NCERT 9th Class (CBSE) Social Science: Constitutional Design

Question: Here are some false statements. Identify the mistake in each case and rewrite these correctly based on what you have read in this chapter.
1. Leaders of the freedom movement had an open mind about whether the country should be democratic or not after independence.
2. Members of the Constituent Assembly of India held the same views on all provisions of the Constitution.
3. A country that has a constitution must be a democracy.
4. Constitution cannot be amended because it is the supreme law of a country.

Answer:

1. Leaders of the freedom movement had an open mind about the country being democratic after independence.
2. Members of the Constituent Assembly of India had different ideas on all provisions of the Constitution. They arrived at a solution only after long discussions and debates and a consensus was reached.
3. It is not necessary that a country having a constitution must be a democracy. The constitution of a country can even make provisions for dictatorship or monarchy. Examples: Soviet Union and Pakistan.
4. A Constitution can be amended to keep up with the changes in aspirations of the society. It can also be changed keeping in mind the social, political and economic conditions of the country.

Question: Which of these was the most salient underlying conflict in the making of a democratic constitution in South Africa?
1. Between South Africa and its neighbours
2. Between men and women
3. Between the white majority and the black minority
4. Between the coloured minority and the black majority

Answer: 3. Between the white majority and the black minority

Question: Which of these is a provision that a democratic constitution does not have?
1. Powers of the head of the state
2. Name of the head of the state
3. Powers of the legislature
4. Name of the country

Answer: 2. Name of the head of the state

Question: Match the following leaders with their roles in the making of the Constitution:

Answer:

Question: Read again the extracts from Nehru’s speech ‘Tryst with Destiny’ and answer the following:
1. Why did Nehru use the expression “not wholly or in full measure” in the first sentence?
2. What pledge did he want the makers of the Indian Constitution to take?
3. “The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye”. Who was he referring to?

Answer:

1. The expression “not wholly or in full measure” in the first sentence was used by Nehru because he thought that the task they had undertaken was incomplete and it wasn’t possible to fulfill the pledges all at once but would be gradually fulfilled.
2. The pledge that he wanted the makers of the Indian Constitution to take was to dedicate their lives to the service of India, Indians and humanity at large.
3. He was referring to Mahatma Gandhi.

Question: Here are some of the guiding values of the Constitution and their meaning. Rewrite them by matching them correctly.

(a) Sovereign = (i) Government will not favor 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:

(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 favor any religion.