Our Constitution

It ensures smooth governance for the welfare of its citizens.

P and Q

Indirectly elected by Provincial Legislative Assemblies

389

December 9, 1946

Dr. Sachidananda Sinha

DCAB

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

Jawaharlal Nehru

All of the above.

Indian Independence Act, 1947

Muslims and Sikhs

Cabinet Mission Plan

Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

Explanation — The Constitution safeguards citizens by preventing arbitrary government actions through fundamental rights, judicial review, and other safeguards, making A true. While it also sets out the powers and functions of the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary (making R true), this alone does not fully explain how it protects citizens, hence R is not the correct explanation of A. For that, one needs to consider additional mechanisms like fundamental rights and checks and balances.

(A) is true but (R) is false

Explanation — After the signing of the Constitution, only the clauses relating to citizenship and some others came into force immediately. This was to enable persons displaced as a result of the Partition, to register themselves as Indian citizens. So, the Constitution as a whole came into force with effect from January 26, 1950.

Constitution is a comprehensive document containing the set of rules that describe the rights and duties of its citizens and the manner according to which the governance of a country is to be carried out. It regulates the position and powers of the three organs of the Government — the legislative, the executive and the judiciary; and states how they are inter-related.

The Constitution was adopted and passed by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949.

After the signing of the Constitution, only the clauses relating to citizenship and some others came into force immediately. The Constitution as a whole came into force with effect from January 26, 1950.

When the Constituent Assembly started the work of drafting the Constitution, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru proposed the 'Objectives Resolution' on December 13, 1946. The Resolution highlighted the objectives and laid down the national goals. The main points of the Objectives Resolution were:

1. Free India will be nothing but a 'republic'.
2. The ideals of social, political and economic democracy would be guaranteed to all people.
3. The republic would grant Fundamental Rights to citizens.
4. The state would safeguard the rights of minorities and backward classes.

The Objectives Resolution was proposed by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru.

The constitution was adopted and passed on 26th November, 1949.

The constitution come into force on 26th January, 1950.

The date January 26 was chosen for the commencement of the constitution because of its historical importance. At the Lahore Session of the Congress held in December 1929, a resolution was passed which declared Poorna Swaraj or Complete Independence to be the objective of the Congress. January 26, 1930 was fixed as the first Independence Day, which was to be celebrated every year. Since then the day was celebrated as Independence Day up to 1947. Later, to maintain its importance January 26 was chosen for enforcement of constitution and was designated as Republic day.

Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, was one of the architects of the constitution of India. As the chairman of the Drafting Committee, he provided constitutional guarantees and protections for civil liberties like freedom of religion, abolition of untouchability, and social rights for women in the Indian Constitution. He provided a job reservation system for Scheduled Castes and Tribes.
To shape India as a Sovereign Democratic Republic that ensured individual liberty, dignity, and national integrity, Dr. Ambedkar incorporated the following principles in the Indian Constitution:

1. Made the Indian constitution workable, flexible and strong enough to hold the country together both in peace and in war.
2. Provided special safeguards to the minorities and certain classes, who are socially and educationally backward.
3. Incorporated the Right to Constitutional Remedies to ensure that the Fundamental Rights of the individuals are not infringed by the Center or the State governments.
4. Single citizenship, single judiciary and uniformity in fundamental laws to integrate Indian society. Therefore, he proposed a strong Centre to maintain territorial integrity and administrative discipline.
5. Incorporated Directive Principles to ensure social and economic democracy and welfare of the people of India.

(a) The Cabinet Mission Plan (1946) proposed to set up the Constituent Assembly.

The members of the Constituent Assembly were elected indirectly by the Provincial Legislative Assemblies (Lower House only). Elections to the Provincial Assembly were completed by July 1946. The princely states were represented by the members nominated by the rulers of these States. The Constituent Assembly of undivided India consisted of 389 members (292 elected, 93 nominated by the Princely states, 3 from Chief Commissioner Provinces and one from the British).

(b) The Muslim League boycotted the Constituent Assembly to demand the creation of a separate state called Pakistan. Consequently the members representing the territories which went to Pakistan withdrew from the Constituent Assembly of India. As a result, the membership of the Constituent Assembly of India stood at 299 against the original number of 389 members.

(c) The wide-ranging membership of the Constituent Assembly gave representation to all shades of public opinion. The Cabinet Mission plan had ensured representation to only three categories — the General category, Muslims and Sikhs. The Congress leaders had, however, ensured that other communities like Anglo-Indians, Indian Christians Scheduled Castes and Scheduled tribes got representation.

(a) The Resolution was proposed by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru on December 13, 1946.

The Resolution was passed by the Constituent Assembly on January 22, 1947.

The Act that gave legal sanctity to the Constituent Assembly was the Indian Independence Act, 1947. This legal sanction enabled the Constituent Assembly to function after India's independence. The Assembly became a sovereign body.

(b) Three points of the Objectives Resolution are :

1. Free India will be nothing but a 'republic'.
2. The ideals of social, political and economic democracy would be guaranteed to all people.
3. The Republic would grant Fundamental Rights to citizens.

(c) The four principles that Babasaheb Ambedkar incorporated in the Constitution are:

1. Made the Indian Constitution workable, flexible and strong enough to hold the country together both in peace and in war.
2. Provided special safeguards to the minorities and certain classes, who are socially and educationally backward.
3. Incorporated the Right to Constitutional Remedies to ensure that the Fundamental Rights of the individuals are not infringed by the Centre or the State governments.
4. Incorporated Directive Principles to ensure social and economic democracy and welfare of the people of India.

The written Constitution enables to specify the structure, organisation, powers and functions of Central as well as State government. The written form of the constitution avoids any kind of misunderstanding and disagreements. If our constitution was not written there would have been scuffle, related to distribution of powers, subjects etc. Our rights would have been at risk. Policy makers may not have fairly represented the public opinion.

India is a country of diversity. The constitution of India plays an important role to maintain the unity and integrity of India by its following principles:

1. The Indian constitution is workable, flexible and strong enough to hold the country together both in peace and in war.
2. It provides special safeguards to the minorities and certain classes, who are socially and educationally backward.
3. Incorporates the Right to constitutional remedies to ensure that the fundamental rights of the individuals are not infringed by the Center or the State governments.
4. Single citizenship, single judiciary and uniformity in fundamental laws to integrate Indian society. Therefore, a strong centre was proposed to maintain territorial integrity.

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was a visionary leader and one of the most influential figures in India's struggle for independence and post-independence nation-building. He had a keen understanding of the socio-political landscape of India and made several contributions that proved to be invaluable for the nation. Here are a few instances where his foresight came to the nation's aid in times of crisis:

1. Drafting the Indian Constitution — Dr. Ambedkar was the chairman of the drafting committee of the Indian Constitution. He played a crucial role in drafting the Constitution, which has been the backbone of India's democratic system for over seven decades. He foresaw the challenges that an independent India would face and drafted the Constitution in such a way that it could accommodate the diverse cultural, linguistic, and religious backgrounds of the people of India.
2. Reservation policy — Dr. Ambedkar's foresight in recognizing the plight of the marginalized communities in India led to the inclusion of reservation policies in the Constitution. These policies aimed to provide equal opportunities to the socially and economically backward sections of society and helped them overcome the centuries-old discrimination they faced.
3. Labour laws — Dr. Ambedkar foresaw the exploitation of labourers in the post-independence era and advocated for the inclusion of labour laws in the Constitution. These laws aimed to protect the rights of workers and ensure their fair treatment in the workplace.
4. Women's rights — Dr. Ambedkar was a staunch advocate of women's rights and foresaw the need to provide equal opportunities and rights to women. He played a crucial role in the inclusion of several provisions in the Constitution that aimed to promote gender equality and women's empowerment.
5. Social reforms — Dr. Ambedkar recognized the need for social reforms in India and played a crucial role in the abolition of caste-based discrimination and the promotion of inter-caste marriages. His foresight in recognising the need for social reforms helped India move towards a more egalitarian society.

The Indian Constitution has taken following features from the Constitutions of countries around the world:

1. Concurrent list (Australia)
2. Joint-sitting of two houses of parliament (Australia)
3. Directive principles of state policy (Ireland)
4. Nomination of Rajya Sabha Members
5. Fundamental Duties (Russia)
6. Parliamentary Government (UK)
7. Single Citizenship (UK)
8. Ideals of Liberty, equality and fraternity (France)

Makers of our constitution gathered the best features of all the existing constitutions and modified them with a view to avoid the faults that have been disclosed in their constitution. The ideas have been modified as per the need of our country. For example, to avoid the dead lock condition arising due to differences between Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, provision of joint sitting was incorporated.

Republic Day celebrations in India have evolved over the years, reflecting the changing priorities and aspirations of the nation. However, the underlying spirit of national pride and patriotism has remained constant throughout the years. Here is a brief history of how Republic Day has been celebrated in India over the years:

1. First Republic Day Celebration (1950) — The first Republic Day was celebrated on January 26, 1950, with a grand parade held at Rajpath in New Delhi. The parade showcased India's diverse cultural heritage, and it was attended by representatives from various countries.
2. First Chief Guest (1951) — The first chief guest at the Republic Day parade was Indonesian President Sukarno in 1951. Since then, India has invited guests from different countries each year to attend the celebrations.
3. Integration of States (1956) — In 1956, India celebrated Republic Day with the theme of "Integration of States." This was a significant event in India's history, as it marked the reorganization of states on linguistic lines.
4. Beating Retreat (1950s) — The Beating Retreat ceremony, which marks the end of the Republic Day celebrations, was introduced in the 1950s. It is held on January 29th every year and features a display of military bands.
5. First Presidential Address (1952) — The first Presidential address on Republic Day was delivered by Dr. Rajendra Prasad in 1952. Since then, it has become a tradition for the President of India to address the nation on this occasion.
6. Cultural Programmes (1960s) — In the 1960s, Republic Day celebrations included cultural programs from different parts of the country. These programs showcased the rich diversity of India's cultural heritage.
7. Military Parade (1970s) — In the 1970s, the Republic Day parade became more focused on the display of India's military might. The parade included a display of tanks, missiles, and other weapons.
8. Technology Showcase (1990s) — In the 1990s, the Republic Day parade began to showcase India's technological advancements. This included displays of satellites, space vehicles, and other technological innovations.
9. Women Empowerment (2019) — In 2019, the theme of Republic Day was "Nari Shakti," which means "Women's Power." The parade showcased women's achievements in various fields, including the armed forces, science, and sports.
10. Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav (2022) — In 2022, as India celebrated 75 years of independence the theme of Republic Day was "Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav".
11. Jan-Bhagidari (2023) — The theme of Republic Day in 2023 was Jan-Bhagidari which means participation of people.