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Q1Polity & Governance·Making of the ConstitutionPYQ 2023
Consider the following statements in respect of Constitution Day:
Statement I: Constitution Day is celebrated on 26 November every year to promote constitutional values among citizens.
Statement II: On 26 November 1949, the Constituent Assembly set up a Drafting Committee under the chairmanship of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar to prepare a Draft Constitution of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- ABoth Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II is the correct explanation for Statement I
- BBoth Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II is not the correct explanation for Statement I
- CStatement I is correct but Statement II is incorrectCorrect
- DStatement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct
Explanation
Correct. Statement I is correct — the Government of India declared 26 November as Constitution Day (Samvidhan Divas) in 2015 to mark the adoption of the Constitution. Statement II is incorrect because the Drafting Committee was set up on 29 August 1947, not on 26 November 1949. On 26 November 1949, the Constitution was adopted.
Q2Polity & Governance·Making of the ConstitutionPYQ 2017
The mind of the makers of the Constitution of India is reflected in which of the following?
- AThe PreambleCorrect
- BThe Fundamental Rights
- CThe Directive Principles of State Policy
- DThe Fundamental Duties
Explanation
Correct. The Preamble is considered the key to understanding the philosophy, objectives and normative commitments of the Constitution-makers. The Supreme Court in the Berubari Union case and Kesavananda Bharati case recognised it as reflecting the constitutional vision of the framers.
Q3Polity & Governance·Making of the ConstitutionPYQ 1997
The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949. In the Preamble the expression 'X' stands for:
- ATwenty sixth day of January, 1950
- BTwenty sixth day of November, 1949Correct
- CTwenty sixth day of January, 1949
- DNone of the above
Explanation
Correct. The Preamble states that the people of India adopted, enacted and gave to themselves the Constitution on 26 November 1949. This is the date of formal adoption by the Constituent Assembly, distinct from the commencement date of 26 January 1950.
Q4Polity & Governance·Making of the Constitution
Consider the following statements:
1. The Constitution was hand-written and calligraphed by Prem Behari Narain Raizada.
2. The original Constitution was written in both Hindi and English.
3. Each page of the Constitution was decorated by artists from Shantiniketan.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B1 and 2 only
- C1 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3Correct
Explanation
Correct. All three are correct. Prem Behari Narain Raizada calligraphed the English version in flowing italic script. The original Constitution was handwritten in both Hindi and English. Artists from Shantiniketan, including Nandalal Bose and his students, illustrated the pages with motifs from Indian history and culture.
Q5Polity & Governance·Making of the Constitution
Who among the following described the Objective Resolution as the 'horoscope of our sovereign democratic republic'?
- ADr. B.R. Ambedkar
- BK.M. MunshiCorrect
- CPandit Thakur Das Bhargava
- DDr. Rajendra Prasad
Explanation
Correct. K.M. Munshi, a prominent member of the Constituent Assembly and the Drafting Committee, described the Objective Resolution as the 'horoscope of our sovereign democratic republic' during the Assembly debates.
Q6Polity & Governance·Making of the Constitution
The idea of a Constituent Assembly for India was first put forward by:
- AMahatma Gandhi in 1922
- BM.N. Roy in 1934Correct
- CJawaharlal Nehru in 1938
- DThe Indian National Congress in 1936
Explanation
Correct. M.N. Roy, a pioneer of the communist movement in India, was the first to propose the idea of a Constituent Assembly for India in 1934. This idea was subsequently taken up by the Indian National Congress.
Q7Polity & Governance·Making of the Constitution
Which of the following features of the Indian Constitution was borrowed from the South African Constitution?
- AEmergency Provisions
- BProcedure for amendment of the ConstitutionCorrect
- CConcurrent List
- DDirective Principles of State Policy
Explanation
Correct. The procedure for amendment of the Constitution was borrowed from the South African Constitution. Additionally, the election of members of the Rajya Sabha was also influenced by the South African model.
Q8Polity & Governance·Making of the Constitution
Who among the following was the temporary President of the Constituent Assembly when it held its first meeting on 9 December 1946?
- ADr. Rajendra Prasad
- BDr. B.R. Ambedkar
- CSachchidananda SinhaCorrect
- DH.C. Mookherjee
Explanation
Correct. Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha, the oldest member of the Assembly, was elected as the temporary President following the French practice. He presided over the first session on 9 December 1946.
Q9Polity & Governance·Making of the Constitution
The scheme of the Indian federation including the division of powers between the Centre and the States was influenced by the Constitution of:
- AUnited States of America
- BCanadaCorrect
- CAustralia
- DSouth Africa
Explanation
Correct. The Canadian Constitution influenced India's federal scheme — a federation with a strong Centre, residuary powers with the Union government, and the appointment of State Governors by the Centre. The term 'Union of States' rather than 'Federation' was also influenced by the Canadian model.
Q10Polity & Governance·Making of the Constitution
Which of the following was NOT one of the objectives stated in the Objective Resolution?
1. India shall be a Sovereign Democratic Republic.
2. All power and authority of the Sovereign Independent India derives from the people.
3. Fundamental Duties shall be placed on every citizen.
4. Adequate safeguards shall be provided for minorities and backward areas.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A3 onlyCorrect
- B1 and 3 only
- C2 and 4 only
- D3 and 4 only
Explanation
Correct. Statement 3 was NOT part of the Objective Resolution. Fundamental Duties were not envisaged in the Objective Resolution and were added to the Constitution only in 1976 by the 42nd Amendment based on the Swaran Singh Committee recommendation. Statements 1, 2 and 4 were all objectives stated in the Resolution.
Q11Polity & Governance·Making of the Constitution
The 'procedure established by law' doctrine in Article 21 of the Indian Constitution was influenced by the Constitution of:
- AUnited States of America
- BUnited Kingdom
- CJapanCorrect
- DIreland
Explanation
Correct. The phrase 'procedure established by law' in Article 21 was borrowed from the Japanese Constitution (1946). Unlike the US 'due process of law', this originally meant that the judiciary could only check whether the procedure prescribed by the law had been followed, not whether the law itself was just or fair.
Q12Polity & Governance·Making of the Constitution
The concept of 'Fundamental Duties' in the Indian Constitution was borrowed from the Constitution of:
- AJapan
- BUSSR (Soviet Union)Correct
- CUnited Kingdom
- DFrance
Explanation
Correct. The concept of Fundamental Duties was inspired by the Constitution of the USSR (Soviet Union). These duties were added to the Indian Constitution by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, based on the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee.