The Indian Constitution

This civics chapter explains why a country needs a constitution and what the key features of the Indian Constitution are. A constitution lays down the ideals that form the basis of the country, defines the nature of its political system, places limits on the power of those who govern, and protects minorities from the tyranny of the majority. You will learn how the Constituent Assembly of about 300 members, formed in 1946, drafted India's Constitution, with Dr B.R. Ambedkar as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee. It was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950, celebrated as Republic Day. You will study the key features of the Constitution: federalism with three levels of government, the parliamentary form of government with universal adult franchise, separation of powers among the legislature, executive and judiciary, Fundamental Rights, and secularism. You will learn the six Fundamental Rights, including the Right to Constitutional Remedies, which Ambedkar called the heart and soul of the Constitution, along with the Directive Principles of State Policy and Fundamental Duties.

Detailed Worksheet: The Indian Constitution Section A - Definitions (10 marks) 1. What is a constitution? Give two reasons why a democratic country needs one. (2 marks) 2. What was the Constituent Assembly? Who was the Chairman of its Drafting Committee? (2 marks) 3. What is federalism? Name the three levels of government in India. (2 marks) 4. What is meant by separation of powers? Name the three organs of the State. (2 marks) 5. What is universal adult franchise? What is the minimum voting age in India? (2 marks) Section B - Calculations and Applications (15 marks) 6. The Constituent Assembly first met on 9 December 1946 and adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949. Find the time taken in years, months and days. On which date did the Constitution come into force, and how many days later was this? (3 marks) 7. Identify the Fundamental Right involved in each case: (i) a child of 10 is made to work in a factory (ii) a person is denied entry to a public park because of his caste (iii) a group is stopped from following its religion peacefully (iv) a citizen is not allowed to move to another state to work (v) a minority community wants to run its own school (vi) a person approaches the Supreme Court when his rights are violated. (3 marks) 8. A school mock parliament has 60 members. A party needs more than half the seats to form the government. What is the minimum number of seats needed? If Party P wins 24 and Party Q wins 20, can either form the government alone? What must they do? (3 marks) 9. Classify each subject as belonging mainly to the Union, the State or both: defence, police, education, foreign affairs, agriculture, forests. Which level of government handles your village or town's water supply? (3 marks) 10. A village has 1,200 people, of whom 30% are below 18 years of age. How many are eligible to vote under universal adult franchise? If 80% of them vote, how many votes are cast? (3 marks) Section C - Diagrams (10 marks) 11. Draw a chart showing the separation of powers among the legislature, executive and judiciary at the Union level, with the main function of each. (4 marks) 12. Draw a flowchart showing the three tiers of government in India (Union, State and local) with one example of the work of each. (3 marks) 13. Draw a chart listing the six Fundamental Rights with one example of each. (3 marks) Section D - Analysis and Higher-order Thinking (15 marks) 14. Explain how the Constitution protects minorities from the tyranny of the majority. Why is this important in a diverse country like India? (5 marks) 15. Why did the makers of the Constitution adopt a parliamentary form of government with universal adult franchise when many people were poor and not literate? Explain the significance of this decision. (5 marks) 16. Explain what secularism means in the Indian Constitution. How do the Fundamental Rights help to make India a secular state? (5 marks) Instructions: Time allowed 2 hours. Attempt all sections. Give examples from daily life to explain each feature of the Constitution.