RBSE Solutions Class 8 Social Science Chapter 12 Our Constitution

Our Constitution Textbook Questions Solved

Question 1. Choose the right options
1. India is republic because
(A) India has independent judiciary
(B) India is a secular state
(C) President is elected, not hereditary
(D) Prime Minister is the head of government
2. Constitution of India was enacted on
(A) 28th November, 1949
(B) 26th January, 1930
(C) 26th January, 1950
(D) 28th July, 1950
Answer:
1. (C) President is elected, not hereditary
2. (C) 26th January, 1950
In simple words: For the first question, India is a republic because its leader, the President, is chosen by voting, not born into the role. For the second, India's Constitution became officially active on January 26, 1950.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that "Republic" means the head of state is elected, not a monarch, and India's Constitution Day is a key date in its history.

Question 2. Describe the types of constitution.
Answer: A constitution can be either written or unwritten. A written constitution, like India's or the U.S.A.'s, has all its rules clearly written down in one or more documents. An unwritten constitution, like Britain's, relies on traditions, customs, and past practices rather than a single written book, yet it still guides the country effectively. Both types aim to set up how the government runs and protect citizens' rights. The Indian Constitution is a prime example of a comprehensive written document.
In simple words: Constitutions can be written, meaning all rules are in a book, or unwritten, meaning they follow old traditions and customs to guide the country.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing types of constitutions, always provide an example for both written and unwritten forms to illustrate your point clearly.

Question 3. Who was the chairman of drafting committee?
Answer: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the chairman of the Drafting Committee. This committee played a crucial role in preparing the final version of India's Constitution, ensuring every detail was carefully considered.
In simple words: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar led the committee that wrote the first draft of the constitution.

🎯 Exam Tip: Knowing the key figures behind significant national documents like the constitution is vital for history and civics questions.

Question 5. What was the duration of making our constitution?
Answer: It took 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days to complete the constitution for India. This lengthy process involved many discussions and debates to ensure a strong and fair foundation for the nation.
In simple words: It took 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days to make the Indian constitution.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always remember the exact duration as it is a specific historical fact often asked in exams.

Question 6. Why is India is called a secular state?
Answer: India is called a secular state because it does not have an official state religion. It treats all religions and spiritual groups with equal respect and provides protection for everyone. Citizens are free to choose, practice, and spread any religion or belief they want without government interference. This principle ensures religious harmony and equality among its diverse population.
In simple words: India is secular because it has no special religion and respects all faiths equally, allowing everyone to practice their own beliefs freely.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining secularism, emphasize the equal respect for all religions and the freedom of individuals to practice their faith.

Question 7. State the process of drafting our constitution.
Answer: To create India's Constitution, a special group called the Constituent Assembly was formed in July 1946. It had 296 elected members and 93 members nominated by rulers from Indian states. Rajasthan also had 14 members in this Assembly. The first meeting was on December 9, 1946, where Sachchidanand Sinha was chosen as the temporary chairman. Later, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru presented a plan called the 'objectives proposal' on December 13, 1949, which was approved on January 22, 1947. A Drafting Committee, led by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, was then set up to write the constitution. This committee worked for 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days across 114 meetings. The Constituent Assembly finally approved the constitution on November 26, 1949. It was officially put into effect on January 26, 1950. The Indian government declared November 26 as Constitution Day, which was first celebrated across the country on November 26, 2015, highlighting the importance of this date.
In simple words: India's Constitution was drafted by an Assembly formed in 1946. A committee led by Dr. Rajendra Prasad wrote it over nearly three years, and it became official on January 26, 1950.

🎯 Exam Tip: Memorize the key dates, names of important leaders, and the main bodies involved in the constitution-making process for full marks.

Question 8. What are the salient features of Indian constitution? Describe briefly.
Answer: Features of the Indian Constitution are:
1. **The longest and a written constitution**: India's constitution is the world's longest written one. It originally had a Preamble, 395 articles, and 8 schedules, divided into 22 parts. After more than 100 amendments, it now includes 465 articles and 12 schedules (as of 2013). This shows its detailed and comprehensive nature.
4. **Secularism**: India is a secular state, meaning it treats all religions, spiritual groups, and beliefs equally. The government does not favor any religion and ensures that everyone is free to practice, preach, and follow their chosen faith without discrimination. This ensures freedom of religion for all citizens.
5. **Socialism**: The Indian Constitution aims for equality in social, economic, and political areas for all citizens. It includes many rules to help people who are socially and economically disadvantaged, giving them equal and special opportunities. This helps reduce differences and promote fairness among people.
6. **Democratic Republic**: India has a democratic government chosen by its people through elections. The elected government is responsible to the people. The President, who is the head of the Indian Union, is also elected by the people, not through family inheritance. Thus, India is a republic where the head of state is not a monarch.
7. **Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties**: The constitution grants citizens six fundamental rights to help them grow and protect them from unfair treatment. Alongside these rights, there are also 11 fundamental duties that citizens are expected to follow, which encourage responsible citizenship and nation-building.
8. **Directive Principles of State Policy**: To ensure public welfare, the constitution guides the government on making laws and policies for the economic and social development of its people. These guidelines are known as Directive Principles of State Policy. Their purpose is to encourage economic and social democracy and establish a welfare state in India, although they are not legally enforceable in court.
9. **Federal Administrative System**: Our constitution creates a Federal administrative system. This means powers are divided between the central government and state governments. It includes a written constitution and an independent judiciary. Indian states cannot separate from the Union, ensuring national integrity.
10. **Parliamentary Administrative System**: The constitution has adopted a Parliamentary system in the country. In this system, the Executive (government) is accountable to the Legislature (Parliament). The President is the head of the country but acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, making it a system of checks and balances.
12. **Flexible and Rigid**: The Indian constitution is neither too strict nor too loose in how it can be changed. Some changes can be made easily with a simple majority vote, while others need approval from a special majority. This balance ensures both stability and adaptability to changing needs.
13. **Single citizenship**: People in India have only one citizenship: Indian citizenship. No one can hold citizenship of another country at the same time. This idea helps to bring unity among the diverse people of India, fostering a sense of national identity.
14. **Universal Adult Franchise**: All Indian citizens aged 18 years or older have the right to vote in elections, regardless of their background, religion, caste, or gender. This ensures that every adult has a say in choosing their representatives, making the democracy truly inclusive.
In simple words: India's constitution is very long and written, makes India secular and socialist, and establishes a democratic republic with fundamental rights and duties. It uses a parliamentary system with a federal structure, has flexible amendment rules, grants single citizenship, and allows all adults to vote.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked to describe features, aim to list at least 5-7 distinct points and provide a short, clear explanation for each to demonstrate comprehensive understanding.

Our Constitution Additional Questions Solved

I. Our Constitution Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1.
1...... is the Constitutional head of our country.
(A) Prime Minister
(B) M.P
(C) M.L.A
(D) President
2. Our constitution guarantees ........... fundamental rights.
(A) six
(B) seven
(C) eight
(D) nine
Answer:
1. (D) President
2. (A) six
In simple words: For the first part, the President is the official head of our country as per the constitution. For the second part, the Indian constitution provides its citizens with six fundamental rights.

🎯 Exam Tip: Distinguish between the constitutional head (President) and the head of government (Prime Minister). Also, remember the specific number of fundamental rights.

Question 2. Fill in the blanks
1. The Constituent Assembly was created as a result of plan.
2............ is an introduction to the constitution.
Answer:
1. The Constituent Assembly was created as a result of **Cabinet mission** plan. This plan set out how India would get its independence and make its own constitution.
2. The **Preamble** is an introduction to the constitution. It explains the goals and main ideas behind the constitution, serving as a summary of its spirit.
In simple words: The Constituent Assembly was formed because of the Cabinet mission. The Preamble is the opening part of the constitution.

🎯 Exam Tip: Fill-in-the-blanks often test specific terms or historical events, so precise recall is important.

II. Our Constitution Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. What is constitution?
Answer: A constitution is a collection of important rules and laws that guide how a country's administration runs. It sets out the structure of the government, defines citizens' rights and duties, and ensures these rights are protected. Without a constitution, there would be no peace or order, as it ensures smooth governance and fair relations among people. It's the supreme law of the land, providing stability and justice.
In simple words: A constitution is a set of rules and laws that tell a country how to run, how the government works, and what rights people have.

🎯 Exam Tip: In your definition of a constitution, highlight its role in establishing governance, defining rights, and maintaining order in a nation.

Question 2. What is universal adult franchise?
Answer: Universal adult franchise means that all Indian citizens who are 18 years old or older have the right to vote, without any unfair treatment based on their caste, religion, gender, or wealth. This democratic principle ensures that every adult has a say in choosing their representatives and contributes to a strong democracy. Our constitution stands as a unique symbol of people's hopes worldwide, giving voice to all.
In simple words: Universal adult franchise means every Indian adult, 18 or older, can vote, no matter who they are or their background.

🎯 Exam Tip: When defining universal adult franchise, always mention the age limit and emphasize the absence of discrimination based on any factor.

Question 3. Mention any four features of Parliamentary government.
Answer: Four features of Parliamentary government include:
1. **Government at union and state level**: There are distinct governments working at both the central (union) and state levels, with their own areas of power.
2. **Division of power between state and union government**: Power is shared and divided clearly between the central government and the state governments, preventing concentration of authority.
3. **Written Constitution**: The country operates under a written constitution that clearly outlines the framework of governance, rights, and duties, providing a stable legal basis.
4. **Independent judiciary**: There is a separate system of courts that works without interference from the government, ensuring justice for all citizens and upholding the constitution. This structure helps in maintaining checks and balances within the system.
In simple words: A parliamentary government has central and state governments, power is divided between them, it uses a written constitution, and has independent courts that ensure fairness.

🎯 Exam Tip: For features of parliamentary government, focus on the distribution of power, the role of the constitution, and the independence of the judicial system.