Class 8 Civics Chapter 1 The Indian Constitution

 

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Civics Chapter 1 The Indian Constitution

 

The Indian Constitution – Given in this post is NCERT Solutions Class 8 Civics Chapter 1 The Indian Constitution Important Question Answers. The important questions we have compiled will help the students to brush up on their knowledge about the subject. Students can practice Class 8 Civics Chapter 1 important questions to understand the subject better and improve their performance in the exam. The NCERT Solutions Class 8 Social Science (Civics) provided here will also give students an idea about how to write the answers.

 

Source Based Questions 

 

Read the extract and answer the questions that follow-

 

A. Today most countries in the world have a Constitution. While all democratic countries are likely to have a Constitution, it is not necessary that all countries that have a Constitution are democratic. The Constitution serves several purposes. First, it lays out certain ideals that form the basis of the kind of country that we as citizens aspire to live in. Or, put another way, a Constitution tells us what the fundamental nature of our society is. A country is usually made up of different communities of people who share certain beliefs but may not necessarily agree on all issues. 

1 What is a Constitution?

Ans. A Constitution helps serve as a set of rules and principles that all persons in a country can agree upon as the basis of the way in which they want the country to be governed.

2 Explain the purpose a Constitution serves as mentioned in the paragraph.

Ans. The Constitution serves several purposes. First, it lays out certain ideals that form the basis of the kind of country that we as citizens aspire to live in. In other words, the Constitution tells us what the fundamental nature of our society is. A country is usually made up of different communities of people who share certain beliefs but may not necessarily agree on all issues. The constitution thus, helps us in making sure that all these communities are heard and represented.  

3 Which country had a major uprising due to its Constitution not abiding by the citizens’ ideals?

Ans. Nepal had a major uprising due to its Constitution not abiding by the citizens’ ideals. 

4 A Constitution tells us what the ____________of our society is. 

Ans. A Constitution tells us what the fundamental nature of our society is.

5 Explain the situation in Nepal. 

Ans. The previous Constitution of Nepal, which had been adopted in 1990, reflected the fact that the final authority rested with the King. A people’s movement in Nepal fought for several decades to establish democracy and in 2006 they finally succeeded in putting an end to the powers of the King. The reason that they did not want to continue with the previous Constitution is because it did not reflect the ideals of the country that they wanted Nepal to be, and that they had fought for.

B. These members of the Constituent Assembly had a huge task before them. The country was made up of several different communities who spoke different languages, belonged to different religions, and had distinct cultures. Also, when the Constitution was being written, India was going through considerable turmoil. The partition of the country into India and Pakistan was imminent, some of the Princely States remained undecided about their future, and the socio-economic condition of the vast mass of people appeared dismal. All of these issues played on the minds of the members of the Constituent Assembly as they drafted the Constitution.

1 How many members constituted the Constituent Assembly?

Ans. Around 300 members constituted the Constituent Assembly.

2 Why was the Constituent Assembly made? 

Ans. The long experience of authoritarian rule under the colonial state convinced Indians that free India should be a democracy. What remained to be done then was to work out the ways in which a democratic government would be set up in India. This was done not by one person but by a group of around 300 people who became members of the Constituent Assembly. Moreover, As the country had several communities, each had to be represented in the constituent assembly.

3 What were some issues that the country was facing during the drafting of the Constitution ?

Ans. When the Constitution was being written, India was going through considerable turmoil. The partition of the country into India and Pakistan was imminent, some of the Princely States remained undecided about their future, and the socio-economic condition of the vast mass of people appeared dismal. All of the above were some issues that the country was facing during the drafting of the Constitution.

4 Describe any two issues that the Constituent Assembly faced? 

Ans. Firstly, the country was made up of several different communities who spoke different languages, belonged to different religions, and had distinct cultures. Secondly, the socio-economic condition of the vast mass of people appeared dismal. 

5 What does the final document of the constitution reflect?

Ans. The final document also reflects their concern for eradicating poverty through socio-economic reforms as well as emphasizing the crucial role the people can play in choosing their representatives. 

C. Constitution of India guarantees universal adult suffrage for all citizens. When they were making the Constitution, the members of the Constituent Assembly felt that the freedom struggle had prepared the masses for universal adult suffrage and that this would help encourage a democratic mindset and break the clutches of traditional caste, class and gender hierarchies. This means that the people of India have a direct role in electing their representatives. Also, every citizen of the country, irrespective of his/her social background, can also contest in elections.

1 What do you mean by Universal Adult Suffrage?

Ans. Universal Adult Suffrage means Right to vote given to any citizen, irrespective of their caste, gender or religion. 

2 Do citizens in India have a role in electing their representatives?

Ans. The 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.

3 Which document guarantees Universal Adult suffarage in India?

Ans. The Constitution of India guarantees universal adult suffrage for all citizens. 

4 Why did the Constituent Assembly propose Universal Adult Suffrage?

Ans. When they were drafting the Constitution, the members of the Constituent Assembly felt that the freedom struggle had prepared the masses for universal adult suffrage and that this would help encourage a democratic mindset and break the clutches of traditional caste, class and gender hierarchies.

5 Who all can contest in elections?

Ans. Every citizen of the country, irrespective of his/her social background, can contest in elections.

D. The section on Fundamental Rights has often been referred to as the ‘conscience’ of the Indian Constitution. Colonial rule had created a certain suspicion of the State in the minds of the nationalists and they wanted to ensure that a set of written rights would guard against the misuse of State power in independent India. Fundamental Rights, therefore, protect citizens against the arbitrary and absolute exercise of power by the State. The Constitution, thus, guarantees the rights of individuals against the State as well as against other individuals.

1 What is referred to as the ‘conscience’ of the Indian Constitution?

Ans. The section on Fundamental Rights has often been referred to as the ‘conscience’ of the Indian Constitution.

2 What are Fundamental Rights?

Ans.The basic human rights enshrined in the Constitution of India which are guaranteed to all citizens are called Fundamental Rights. 

3 What do Fundamental Rights protect us against? 

Ans. Fundamental Rights protect citizens against the arbitrary and absolute exercise of power by the State.

4 How did colonial rule aid in the process of forming Fundamental rights?

Ans. Colonial rule had created a certain suspicion of the State in the minds of the nationalists and they wanted to ensure that a set of written rights would guard against the misuse of State power in independent India, thus helping in the process of forming the Fundamental rights. 

5 Why is the object of Fundamental rights two-fold? 

Ans. The object of Fundamental rights is two-fold.The first objective is that every citizen must be in a position to claim those rights. And secondly, these rights must be binding upon every authority that has got the power to make laws.

 

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) (1 Mark)

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) are a type of objective assessment in which a person is asked to choose one or more correct answers from a list of available options. An MCQ presents a question along with several possible answers.

 

Q1 In which year the Fundamental duties were included in the Constitution?

A) 1972
B) 1976
C) 1985
D) 1970
Ans. B) 1976

Q2. What is the significance of the Preamble in the Indian Constitution?

A) States the objectives of the president
B) States the objectives of the election
C) States the objectives of the Constitution
D) None of these
Ans. C) States the objectives of the Constitution

Q3 What defines the set of rules to govern a country?

A) Preamble
B) Sovereignty
C) Constitution
D) None of these
Ans. C) Constitution

Q4 What are the Fundamental Rights provided by the Constitution of India?

A) Right to equality
B) Right to freedom
C) Right against exploitation
D) All of the above
Ans. D) All of the above

Q5 Which of these mentions the introduction to our constitution?

A) Preamble
B) Sovereignty
C) Constitution
D) None of these
Ans. A) Preamble

Q6 In 1934, _____ demanded for a Constituent Assembly for the first time.

A) Indian National Congress
B) Swarajya Party
C) Forward Block
D) Communist Party
Ans. A) Indian National Congress

Q7 The Indian Constitution was drafted by _____.

A) Congress
B) Constituent Assembly
C) Judicial Assembly
D) Hindu Mahasabha
Ans. B) Constituent Assembly

Q8  In Nepal, the struggle for democracy started in _____.

A) 1990
B) 1991
C) 1992
D) 1994
Ans. A) 1990

Q9 The father of Indian Constitution is ____.

A) B R Ambedkar
B) Liaquat Ali Khan
C) Rajendra Prasad
D) S C Sinha
Ans. A) B R Ambedkar

Q10 To ensure greater economic and social reforms, the Constitution introduced 

A) Directive Principles of State Policy
B) Fundamental Rights
C) Judiciary Rights
D) Executive Rights
Ans. A) Directive Principles of State Policy

Q11 ______ is a group of people who make laws and run the government.

A) Congress
B) Judiciary
C) Government
D) Executive
Ans. D) Executive

Q12  Shri Jagjivan Ram was the first _____ minister of India. 

A) labor
B) health
C) Parliamentary Affairs
D) Home
Ans. A) labor

Q13 The existence of more than one level of government in any country is called ____ 

A) Democracy
B) Federalism
C) Universal Adult Franchise
D) Monarchy
Ans. B) Federalism

Q14 Human trafficking and forced labor are prohibited under ____. 

A) Culture and Educational Rights
B) Right against Exploitation
C) Right to freedom of Religion
D) Right to Property
Ans. B) Right against Exploitation

Q15 The Indian government is a _____ form of government. 

A) Monarchy
B) Military
C) Parliamentary
D) Dictatorship
Ans. C) Parliamentary

Q16  Right to Move Freely falls under ____. 

A) Right against Exploitation
B) Right to Property
C) Right to freedom
D) Culture and Educational Rights
Ans. C) Right to freedom

Q17 The system of courts in the country is collectively referred to as ______. 

A) Judiciary
B) Congress
C) Ministers
D) Executive
Ans. A) Judiciary

Q18 ____ was the first Finance minister of India. 

A) Atal Bihari Bajpai
B) John Mathai
C) Maulana Azad
D) Liaquat Ali
Ans. B) John Mathai

 

Q19 ____ were urged by B R Ambedkar to join government and civil services. 

A) Hindus
B) Pashtuns
C) Scheduled Castes
D) Muslims
Ans. C) Scheduled Castes

Q20 The first Health Minister of Independent India was _____. 

A) Aruna Asaf Ali
B) Indira Gandhi
C) Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
D) C Rajaji
Ans. C) Rajkumari Amrit Kaur

Q21 _____ was the first Prime Minister of independent India. 

A) Sardar Patel
B) Mahatma Gandhi
C) Jawaharlal Nehru
D) Maulana Azad
Ans. C) Jawaharlal Nehru

Q22 The Indian Constitution was finally completed in _____. 

A) November 1946
B) September 1949
C) November 1949
D) August 1950
Ans. C) November 1949

Q23 _____ was the President of the Constituent Assembly. 

A) Dr Rajendra Prasad
B) S Radhakrishnan
C) B R Ambedkar
D) C Rajaji
Ans. A) Dr Rajendra Prasad

Q24 The elected representatives in India are part of ____. 

A) Judiciary
B) Legislature
C) Executive
D) Cabinet
Ans. B) Legislature

Q25 ‘Everyone is equal before law.’ This right falls under _______. 

A) Right to Education
B) Right to Vote
C) Right to Equality
D) Right to Study
Ans. C) Right to Equality

Very Short Answer Questions (1 Mark)

Q1. What does our constitution contain? 

Ans. Our Constitution contains our national goals such as democracy, secularism. These goals are kept in mind while framing laws.

Q2. What do you understand about monarchy? 

Ans. Monarchy is a form of government in which final authority rests with the King. 

Q3. In Nepal, when did the Interim Constitution come into effect? 

Ans. In Nepal, the Interim Constitution came into effect from January 15, 2007. 

Q4. What is Right against Exploitation? 

Ans. Under this Right, the Constitution prohibits trafficking, forced labor and children working under 14 years of age.

Q5. What is Right to Equality? 

Ans. Right to Equality means that all persons are equal before the law.

Q6. Who is known as the Father of the Indian Constitution?

Ans. Baba Saheb Dr Ambedkar is known as the Father of the Indian Constitution.

Q7. What is a “State”?

Ans. The State refers to a political institution that represents a sovereign people who occupy a definite territory.

Q8.What do you mean by federalism?

Ans. The term federalism refers to the existence of more than one level of government in the country.

Q9. What is human trafficking?

Ans. Human trafficking is the practice of the illegal buying and selling of different commodities across national borders. In the context of fundamental rights, it refers to illegal trade in human beings, particularly women and children.

Q10. What do you mean by a secular state? 

Ans. A secular state does not officially promote any one religion as the state religion. 

Short Answer Questions (3 Marks)

Q1. What did Dr Ambedkar state about scheduled caste?

Ans. He claimed that, while the laws existed, Scheduled Castes had reason to be concerned because the administration of these laws was in the hands of “caste Hindu officers.” As a result, he urged Scheduled Castes to join the government and civil services. 

Q2. What do you mean by Directive Principles of State Policy?

Ans. The members of the Constituent Assembly created the Directive Principles of State Policy to ensure stronger social and economic changes and to serve as a roadmap for the new Indian State to establish laws and policies that help eliminate mass poverty.

Q3. Define the term constitution.

Ans. The laws of vast societies where multiple populations of people coexist are created through consensus, and this consensus is usually available in written form in modern countries. A Constitution is a written document that contains such regulations.

Q4. What would happen if there were no restrictions on the power of elected representatives?

Ans. If elected representatives’ powers were not limited, leaders might abuse the authority bestowed upon them. The abuse of authority can lead to grave injustice. Thus, in democratic nations, the Constitution frequently establishes laws to prevent our political leaders from abusing their authority.

Q5. Explain ‘Parliamentary form of government’? 

Ans. In a parliamentary system, the head of state and the head of government are usually distinct individuals. It is a system of democratic governance in which the executive branch receives democratic legitimacy from the legislative and is held accountable to it. As a result, the executive and legislative branches are inextricably linked.

Q6. What is meant by ‘separation of power’? Why do you think it is important?

Ans. According to the Constitution, the State has three organs: the legislative, the executive, and the judiciary. The Constitution states that each of these organs should exercise diverse powers in order to prevent abuse of power by any branch of the state. This is referred to as the separation of powers.

Q7. Describe Right to Equality in detail.

Ans. According to our Constitution, all people are equal before law. This means that the laws of the country will protect all people equally. The Constitution also provides that no citizen may face discrimination because of their religion, caste, or gender. Everyone has access to all public places such as hotels, playgrounds, and shops. In terms of employment, the state cannot discriminate against anyone.

Q8. What were the different adverse situations that the Constitution makers had to face while drafting the constitution?

Ans. 

  • The country was divided into many populations that spoke different languages, practiced different religions, and had separate cultures.
  • India was in a state of turmoil due to partition at the time the Constitution was established.
  • Some Princely States were still unsure about their destiny, and the socioeconomic situation of the vast majority of citizens was bleak.

Q9. What are the three organs of government?

Ans. The Constitution establishes three branches of government. These are the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

  • Our elected representatives are referred to as the legislature.
  • The executive is a smaller group of people in charge of enforcing laws and operating the government.
  • The judiciary refers to the court system in this country.

Q10. Discuss the difference between State and Government.

Ans. The ‘government’ is in charge of executing and implementing laws. Elections have the potential to change the government. In contrast, the State is a political institution that represents the sovereign people who occupy a specific region. For example, the Indian state, the Nepali state, and so on. The Indian State is governed democratically. The government (or executive) is a component of the state. The term “State” refers to more than just the government and should not be used interchangeably.

Long Answer Questions (5 Marks)

Q1. Why did Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar urge Scheduled Castes to join the government as well as the civil services? 

Ans.  Dr. Ambedkar played a significant role in the Constituent Assembly. He claimed that his presence in the Assembly aided the Scheduled Castes in gaining certain protections in the drafted Constitution. He further argued that, while the laws existed, scheduled castes had reason to be concerned because the administration of these rules was in the hands of higher caste Hindu officers. As a result, he urged scheduled castes to join the government and public services. It would allow them to participate in the legislative process. 

Q2. Who do you mean by federal form of government? Why is it important?

Ans. Our Constitution calls for a federal government. This signifies that our country’s governance has been divided between the central government and the state governments. The third tier of government is known as Panchayati Raj.

India is a very large country. People from several communities dwell here. As a result, a governance system that did not entail solely people sitting in the capital city of New Delhi making choices for everyone had to be established. Instead, another level of governance was required in the states so that choices could be made for that specific area. It will be easier to make positive efforts for the countries and states’ growth in this manner.

Q3. What were the challenges before the members of the Constituent Assembly?

Ans. The Constituent Assembly faced the following challenges:

  1. The country was made up of several different communities that spoke different languages, practiced different religions, and had distinct cultures; and 
  2. The country was in considerable turmoil at the time the Constitution was being written. As the country was poised to be partitioned, some of the Princely States remained certain about their destiny.
  3. The vast majority of persons appeared to be in poor socioeconomic position. 
  4. Another key issue was poverty.

Q4. Describe all the Fundamental Rights mentioned in the Constitution.

Ans. The Indian Constitution grants several fundamental rights to all citizens. These are known as Fundamental Rights. There are six fundamental rights in total:

  1. Right to Equality. Before the law, everyone is equal. It indicates that the laws of the country will protect all people equally. It also declares that no citizen may face discrimination based on their religion, caste, or gender. Everyone has access to all public places, such as restaurants and parks. The government cannot discriminate against anyone in the workplace.
  2. Cultural and Educational Rights. Our Constitution provides that all religious and linguistic minorities have the right to establish their own educational institutions in order to maintain and develop their culture.
  3. The right to liberty. Everyone has the right to free expression and expression, to move freely and live in any area of the country, and to practice any profession, occupation, or business.
  4. Right against Exploitation. The Indian Constitution forbids trafficking, child labour, and children under the age of 14.
  5. Right to Freedom of Religion. Everyone has the right to religious liberty. It means that everyone has the right to exercise, profess, and spread their preferred religion.
  6. Right to Constitutional Remedies. If a person believes that his or her Fundamental Rights are being violated, he or she has the right to seek justice in court.

Q5. Describe the key features of the Indian Constitution.

Ans. The following are the important features of the Indian Constitution: 

  • Federalism: Our Constitution calls for a federal government. This means that we have a government at both the state and federal levels. The third tier of government is known as Panchayati Raj. 
  • Parliamentary form of Government: The different tiers of government consists of representatives who mean that the people of India have a direct say in who their representatives are. At the same time, every citizen of the country, regardless of social status, can run in elections. These representatives must answer to the people elected by the people. The Indian Constitution gives universal adult franchise to all citizens. This ple.
  • Separation of powers: The state has three organs: the legislative, the executive, and the judiciary. To prevent any one branch of government from abusing power, the Constitution mandates that each of these institutions have distinct powers. As a result, each organ works as a check on the other organs of the state, establishing a balance of power among the three.
  • Fundamental Rights: Fundamental Rights are called the conscience of the Indian Constitution. These Rights defend against the state’s absolute use of authority. Thus, the Constitution protects people’ rights both against the state and against other individuals.
  • Secularism: It is an important feature of our Constitution. A secular state is one in which the state does not officially promote any one religion as the state religion.

Q6. Why does a democratic country need a Constitution?

Ans. A Constitution is necessary in a democratic country for various reasons.

First, it establishes certain principles that serve as the foundation for the kind of country that we as citizens wish to live in.

A Constitution’s second major function is to define the character of a country’s political system.

The third major reason for which we require a Constitution is to safeguard us from ourselves. This means that we may feel strongly about an issue that goes against our broader interests at times, and the Constitution helps us guard against this.

Q7. How was the Indian Constitution made?

Ans. The long experience of authoritarian rule under the colonial state convinced Indians that a free India should be a democracy in which everyone is treated equally and has the right to participate in the government. What remained was to figure out how a democratic government would be established in India, as well as the rules that would govern its operation. This was accomplished not by a single person, but by a group of over 300 persons who joined the Constituent Assembly in 1946 and met on a regular basis for the next three years to establish India’s Constitution. The Constituent Assembly drafted a constitution for independent India between December 1946 and November 1949.

Q8. Write a brief note on the struggle for freedom in Nepal.

Ans. Nepal has experienced a number of people’s battles for democracy. In 1990, a people’s movement established democracy, which lasted 12 years until 2002. In October 2002, King Gyanendra began taking over several areas of the administration with the help of the army, citing the Maoist insurgency in the countryside as his cause. In February 2005, the King eventually took over as the head of state. The Maoists signed a 12-point agreement with other political parties in November 2005. This deal signified to the greater public that democracy and peace were on their way back. This people’s democratic movement gained tremendous traction in 2006. It continually resisted the King’s minimal concessions, and in April 2006, the King resurrected the Third Parliament and urged political parties to form a government. Nepal approved an interim constitution in 2007.

Q9. Define secularism and separation of power as the key features of the Indian Constitution. 

Ans. Secularism: A secular state is one in which the state does not officially promote any one religion as the state religion. The Constitution plays a crucial role in laying out the ideals that we would like all citizens of the country to adhere to, including the representatives that we elect to rule us. Just like in the game of football, a change of constitutive rules will affect the game. The Indian Constitution has been amended over the years to reflect new concerns of polity. Often a major change in the Constitution means a change in the fundamental nature of the country.

Separation of Power: According to the Constitution, there are three organs of government. 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 refers to the system of courts in this country. In order to prevent the misuse of power by any one branch of government, the Constitution says that each of these organs should exercise different powers. Through this, each organ acts as a check on the other organs of government and this ensures the balance of power between all three.

Q10. Describe how the Constitution helps serve as a set of rules and principles that all persons in a country can agree upon through the example of Nepal

Ans. A constitution serves as a set of laws and values that all citizens of a country may agree on as the foundation for how the country should be governed. This involves not only the style of government, but also agreement on certain ideas that they all believe the country should adhere to.

Examples from Nepal demonstrate the meaning of the preceding notion. Nepal shares a northern border with India. Nepal was a monarchy until recently. The former Nepalese Constitution, enacted in 1990, recognised the king as the ultimate power.

A people’s movement in Nepal worked for decades to achieve democracy, and in 2006 they eventually succeeded in removing the king’s powers. To establish Nepal as a democracy, the people must now design a new constitution. They do not want to keep the existing Constitution because it does not reflect the principles of the country that they want Nepal to be and for which the citizens have battled.

In order to usher in a new society, Nepal must reform all of its basic norms as it transitions from monarchy to democratic government. This is why the people of Nepal are working on a new constitution for the country.

 

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