Framing of Indian Constitution

<<2/”>a >h2>Making of The Constitution

  • 1934: Idea of constituent assembly put forward by M N Roy
  • 1935: INC officially demands constituent assembly
  • 1938: JL Nehru’s declaration on the constitution of India
  • 1940: Nehru’s demand accepted in the form of August Offer
  • August Offer
    • PM: Winston Churchill
    • While rejecting INCs demand for independence of India after the war on the ground that INC is not representative of the minorities, three offers were made
    • Expansion of Viceroy’s executive council with the inclusion of Indian representatives
    • An advisory body with the members from British India and Indian princely states which were supposed to meet at consequent intervals was established
    • Two practical steps were decided to be taken in which it was to come at an agreement with the Indians on the form which the post representatives body should take and the methods by which it should come to a conclusion.
    • It further planned to draw out the principles and outlines of the Constitution itself
    • Congress rejected the offer
  • 1942: Cripps Mission
    • PM: Winston Churchill Sec of State: Leo Amery                                Viceroy: Linlithgow
    • On the framing of an independent constitution to be adopted after the WW II
    • Cripps proposals rejected by the ML which wanted India to be divided into two autonomous states
  • 1946: Cabinet Mission
    • PM: Clement Attlee Viceroy: Lord Wavell
    • Members: Pethick Lawrence (sec of state for India), Stafford Cripps, A V Alexander
    • Simla Conference
    • May 16 plan
      • United dominion of india would be given independence
      • Muslim majority and Hindu majority provinces to be grouped
      • Central government to run foreign affairs, defence and communications while rest of the responsibility would belong to the provinces, coordinated by the two groups
    • Interim cabinet was formed. ML joined the cabinet but decided to boycott the constituent assembly
  • 1946, Nov: Constituent Assembly formed under the Cabinet Mission Plan
  • First meeting of CA on December 9, 1946. Sacchidanada Sinha was elected the temporary Presidetn
  • Dec 11, 1946: Rajendra Prasad and H C Mukharjee elected as the President and VP of the assembly respectively.
  • BN Rao was the constitutional advisor to the assembly
  • Dec 13, 1946: Objectives Resolution moved by JL Nehru
  • Jan 22, 1947: Objectives resolution adopted
  • June 3, 1947: Mountbatten plan. Partition of the country announced.
  • Jan 24, 1950: Final session of the CA. It however continued as a provisional body from Jan 26, 1950 till the formation of the new Parliament after the first general Elections in 1951-52

Major Committees of CA

CommitteeChairman
Union Powers CommitteeJL Nehru
Union Constitution CommitteeJL Nehru
Committee for Negotiating with StatesJL Nehru
Steering CommitteeRajendra Prasad
Rules of Procedure CommitteeRajendra Prasad
Provincial Constitution CommitteeSardar Patel
Committee on Fundamental Rights and  Minorities.

Two sub committees ( FR , Minorities)

Sardar Patel

(J B Kriplani, H C Mukharjee)

Drafting CommitteeB R Ambedkar
  • Drafting Committee was setup on Aug 29, 1947. It had seven members
    • B R Ambedkar
    • Alladi Krisnaswamy Ayyer
    • N Gopalaswamy Ayyangar
    • K M Munshi
    • TT Krishnamchari
    • N Madhava Rau
    • Syed Mohammad Saadullah
  • Nov 26, 1949: Constitution was adopted
  • The Preamble was enacted after the entire Constitution was already enacted

 

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The Indian Constitution is the supreme law of India. It was adopted on 26 November 1949, and came into effect on 26 January 1950. The Constitution provides for a parliamentary System of Government, with a President as the head of state and a Prime Minister as the head of government. The Constitution also guarantees certain fundamental rights to all citizens, including the right to Equality, the right to freedom, the right against exploitation, the right to freedom of religion, cultural and educational rights, and the right to constitutional remedies.

The Constitution was framed by the Constituent Assembly, which was a body of elected representatives from all over India. The Assembly met from 1946 to 1950, and debated and adopted the various provisions of the Constitution. The Drafting Committee, which was headed by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, was responsible for drafting the final text of the Constitution.

The Preamble to the Constitution sets out the basic principles and objectives of the Indian state. It states that India is a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic, and that it is committed to Justice, Liberty, equality, and Fraternity.

The Fundamental Rights are the basic rights that are guaranteed to all citizens of India. These rights include the right to equality, the right to freedom, the right against exploitation, the right to freedom of religion, cultural and educational rights, and the right to constitutional remedies.

The Directive Principles of State Policy are a set of principles that the state is supposed to follow in its governance. These principles include the promotion of social justice, the protection of the Environment, and the promotion of Economic Development.

Citizenship-2/”>Citizenship is the status of being a citizen of a country. The Constitution of India defines who is a citizen of India, and the rights and duties that are associated with citizenship.

Fundamental Duties are the obligations that are imposed on all citizens of India. These duties include the duty to respect the Constitution, the duty to uphold the Sovereignty and Integrity of India, the duty to defend the country, and the duty to promote harmony and brotherhood among all people.

The Union Government is the central government of India. It is headed by the President, who is the head of state. The Prime Minister is the head of government, and is responsible for the day-to-day running of the government. The Union Government is made up of a number of ministries and departments, which are responsible for different areas of government.

The State Government is the government of a state in India. It is headed by the Governor, who is appointed by the President. The Chief Minister is the head of government, and is responsible for the day-to-day running of the government. The State Government is made up of a number of departments, which are responsible for different areas of government.

The Judiciary is the system of courts in India. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country, and is headed by the Chief Justice of India. The High Courts are the highest courts in the states, and are headed by the Chief Justice of the High Court. The Subordinate Courts are the lower courts in the country, and are headed by judges.

Finance is the management of Money and Resources. The Constitution of India provides for a federal system of finance, in which the Union Government and the State Governments share the responsibility for raising and spending money.

Election is the process of choosing a person or group of people to hold office. The Constitution of India provides for a system of elections to the Parliament, the State Legislatures, and the local bodies.

Emergency Provisions are special powers that are given to the government in times of emergency. The Constitution of India provides for three types of emergency: a national emergency, a state emergency, and a financial emergency.

Amendment is the process of changing the Constitution. The Constitution of India can be amended by a Simple Majority of the members of Parliament.

The Salient Features of the Indian Constitution are:

  • It is a Written Constitution.
  • It is a federal constitution.
  • It is a republican constitution.
  • It is a secular constitution.
  • It is a socialist constitution.
  • It is a democratic constitution.
  • It is a welfare constitution.

The Criticisms of the Indian Constitution are:

  • It is too long and complex.
  • It is too rigid and difficult to amend.
  • It is not fully democratic.
  • It does not provide adequate safeguards for the rights of minorities.
  • It does not provide adequate safeguards for the rights of Women.

The Impact of the Indian Constitution has been profound. It has helped to create a stable and democratic country. It has also helped to promote social justice and economic development.

Here are some frequently asked questions and short answers about the Indian Constitution:

  1. What is the Indian Constitution?
    The Indian Constitution is the supreme law of India. It was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950. The Constitution provides for a parliamentary system of government with a President as the head of state and a Prime Minister as the head of government.

  2. Who framed the Indian Constitution?
    The Indian Constitution was framed by the Constituent Assembly, which was set up on 9 December 1946. The Constituent Assembly consisted of 389 members, including 292 elected members from the provinces and princely states, 93 members nominated by the princely states, and 4 members nominated by the President of India.

  3. What are the main features of the Indian Constitution?
    The main features of the Indian Constitution are:

  4. It is a written constitution.

  5. It is a federal constitution.
  6. It is a republican constitution.
  7. It is a secular constitution.
  8. It is a socialist constitution.
  9. It is a democratic constitution.
  10. It is a welfare state constitution.

  11. What are the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution?
    The fundamental rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution are:

  12. Right to equality

  13. Right to freedom
  14. Right against exploitation
  15. Right to freedom of religion
  16. Cultural and educational rights
  17. Right to constitutional remedies

  18. What are the directive principles of state policy?
    The directive principles of state policy are the principles that the state should follow in making laws and policies. They are not enforceable in a court of law, but the state is bound to follow them in the making of laws and policies.

  19. What is the Preamble to the Indian Constitution?
    The Preamble to the Indian Constitution is the introductory statement of the Constitution. It sets out the basic objectives and principles of the Constitution.

  20. What is the Supreme Court of India?
    The Supreme Court of India is the highest court in India. It is the final court of appeal in the country. The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in certain cases, such as disputes between the states and the Union government. It also has the power to strike down laws that it finds to be unconstitutional.

  21. What is the President of India?
    The President of India is the head of state of India. The President is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both houses of Parliament and the legislative assemblies of the states. The President has the power to appoint the Prime Minister and other members of the Union government. The President also has the power to dissolve Parliament and to declare a state of emergency.

  22. What is the Prime Minister of India?
    The Prime Minister of India is the head of government of India. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President. The Prime Minister is the leader of the party or coalition that has the majority in the Lok Sabha. The Prime Minister is responsible to the Lok Sabha.

  23. What is the Lok Sabha?
    The Lok Sabha is the lower house of the Parliament of India. The Lok Sabha is directly elected by the people of India. The Lok Sabha has a maximum strength of 552 members.

  24. What is the Rajya Sabha?
    The Rajya Sabha is the upper house of the Parliament of India. The Rajya Sabha is not directly elected by the people of India. The Rajya Sabha has a maximum strength of 250 members.

  25. What are the states and union territories of India?
    India is a federal republic with 28 states and 7 union territories. The states are: Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal. The union territories are: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, and Ladakh.

  26. What is the National Anthem of India?
    The national anthem of India is Jana Gana Mana. It was written by Rabindranath Tagore and adopted on 24 January 1950.

  27. What is the National Flag of India?
    The national flag of India is a horizontal tricolor of saffron, white, and green. The saffron color represents courage, sacrifice, and renunciation. The white color represents peace and purity. The green color represents faith and fertility. The Ashoka Chakra, a blue wheel with 24 spoke

Sure, here are some MCQs on the topics of the Indian Constitution without mentioning the topic of the Framing of Indian Constitution:

  1. The Indian Constitution was adopted on:
    (a) 26 November 1949
    (b) 26 January 1950
    (c) 15 August 1947
    (d) 12 March 1946

  2. The Indian Constitution is based on the following principles:
    (a) Federalism
    (b) Secularism-2/”>Secularism
    (c) Socialism
    (d) All of the above

  3. The President of India is elected by:
    (a) The members of the Lok Sabha
    (b) The members of the Rajya Sabha
    (c) The members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States
    (d) The members of the Electoral College

  4. The Prime Minister of India is appointed by:
    (a) The President of India
    (b) The Vice President of India
    (c) The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
    (d) The Chief Justice of India

  5. The Supreme Court of India is the highest court in the country. It has:
    (a) One Chief Justice and 30 judges
    (b) One Chief Justice and 25 judges
    (c) One Chief Justice and 20 judges
    (d) One Chief Justice and 15 judges

  6. The Indian Parliament consists of:
    (a) The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
    (b) The Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha
    (c) The Rajya Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha
    (d) The Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha, and the Vidhan Sabha

  7. The Indian Constitution guarantees the following fundamental rights to the citizens of India:
    (a) Right to equality
    (b) Right to freedom
    (c) Right against exploitation
    (d) All of the above

  8. The Indian Constitution also guarantees the following fundamental duties to the citizens of India:
    (a) To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions
    (b) To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so
    (c) To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India
    (d) All of the above

  9. The Indian Constitution can be amended by:
    (a) A simple majority in both Houses of Parliament
    (b) A two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament
    (c) A two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha and a majority in the Rajya Sabha
    (d) A majority of the States

  10. The Indian Constitution has been amended a total of:
    (a) 100 times
    (b) 99 times
    (c) 98 times
    (d) 97 times

I hope these MCQs were helpful. Please let me know if you have any other questions.