CBSE Class 12 History Framing Constitution Beginning Of New Era Worksheet Set B

Key concepts in nutshell

• The Indian constitution was framed between Dec. 1946 & Nov. 1949.
• The Indian constitution came into effect on 26th Jan. 1950.
• The members of the constituent Assembly were elected on the basis of the provincial elections of 1946.
• The total members of the constituent Assembly were 300.
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the chairman of the Drafting Committee and played an important role in the constitution assembly.
• On the 13 Dec. 1946, Nehru moved the "Objective Resolution" in the constituent Assembly.
• An interim Government was made under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru.
• There was a vigorous debate in the Constituent Assembly on the topic of the central Government and the state.
• The language issue was debated for many months in the constituent assembly.
• Mahatma Gandhi believed that everyone should talk a language which even a common man would be able to understand.

OTQ (1 MARKS)

Question. Q.1. When was the Indian constitution framed?
Answer: The Indian constitution was framed in between December 1946 to November 1949.

Question. Q.2. What was the Instrument of accession?
Answer: Princely states acceded to India by signing an instrument of accession.

Question. Q.3. Why did Mahatma Gandhi think Hindustani should be the national language?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi felt that Hindustani was a language that the common people could easily understand.

Question. Q.4. What is the importance of the preamble to the Indian constitution?
Answer: It states the nature of the Indian state which is sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic and republic.

Question. Q.5. What are the recommendations of the Constituent Assembly of India regarding the protection of depressed castes?
Answer: Dr. Ambedkar demanded separate constituencies for the depressed classes.

Question. Q.6. What were the ideals expressed in the Objectives Resolutions?
Answer: India was declared as an independent sovereign republic.

Question. Q.7. Who thought Hindustani should be the national language?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi

Question. Q.8. What are the ideals of the objective Resolution presented by Jawaharlal Nehru?
Answer: 1. India as a sovereign republic. 2. Justice, equality and fraternity. 3. Safeguards to minorities. 4. Democracy, socialism, peace, human welfare.

Question. Q.9. Write the significance of Indian constitution.
Answer: 1. Largest Democracy. 2. Secular nation. 3. Fundamental rights to all citizens.

Question. Q.10. Why was the constituent assembly constituted?
Answer: Constituent assembly was formed to draft the Indian constitution. It had 300 members.

S.A. (3 Marks)

Question. Q.11. Why did Mahatma Gandhi believe that Hindustani should be the official language of India?
Answer: 1. Because, it was the language of common people. 2. Most of the regional languages of India were very close to Hindustani. 3. It was a combination of sensitized Hindi and Persianised Urdu. 4. It was a multi-cultural language.

Question. Q.12. Why was Govind Ballabh Pant against the separate electorate?
Answer: 1. Because this will isolate the minorities from the rest of the community. 2. Majorities will never convert to a majority. 3. He was against divided loyalties.

Question. Q.13. Give some arguments in favor of a strong center.
Answer: 1. For peace, law and order. 2. Strong position of the country in the international sphere. 3. To stop communal powers and terrorism. 4. National Security.

Question. Q.14. What is the significance or importance of the preamble to the Indian constitution?
Answer: The preamble of the Indian constitution is significant in the following ways:- 1. It indicates the sources from which the constitution springs i.e. ‘we the people of India.’ 2. It states the nature of the Indian state which is sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic and republic. 3. It states the basic objectives which the Government must strive for. 4. The preamble is also helpful in the interpretation of the constitution.

Question. Q.15. How was the centre made more powerful and strong by the constituent Assembly?
Answer: Most of the members of the constituent assembly were in favour of a strong central government for India. Even Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru wanted a strong centre as he felt, writing a letter to the president of the constituent assembly, that “it would be injurious to the interests of the country to provide for a weak central authority”. He was, in fact, convinced that only a strong central government could ensure peace and stability. The following points make it clear that several attempts were made to make the centre strong and powerful: 1] The Union list contained more subjects than the state list. 2] Regarding the concurrent list, the centre and the state shared responsibility. But in case of any disputes, the centre’s decision is recommended.

Question. Q.16. Examine the recommendations of the constituent Assembly of India regarding the protection to be given to the depressed castes.
Answer: During the freedom struggle, Dr. Ambedkar demanded separate constituencies for the depressed classes. Mahatma Gandhi opposed it by saying that it will segregate them from the mainstream of the society. The issue was much debated in the constituent Assembly. At last the constituent Assembly suggested the following: A] Untouchability will be eradicated, B] The Hindu temples will be opened to people belonging to all castes. C] Seats will be reserved for backward classes in the Assemblies and Educational Institutions.

L. A. (8 Marks)

Question. Q.17. What were the challenges before the constituent assembly?
Answer: 1. In India, there were different languages and religious cultures. 2. The country was going through constitutional turmoil. 3. The problem with separate electorates. 4. The division of rights between state and central government. 5. The language of the Nation (National Language). 6. The problem of SC/ST and other depressed castes.

Question. Q.18. What were the ideals expressed in the Objectives Resolutions?
Answer: The objectives resolution was presented in the constituent assembly on 13th Dec 1946 by Jawaharlal Nehru. It outlined and defined the ideals and objectives of the constitution which are as follows: (1) India was declared as an independent sovereign republic. (2) It assured Justice, equality, liberty and fraternity to all its citizens. (3) It provided adequate safeguards to minorities. It also referred to the well–being of the backward and depressed classes. (4) India would combine the liberal ideas of democracy with the socialist idea of economic justice. (5) India would adopt that form of government which would be acceptable to its people. No imposition from the British would be accepted by the Indian people. (6) India would be a federation. (7) India would work for world peace and human welfare.

Question. Q.19. Why did Mahatma Gandhi think Hindusthani should be the national language?
Answer: A. Mahatma Gandhi felt that Hindusthani was a language that the common people could easily understand. B. Hindusthani, which was a blend of Hindi and Urdu, was popular among a large section of the people. Moreover, it was a composite language enriched by the interaction of diverse cultures. C. Over the years, words and terms from many different sources had been incorporated into this language making it easily understood by people from various regions. D. According to Mahatma Gandhi, Hindusthani would be the ideal language of communication between diverse communities. It would help to unify Hindus and Muslims and the people from the north and south. E. From the end of the 19th century onwards, language became associated with the politics of religious identities. Hindustani also began to change, but Gandhiji retained his faith in the composite character of Hindustani.