, and children working under 14 years of age.
Right to Equality: All persons are equal before the law. The
State cannot discriminate against anyone in matters of employment.
Cultural and Educational Rights: The Constitution states
that all minorities, religious or linguistic, can set up their own educational
institutions in order to preserve and develop their own culture.
Right to equality: No citizen can be discriminated against
on the basis of their religion, caste or gender.
Q7. What do you mean by parliamentary form of
government laid down by the Indian constitution?
Answer: The Constitution of India provides a Parliamentary
form of government. It is also called cabinet government. In this system the executive
is collectively responsible to the legislature. The executive are directly elected
by people of India
as our constitution guarantees universal adult suffrage to all the citizens.
Q8. What are Fundamental Rights? List these
rights.
Answer: Fundamental rights are the natural rights which are
protected and guaranteed by the constitution. The six fundamental rights laid
out by the Indian constitution are:
Right to equality
Right Freedom
Right against exploitation
Right to freedom of Religion
Cultural and Educational rights
VI Right to Constitutional remedies
Q9. "The people of Nepal drafted a
new constitution after the success of people’s movement for democracy’’. What
Constitutive Rule they would like to follow?
Answer: The new constitution will lay down ideals that
define the kind of the country that we want to live in. Nepal's earlier
constitution was in favour of monarchy and did not lay fundamental rules of democracy.
Q10. What were the challenges faced
by the Constituent Assembly while drafting theIndia constitution? Answer:
a) The country was made up of several different communities who
spoke different languages, belonged to different religions, and had distinct
cultures.
b)Due to partition of India, there was considerable
turmoil. There was law and order problem and future of Princely States was
undecided.
c)The socio-economic condition of the vast mass of people
appeared pity.
Q11. What is a constitution?
Answer: A constitution is document consisting of basic rules
or principles according to which the people of a country are governed.
Q12. What purposes are served by
Indian Constitution?
Answer: The constitution serves several purposes such as:
It lays out certain ideals which form the basis of kind of country
we aspire to live in.
It helps serve basic set of rules to govern the nation.
It defines the nature of political system. It provides
guidelines how government should be elected and its machinery should work.
It ensures that a dominant group does not use its power against
other, less powerful people or groups.
Q13. Name the national goals laid
out by our constitution.
Answer: Democracy, Secularism and Socialism.
Q14. What are the salient features
of Indian Constitution?
Answer:
Largest Written Constitution
Fundamental Rights and Duties
Directive Principles of State Policy
Integrated Judicial System
Single citizenship
Universal Adult Franchise
Federal System and Parliamentary Form of Government
Q15. The constitution also mentions
fundamental duties. Find out with the help of your teacher what these include?
To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and
institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem;
To cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;
To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;
To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
To protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures;
To develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
To safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement.
To cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;
To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;
To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
To protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures;
To develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
To safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement.
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