CBSE Class 12 History HOTs Framing The Constitution

CASE-BASED MCQs

Observe the picture carefully and answer any three of the questions that follow.

Question. Who are the two persons shown in the picture?
(A) Rajendra Prasad and Jawaharlal Nehru
(B) Rajendra Prasad and B. R. Ambedkar
(C) Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
(D) Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi
Answer : B

Question. When was the Indian Constitution promulgated?
(A) August 15, 1947
(B) November 26, 1949
(C) December 31, 1949
(D) January 26, 1950
Answer : D

Question. What is the event
(A) Formation of the Constituent Assembly
(B) Independence of India
(C) Handing over of the Constitution
(D) Promulgation of the Indian Constitution
Answer : C

Question. Which was the original language in which the Constitution was formulated?
(A) Hindi
(B) English
(C) Punjabi
(D) Urdu
Answer : B

Very Short Answers type Questions

Question. Which were the two main dissents of the Indian Constitution?
Answer : i) It is being written primarily in English.
ii) Requirement of no educational qualification for any of the post enshrined in it.

Question. When and under whose Presidentship the first session of all India States People’s Conference washeld?
Answer : The first session of all India States People’s Conference was held in 1927 under the presidentship of Diwan Bahadur, M. Ramchan Rai the renowned leader of Ellore.

Question. When was the Drafting Committee formed? Who was its chairman?
Answer : The Drafting Committee was formed on 29 August 1947. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was its chairman.

Question. Why was the new constitution of Independent India introduced on 26 January 1950 ?
Answer : Because it was the 20th anniversary of the historical day on which the Congress had declared Complete Independence as its final goal in the Lahore Session in Dec 1929.

Question. When and under which scheme the Constituent Assembly was formed ?
Answer : The Constituent Assembly was formed in October 1946 as per the Cabinet Mission Scheme.

Question. Who moved the Objective Resolution?
Answer : The Crucial Resolution was moved by Jawaharlal Nehru.

Short Answers type Questions

Question. Name any six leaders who played a very important role in the Constituent Assembly ?
Answer : Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru.
Dr.Rajendra Prasad
Sardar patel
Dr.B.R.Ambedkar
K.M.Munshi
Alladi Krishnaswami Aiyar.

Question. Why did Mahatma Gandhi think Hindustani should be the National language?
Answer : By the 1950s, the Congress had accepted that Hindustani ought to be the national language. Mahatma Gandhi felt that every one should speak in a language that common people could easily understand.
Hindustani - a blend of Hindi and Urdu - was a popular language of a large section of the people of India, and it was a composite language enriched by the interaction of diverse cultures. Over the years it had incorporated words and terms from very many different languages, and was therefore understood by people from various regions. This multi - cultural language, Mahatma Gandhi thought would be the ideal language of communication between diverse communities, it could unify Hindus and Muslims, and people of the north and south.

Question. How was the term minority defined by different groups?
Answer : The term minority was defined by different groups in the following ways:
i. Ambedkar demanded separate group for the minority races.
ii. Hindus and Sikhs, live in so-called Pakistan were not considered as minority race.
iii. Members demanded the representation on behalf of the minority in the Constitution.
iv. Nagappa demanded minority status for the HarijAnswer :
v. Ambedkar demanded separate Constitution for the minorities.

Question. What was the ‘language controversy, before the Constitution Assembly and how did it seek to resolve the controversy?
Answer : Language Controversy:
Hindustani (Hindi+Urdu) started getting separate due to communal parties.
Language became politicized for communal identity. R.V. Dhulekar supported Hindi to be made language of the Constitution. It created a furor (debate) in the Constituent Assembly which was mediated by Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru.
Solutions: Proceeded slow to make Hindi as the National Language. Some supported official work to be continued for 15 years in English. After implementation of the Constitution and Provinces to choose regional language for daily work. Constituent Assembly:
i. Hindi – to become National Language gradually.
ii. But not Rajbhasha

Question. What were the arguments in favour of great power to the provinces?
Answer : In the Constituent Assembly, the rights of the states were mostly defended by K.Santhanam, a member from madras .He emphasized the need to strengthened the states. K.Santhanam was opposed to the centre being vested with more powers. He felt that an over –burdened centre would not be able to fulfill its responsibilities in an effective manner. The centre would become strong if all the states are made stronger. He advocated that centre should be given less powers and stage should be given more powers. K.Santhanam was not happy with the proposed allocation of powers between the centre and the states. He fell that such a distribution of power would cripple the states.

Long Answers type Questions

Question. How was the Centre Government made more powerful and strong by the Constituent Assembly?
Answer : Most of the members of the Constituent Assembly were in favour of strong central government of India. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru wanted a strong central as he felt , writing a letter to the President of the Constituent Assembly , that, “it would be injurious to the interests of the country to provide for a weak authority.” He was, in fact, convinced that only a strong central government could ensure peaces and stability. The Union List contained more subjects that the state list. Regarding the concurrent list , the centre and the state shared the responsibility . But in case of any disputes centre’s decision is recommended. The centre enjoyed control over many important and key industries

Question. Why is the Indian constitution acceptable to the Indian people even today?
Answer : a) The Indian Constitution is acceptable to all because it was based on a broad consensus and did not reflect the views of the drafting committee alone.
b) Even though there was no universal adult Franchise at that time. The constituent assembly consisted of people of all regions and communities making it a miniature India.
c) Eminent people like Maulana Azad and women like Sarojini Naidu played an important part in the constituent assembly as did people of all casts and creeds.
d) Furthermore, the constituent assembly worked in a systematic and open manner.
e) The basic principles were agreed upon, then a draft constitution was prepared for discussion.
f) The draft constitution was discussed thoroughly clause by clause for nearly 3 years before being finalized.
g) Every individual is free to follow. Preach, or profess his/her own religion.

Question. What are the different arguments being put forward in favour of separate electorates?
“We will need much more than this Resolution”
Answer : 1. Aguements of N.G. Ranga
While welcoming the Objectives Resolution, N.G. Ranga, a socialist who had been a leader of the peasant movement, urged that the term minorities be interpreted in economic terms.
The real minorities for Ranga were the poor and the downtrodden.
He welcomed the legal rights the Constitution was granting to each individual but pointed to its limits.
It was essential to create conditions where these constitutionally enshrined rights could be effectively enjoyed.
For this they needed protection.
They need a ladder.
“They need props. They need a ladder,” said Ranga. Ranga also drew attention to the gulf that separated the broad masses of Indians and those claiming to speak on their behalf in the Constituent Assembly:
Whom are we supposed to represent
Whom are we supposed to represent? The ordinary masses of our country. And yet most of us do not belong to the masses themselves.
We are of them, we wish to stand for them, but the masses themselves are not able to come up to the Constituent Assembly. It may take some time; in the meanwhile, we are here as their trustees, as their champions, and we are trying our best to speak for them.
“The real minorities are the masses of this country”
Welcoming the Objectives Resolution introduced by Jawaharlal Nehru, N.G. Ranga said:
Sir, there is a lot of talk about minorities. Who are the real minorities? Not the Hindus in the so-called Pakistan provinces, not the Sikhs, not even the Muslims.
No, the real minorities are the masses of this country.
These people are so depressed and oppressed and suppressed till now that they are not able to take advantage of the ordinary civil rights.
What is the position? You go to the tribal areas. According to law, their own traditional law, their tribal law, their lands cannot be alienated. Yet our merchants and the money-lenders go there, and in the so-called free market they are able to snatch their lands.
There is no elementary education even among these people. These are the real minorities that need protection and assurances of protection. In order to give them the necessary protection, we will need much more than this Resolution ...

2. Aguements of Jaipal Singh, representative of the tribals
In welcoming the Objectives Resolution, Singh said: ... as an Adibasi, I am not expected to understand the legal intricacies of the Resolution.
But my common sense tells me that every one of us should march in that road to freedom and fight together.
The tribals shabbily treated
Sir, if there is any group of Indian people that has been shabbily treated it is my people.
They have been disgracefully treated, neglected for the last 6,000 years. …
The whole history of my people is one of continuous exploitation and dispossession by the non-aboriginals of India punctuated by rebellions and disorder, and yet I take Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru at his word.
Equality of opportunity for every one
Singh spoke eloquently on the need to protect the tribes, and ensure conditions that could help them come up to the level of the general population.
Tribes dispossessed of the land
Tribes were not a numerical minority, he argued, but they needed protection.
They had been dispossessed of the land they had settled, deprived of their forests and pastures, and forced to move in search of new homes.
Perceiving them as primitive and backward, the rest of society had turned away from them, spurned them.
Reservation of seats for tribals
He made a moving plea for breaking the emotional and physical distance that separated the tribals from the rest of society: “Our point is that you have got to mix with us. We are willing to mix with you … ”. Singh was not asking for separate electorates, but he felt that reservation of seats in the legislature was essential to allow tribals to represent themselves. It would be a way, he said, of compelling others to hear the voice of tribals, and come near them.

3. Aguements of Ambedkar: “We were suppressed for thousands of years” -
Ambedkar demanded separate electorates for the Depressed Castes
How were the rights of the Depressed Castes to be defined by the Constitution?
During the national movement Ambedkar had demanded separate electorates for the Depressed Castes, and Mahatma Gandhi had opposed it, arguing that this would permanently segregate them from the rest of society.
How could the Constituent Assembly resolve this opposition? What kinds of protection were the Depressed Castes to be provided? Some members of the Depressed Castes emphasised that the problem of the “Untouchables” could not be resolved through protection and safeguards alone.

4. Aguements of J. Nagappa from Madras.
The social norms caused the disabilities of the Depressed Castes
Their disabilities were caused by the social norms and the moral values of caste society. Society had used their services and labour but kept them at a social distance, refusing to mix with them or dine with them or allow them entry into temples.
“We have been suffering, but we are prepared to suffer no more,” said J. Nagappa from Madras.
“We have realised our responsibilities.
Systematic marginalization
We know how to assert ourselves.” Nagappa pointed out that numerically the Depressed
Castes were not a minority: they formed between 20 and 25 per cent of the total population. Their suffering was due to their systematic marginalisation, not their numerical insignificance.
Suppressed for thousands of years
They had no access to education, no share in the administration.

5. Aguements of K.J. Khanderkar
Addressing the assembly, K.J. Khanderkar of the Central Provinces said:
We were suppressed for thousands of years. ... suppressed... to such an extent that neither our minds nor our bodies and now even our hearts work, nor are we able to march forward.
This is the position.
After the Partition violence, Ambedkar too no longer argued for separate electorates.
The Constituent Assembly finally recommended that untouchability be abolished, Hindu temples be thrown open to all castes, and seats in legislatures and jobs in government offices be reserved for the lowest castes.
Many recognised that this could not solve all problems: social discrimination could not be erased only through constitutional legislattion, there had to be a change in the attitudes within society. But the measures were welcomed by the democratic public.

6. Aguements of Hansa Mehta demanding for social justice
Hansa Mehta of Bombay demanded justice for women, not reserved seats, or separate electorates.
We have never asked for privileges. What we have asked for is social justice,economic justice, and political justice.
We have asked for that equality which alone can be the basis of mutual respect and understanding, without which real cooperation is not possible between man and woman.

Question. What was was the Objectives Resolution?What were the ideals expressed in the Objectives Resolution?
Answer : It was Jawaharlal Nehru who presented Objectives Resolution in the Constituent Assembly on 13th December, 1946. He proposed that the National Flag of India be a ‘horizontal tricolour of saffron , white and dark green in equal proportion’, with a wheel in navy blue at the centre. It outlined and defined the ideals and objectives of the Constituitiion which are as follows:
1. India was declared as independent sovereign Republic.
2. It assured justice , equality, liberty and fraternity to all its citizens.
3. It provided adequate safeguards to minorities.
4. It referred to the well being of the backward and depressed classes.
5. India would combine the liberal ideas of democracy with socialist idea of economic Justice.
6. India would adopt that form of government which would be acceptable to its people. No imposition from the British would be accepted by the Indian people.
7. India would be a federation.
8. India would work for world peace and human welfare.

SOURCE BASED QUESTIONS

Read the given passage carefully and answer the Questions that follow -
“Govind Ballabh Pant argued that in order to become a loyal citizen. People had focusing only on the community and the self. For the success of Democracy one must train himself in the art of self-discipline. In democracies one should care less for himself and more for others. There can not be any divided loyalty. All loyalties must exclusively be centred round the State. If in a democracy, you create rival loyalties, or you create a system in which any individual or group, instead of suppressing his extravagance, cares nought for larger or other interests, then democracy is doomed.’’

Question. What do you understand by ‘Separate Electorate’?
Answer : Under provisions of the government of India Act, 1909. Separate electorates were made for the Muslims. Only Muslims could be elected from these constituencies. According to the British Administrators it was done in order to safe guard the interests of the Muslims minority.

Question. Why was G. B. Pant against this demand? Give two reason.
Answer : Govind Ballabh Pant felt that -
i) If, by the system of the Separate Electorate, the minorities are isolated for ever, they can never be able to convert themselves into a majority.
ii) The minorities, if they are returned by Separate Electorates, can never have any effective voice in the governance

Question. Why was the demand for Separate Electorate made during the drafting of the
Constitution?
Answer : Some members of the Constituent Assembly felt that a meaningful participation of the minorities in the governance could be ascertained only by the system of separate electorates. They made a strong plea to continue this system.

Question. Give three attributes of a loyal citizen in a democracy according to G. B. Pant.
Answer : i) He must train himself in the art of self discipline.
ii) He should care less for himself and more for others.