Constituent Assembly and Making of the Constitution Archives

11. The Cabinet Mission Plan for India envisaged a

The Cabinet Mission Plan for India envisaged a

[amp_mcq option1=”Federation” option2=”Confederation” option3=”Unitary form of Government” option4=”Union of States” correct=”option1″]

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The correct answer is A.

The Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 proposed a three-tier structure for India: Provinces, Groups of Provinces, and a Union Centre. This structure, with powers divided between the Union and the provinces (with residuary powers vesting in provinces), is characteristic of a federal system.

The plan aimed to preserve the unity of India while accommodating the demands of the Muslim League for autonomy by allowing provinces to form groups with separate constitutions. The Union was proposed to have minimal powers (Defence, Foreign Affairs, Communications), making it a weak centre within a federal framework.

12. Which of the following provision(s) of the Constitution of India becam

Which of the following provision(s) of the Constitution of India became effective from 26th November 1949 ?

1. Elections
2. Citizenship
3. Emergency provisions
4. Appointment of the Judges

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”1 and 2 only” option3=”1, 2 and 3″ option4=”2 and 4″ correct=”option2″]

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The Constitution of India was adopted on November 26, 1949. On this date, certain provisions came into force immediately, while the major part came into effect on January 26, 1950 (Republic Day). The provisions that came into effect on November 26, 1949, included those related to Citizenship (Articles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9), Elections (Article 324), provisional Parliament (Articles 379, 380), temporary and transitional provisions (Articles 388, 391, 392, 393), and the short title (Article 394). Therefore, provisions related to Elections (1) and Citizenship (2) became effective from 26th November 1949. Emergency provisions and appointment of judges were part of the main body of the Constitution that came into effect on January 26, 1950.

Article 394 of the Constitution specifies which articles came into force on November 26, 1949, and states that the remaining provisions of this Constitution shall come into force on the twenty-sixth day of January, 1950.

November 26th is celebrated as Constitution Day (Samvidhan Diwas) to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution. January 26th is celebrated as Republic Day, the date when India officially became a republic and the Constitution fully came into effect.

13. Which member of the Constituent Assembly proposed the resolution that

Which member of the Constituent Assembly proposed the resolution that the National Flag of India be a “horizontal tricolour of saffron, white and dark green in equal proportion”, with a wheel in navy blue at the centre ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Jawaharlal Nehru” option2=”B. R. Ambedkar” option3=”Rajendra Prasad” option4=”Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel” correct=”option1″]

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The resolution regarding the adoption of the National Flag was moved by Jawaharlal Nehru in the Constituent Assembly on July 22, 1947. The resolution proposed the design of the flag as a horizontal tricolour of saffron, white, and dark green in equal proportion, with a wheel in navy blue at the centre, which was to be the Dharma Chakra. This resolution was unanimously adopted by the Assembly.

Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of India and played a pivotal role in the Indian independence movement and the formation of the Indian state. He presented the Objectives Resolution in the Constituent Assembly, which later formed the basis of the Preamble of the Constitution.

The design of the Indian National Flag is based on the ‘Swaraj’ flag, designed by Pingali Venkayya in 1921. The Dharma Chakra in the center of the white band is derived from the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath.

14. Who among the following are the two civil servants who assisted the Co

Who among the following are the two civil servants who assisted the Constituent Assembly in framing the Constitution of India ?

[amp_mcq option1=”B. N. Rau and K. M. Munshi” option2=”S. N. Mukherjee and Alladi Krishnaswamy Aiyar” option3=”B. N. Rau and S. N. Mukherjee” option4=”K. M. Munshi and Alladi Krishnaswamy Aiyar” correct=”option3″]

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B. N. Rau and S. N. Mukherjee were two civil servants who assisted the Constituent Assembly in framing the Constitution of India.

Sir Benegal Narsing Rau (B. N. Rau) was appointed as the Constitutional Advisor to the Constituent Assembly. He prepared the initial draft of the Constitution in October 1947, taking into account reports of various committees and the Constitutions of other countries. S. N. Mukherjee was the Chief Draftsman of the Constitution. He played a crucial technical role in translating the decisions of the Assembly and the Drafting Committee into the final legal text of the Constitution with great precision and clarity.

K. M. Munshi and Alladi Krishnaswamy Aiyar were distinguished lawyer members of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly, not primarily civil servants assisting in the drafting process in the advisory or technical drafting roles held by Rau and Mukherjee. While crucial to the framing, they served as political members and legal experts within the committee structure.

15. Who among the following was not a member of the Drafting Committee of

Who among the following was not a member of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly?

[amp_mcq option1=”N. G. Ayyangar” option2=”K. M. Munshi” option3=”B. N. Rau” option4=”Muhammad Saadulah” correct=”option3″]

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B. N. Rau was the Constitutional Advisor to the Constituent Assembly, not a member of the Drafting Committee.

The Drafting Committee was chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Its other members were N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar, Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar, K.M. Munshi, Syed Muhammad Saadullah, B.L. Mitter (later replaced by N. Madhava Rau), and D.P. Khaitan (later replaced by T.T. Krishnamachari).

Sir Benegal Narsing Rau played a crucial role in drafting the initial text of the Constitution based on the reports of various committees, which was then considered and revised by the Drafting Committee.

16. Which one of the following is referred to in the Constitution of India

Which one of the following is referred to in the Constitution of India as the ‘Date of its Commencement’ ?

[amp_mcq option1=”14th November, 1949″ option2=”17th October, 1949″ option3=”26th January, 1950″ option4=”26th November, 1949″ correct=”option3″]

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UPSC Geoscientist – 2022

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The Constitution of India is referred to have commenced on 26th January, 1950. This date is celebrated as Republic Day in India.

While certain provisions relating to citizenship, elections, provisional Parliament, etc., came into force on 26th November, 1949 (the date of adoption and enactment of the Constitution), the bulk of the Constitution and its Preamble came into effect on 26th January, 1950.

The date 26th January was specifically chosen for the commencement of the Constitution to commemorate Purna Swaraj Day, which was first celebrated on 26th January, 1930, following the Lahore Session (1929) resolution of the Indian National Congress.

17. Which among the following was made responsible for framing of the Cons

Which among the following was made responsible for framing of the Constitution of Free India?

[amp_mcq option1=”Parliament of India” option2=”Constituent Assembly” option3=”Supreme Court of India” option4=”British Parliament” correct=”option2″]

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UPSC Geoscientist – 2021

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The Constitution of Free India was framed by the Constituent Assembly of India. This body was constituted in 1946 under the Cabinet Mission Plan and its primary task was to draft a constitution for independent India.

The Constituent Assembly met for the first time on December 9, 1946, and finally adopted the Constitution on November 26, 1949. The Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950, celebrated as Republic Day.

The Parliament of India is the legislative body functioning under the Constitution. The Supreme Court is the apex judicial body. The British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act, 1947, which granted India independence but the framing of the Constitution was the responsibility of the Constituent Assembly formed by elected Indian representatives.

18. Which one of the following terms was used for the States in the Draft

Which one of the following terms was used for the States in the Draft Constitution presented by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on 4th November, 1948 ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Union of States” option2=”Federation of States” option3=”Autonomous States” option4=”Subsidiary States” correct=”option1″]

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Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, presented the Draft Constitution to the Constituent Assembly on November 4, 1948. Article 1 of this Draft Constitution (which remained unchanged in the final version) declared that “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States”. The term “Union of States” was deliberately chosen over “Federation of States” to emphasize that the Indian federation was not the result of an agreement among the units and that the states had no right to secede from the Union.

The term “Union of States” signifies the indestructible nature of the Indian Union.
This choice of terminology highlights the differences between the Indian federal structure and other federations like the USA.

Dr. Ambedkar explained the significance of the phrase “Union of States” during the debates in the Constituent Assembly, pointing out that while India was a federation, it was not a result of a compact between states.

19. Who among the following was the advisor to the Constituent Assembly?

Who among the following was the advisor to the Constituent Assembly?

[amp_mcq option1=”B. N. Rau” option2=”B. R. Ambedkar” option3=”Pattabhi Sitaramayya” option4=”Alladi Krishnaswamy” correct=”option1″]

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Sir B. N. Rau was appointed as the Constitutional Advisor (Legal Advisor) to the Constituent Assembly.

– B. N. Rau prepared the original draft of the Constitution, which was later considered and modified by the Drafting Committee.
– B. R. Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, which was responsible for drafting the Constitution based on the reports of various committees.
– Pattabhi Sitaramayya was a member of the Assembly and later served as the first Governor of Madhya Pradesh.
– Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar was also a distinguished member of the Drafting Committee.

– B. N. Rau was an eminent jurist and served as a judge on the International Court of Justice. His expertise was crucial in the drafting process.
– The Constituent Assembly had various committees to deal with different aspects of constitution-making, including committees on fundamental rights, union powers, provincial constitutions, etc.

20. Which of the following statements relating to the historic Objectives

Which of the following statements relating to the historic Objectives Resolution, which was adopted by the Constituent Assembly, is/are correct?

1. The Objectives Resolution inspired the shaping of the Constitution through all its subsequent stages.
2. It was not just a resolution, but a declaration, a firm resolve and a pledge.
3. It provided the underlying philosophy of our Constitution.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”1 only” option3=”1, 2 and 3″ option4=”2 and 3 only” correct=”option3″]

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UPSC CDS-2 – 2018

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All three statements regarding the Objectives Resolution are correct. The Objectives Resolution, moved by Jawaharlal Nehru in the Constituent Assembly in December 1946 and adopted in January 1947, laid down the fundamental principles and guiding philosophy that informed the framing of the Indian Constitution and indeed inspired its shaping through all subsequent stages (Statement 1). Nehru himself articulated that it was not merely a dry resolution but a declaration, a firm resolve, and a pledge representing the will of the people (Statement 2). It outlined the core ideals such as India being a sovereign republic, guaranteeing justice, equality, and liberty to its citizens, thereby providing the essential underlying philosophy of the Constitution (Statement 3).

The Preamble of the Indian Constitution is largely based on the spirit and the key principles enshrined in the Objectives Resolution.

The resolution affirmed the commitment to secure adequate safeguards for minorities, backward and tribal areas, and other backward classes.