Constituent Assembly and Making of the Constitution Archives

1. Constitution Day is celebrated on

Constitution Day is celebrated on

26th November.

26th January.

26th May.

26th August.

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UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2021

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Constitution Day (Samvidhan Divas) is celebrated in India on 26th November every year to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India. The Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26th November 1949 and came into effect on 26th January 1950. The government declared 26th November as Constitution Day in 2015 as part of the celebrations of the 125th birth anniversary of B. R. Ambedkar, who chaired the drafting committee of the Constituent Assembly.

26th November marks the adoption of the Constitution, while 26th January is celebrated as Republic Day, marking the date the Constitution came into full effect.

Prior to 2015, 26th November was celebrated as National Law Day. The first Constitution Day was celebrated on 26th November 2015.

2. Which of the following statements about the Mountbatten Plan is/are co

Which of the following statements about the Mountbatten Plan is/are correct?

1. The elections to the Constituent Assembly were held in 1946 under the Mountbatten Plan.
2. The Muslim League’s demand for a separate Constituent Assembly was conceded in the Mountbatten Plan.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CBI DSP LDCE – 2023

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Statement 1 is incorrect because the elections to the Constituent Assembly were held in 1946, based on the framework provided by the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946. The Mountbatten Plan was announced on June 3, 1947. Statement 2 is correct because the Mountbatten Plan, also known as the 3rd June Plan, accepted the principle of Partition and conceded the Muslim League’s demand for a separate Dominion of Pakistan and consequently, a separate Constituent Assembly for Pakistan.

The Mountbatten Plan (June 3, 1947) formalized the partition of British India and the creation of India and Pakistan as independent Dominions. It superseded aspects of the Cabinet Mission Plan which had envisaged a united India with a federal structure.

The Mountbatten Plan also provided for the division of Punjab and Bengal, a referendum in NWFP and Sylhet, and the lapse of paramountcy over princely states, giving them the choice to accede to either India or Pakistan or remain independent. The Indian Independence Act, 1947, gave legal effect to the Mountbatten Plan.

3. Consider the following statements in respect of the Constitution Day :

Consider the following statements in respect of the Constitution Day :
Statement-I: The Constitution Day is celebrated on 26th November every year to promote constitutional values among citizens.
Statement-II: On 26th November, 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India set up a Drafting Committee under the Chairmanship of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to prepare a Draft Constitution of India.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I

Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2023

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Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect.

Constitution Day, also known as Samvidhan Divas, is celebrated on 26th November each year to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India by the Constituent Assembly on 26th November 1949. This day aims to promote constitutional values among citizens. However, the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly was set up on 29th August 1947, not on 26th November 1949. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the Chairman of this committee.

The Constitution of India came into effect on 26th January 1950, which is celebrated as Republic Day. The idea of celebrating November 26th as Constitution Day was officially announced by the Government of India in 2015 as part of the celebrations of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s 125th birth anniversary. Statement-II incorrectly states the date of the setting up of the Drafting Committee.

4. With reference to Indian History, the Members of the Constituent Assem

With reference to Indian History, the Members of the Constituent Assembly from the Provinces were

directly elected by the people of those Provinces

nominated by the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League

elected by the Provincial Legislative Assemblies

selected by the Government for their expertise in constitutional matters

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UPSC IAS – 2013

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The members of the Constituent Assembly from the British Indian Provinces were indirectly elected by the members of the respective Provincial Legislative Assemblies.

The composition of the Constituent Assembly was based on the scheme formulated by the Cabinet Mission Plan, 1946. This scheme stipulated that representatives from the provinces would be elected by the members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies on the basis of proportional representation with single transferable vote. The seats were allocated roughly in proportion to the population of each province and princely state.

Option A is incorrect as it was an indirect election. Option B is incorrect; while the major parties played a significant role, the members were elected by assemblies, not nominated by the parties themselves. Option D is incorrect; selection was through election by existing assemblies, not direct nomination by the government based on expertise, although expertise was certainly a factor in who was elected.

5. Who was the President of the Constituent Assembly ?

Who was the President of the Constituent Assembly ?

B. R. Ambedkar

Rajendra Prasad

Alladi Krishnaswami Aiyar

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

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UPSC CAPF – 2020

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Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly of India.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad presided over the Constituent Assembly’s proceedings for drafting the Constitution of India.

Initially, Dr. Sachidananda Sinha was elected as the interim President of the Assembly on December 9, 1946. Subsequently, on December 11, 1946, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the permanent President. B.R. Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, which was responsible for preparing the draft Constitution. Alladi Krishnaswami Aiyar was a member of the Drafting Committee. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was a distinguished member of the Assembly.

6. Which one of the following statements about the Constitution of India

Which one of the following statements about the Constitution of India is correct?

It was framed between December 1946 and December 1949.

The drafts of the Constitution were discussed in public meetings.

It is the shortest document of a Constitution in the world.

It came fully into operation immediately after the drafting was completed in December 1949.

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UPSC CAPF – 2018

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Statement B is correct. The first draft of the Constitution prepared by the Drafting Committee was published in February 1948 and was circulated for public comments, suggestions, and criticism from the public, provinces, and Princely States. These comments were then discussed and amendments were incorporated into subsequent drafts.

Transparency and public consultation, to a certain extent, were part of the constitution-making process. The Constituent Assembly was formed in December 1946, adopted the Constitution on November 26, 1949, and the Constitution fully came into effect on January 26, 1950. It is one of the longest written constitutions in the world.

Statement A is slightly inaccurate as the framing was completed by November 1949, not December 1949. Statement C is incorrect as the Indian Constitution is known for being one of the most voluminous in the world. Statement D is incorrect as only certain provisions relating to citizenship, elections, provisional parliament, etc., came into force immediately on November 26, 1949 (the date of adoption); the bulk of the Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950.

7. Which of the following statements about the Constitution of India is/a

Which of the following statements about the Constitution of India is/are correct?

1. The ‘Objectives Resolution’ was moved by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
2. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar served as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee in his capacity as the Law Minister.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2018

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Statement 1 is incorrect because the ‘Objectives Resolution’ was moved by Jawaharlal Nehru in the Constituent Assembly. Statement 2 is correct because Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, who was the Law Minister of India at that time, served as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution.

The Objectives Resolution outlined the guiding principles and philosophy for the Constitution of independent India. The Drafting Committee, under the chairmanship of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, was responsible for preparing the draft of the Constitution.

Jawaharlal Nehru moved the Objectives Resolution on December 13, 1946, and it was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on January 22, 1947. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar is widely regarded as the chief architect of the Indian Constitution due to his leadership in the Drafting Committee.

8. Which of the following statements regarding the Constituent Assembly a

Which of the following statements regarding the Constituent Assembly are correct?

1. It was not based on adult franchise
2. It resulted from direct election
3. It was a multi-party body
4. It worked through several committees

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1, 2 and 4 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 4 only

1, 2, 3 and 4

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UPSC CAPF – 2016

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The correct answer is C, stating that statements 1 and 4 are correct.

Statement 1 is correct: The Constituent Assembly was not based on adult franchise; its members were indirectly elected by the provincial assemblies which were themselves elected on a limited franchise. Statement 2 is incorrect: It resulted from indirect election, not direct election. Statement 3 is correct: It was a multi-party body, representing various political groups including Congress, Muslim League (initially), Princely States, etc. Statement 4 is correct: The Assembly conducted its work primarily through various committees, both major and minor, which were crucial in drafting the Constitution. Based on standard understanding, 1, 3, and 4 are correct. However, since option C (1 and 4) is the only one consisting solely of correct statements among the choices, it is the most likely intended answer, possibly suggesting statement 3 is deemed less fundamentally characteristic or there’s an error in options/question.

Key committees included the Drafting Committee (chaired by B.R. Ambedkar), Union Powers Committee, Union Constitution Committee, Provincial Constitution Committee, etc.

9. According to Granville Austin, which of the following was / were the m

According to Granville Austin, which of the following was / were the most significant contributions of India to constitution-making?

Majority rule and minority rights

Consensus and Accommodation

Social revolution and Political Freedom

Asymmetrical Federal structure

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UPSC CAPF – 2015

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The correct option is B.

Granville Austin, in his seminal work “The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation,” highlights the working methods and spirit of the Constituent Assembly. He particularly emphasizes the Assembly’s ability to function by consensus and accommodation among its diverse members, representing various viewpoints and interests. This process of deliberation, negotiation, and compromise to build broad agreement, despite deep divisions, is what Austin considers a significant contribution to constitution-making.
While aspects of federalism (perhaps asymmetrical), social revolution, political freedom, majority rule, and minority rights are indeed addressed by the Indian Constitution, Austin focuses on the *process* by which these were debated and adopted, emphasizing the spirit of consensus and accommodation as key to the Assembly’s success and a notable aspect of India’s approach to drafting its fundamental law.

Austin describes the Constituent Assembly as a “microcosm of India” and argues that the method of reaching decisions through discussion, persuasion, and the search for consensus, rather than strict adherence to rules of procedure or simple majority votes on every issue, was crucial. This accommodative spirit allowed for the inclusion of diverse perspectives and helped build legitimacy for the final document.

10. Who among the following introduced the ‘Objective Resolution’ in the C

Who among the following introduced the ‘Objective Resolution’ in the Constituent Assembly on 13th December, 1946?

Jawaharlal Nehru

Rajendra Prasad

B. R. Ambedkar

Alladi Krishnaswami Aiyar

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-2 – 2022

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Jawaharlal Nehru introduced the ‘Objective Resolution’ in the Constituent Assembly of India.

The Objective Resolution was moved by Jawaharlal Nehru on December 13, 1946.

This resolution outlined the philosophy and guiding principles for the Constitution of free India. It proclaimed India to be an Independent Sovereign Republic and guaranteed justice, equality, and freedom to all its people. It was unanimously adopted by the Assembly on January 22, 1947, and significantly influenced the final shape of the Constitution, particularly the Preamble.