RBSE Class 7 Social Science Chapter 10 Solutions in English — The Constitution of India An Introduction

The Constitution of India An Introduction Class 7 Question Answer SST Chapter 10

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Class 7 SST Chapter 10 The Constitution of India An Introduction Question Answer

Class 7 Social Science Chapter 10 The Constitution of India An Introduction Question Answer

The Constitution of India An Introduction, Class 7 Questions and Answers

The Big Questions (Page No. 209)

Question 1.
What is a Constitution, and why do we need one?
Answer:
Constitution: A constitution is a document that spells out a nation’s basic principles and laws. Need of Constitution-A constitution is like a rule book for the country, and the basic rules laid down in it determine that-

• What type of government will the country have, how will it be formed, and how will it function.
• Constitution describes how laws are to be made, implemented.
• Who will elect the executive branch? How will the judiciary be formed? And what will be the rights and duties of the citizens.

Thus, we need a constitution to clearly articulate the ideals and values of the nation and to guide how those ideals and values will be achieved by the government.

Question 2.
How was the Indian Constitution prepared?
Answer:
The Indian Constitution was prepared by the Constituent Assembly formed on 9 December, 1946 with 389 members, reduced to 299 after the partition of India. Members were elected by the legislative assembly. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the chairman of the Constituent Assembly, and Dr. B.R.Ambedkar led the drafting committee. The constitution was drafted over three years and completed on 26 November, 1949, and the resulting document was adopted as the Constitution of India on January 26, 1950.

Question 3.
How did our freedom struggle and civilisational heritage influence the Constitution?
Answer:
The major factors that influenced our constitution were our freedom struggle and our civilizational heritage. These influenced the constitution in the following ways-
1. The impact of India’s freedom struggle-Many key ideals and values of the Indian freedom struggle were enshrined in the Constitution. Many prominent leaders of India’s freedom struggle were members of the Constituent Assembly, and they incorporated their experiences and ideals into the Constitution. These ideals include equality, justice, and fraternity for all; the preservation of India’s cultural heritage; and viewing the Constitution as a means to achieve these ideals.

2. The impact of India’s civilisational heritage-Some fundamental principles are embedded in our culture, like acceptance of the idea that people could have different points of view, Nature as sacred, the pursuit of learning and knowledge, respect for women, the concepts of vasudhaiva kutumbakam and sarve bhavantu sukhinah. All these principles find a place in our Constitution, though you might find them expressed a little differently.

Question 4.
What are the key features of the Constitution of India? Why is it still relevant, even though it was written more than seventy years ago?
Answer:
Key features of the Constitution of India are as follows-
(i) Democratic Republic-The Indian Constitution establishes a sovereign democratic republic. For this purpose, an electoral system has been established that ensures every eligible citizen of the country has the right to vote.

(ii) Parliamentary form of government- The constitution adopts a parliamentary system of government. This constitution clearly defines the structure of the three branches of government, their powers, limitations, roles, functions, responsibilities, and accountability.

(iii) Three-tier system-The constitution establishes a three-tier system of government. This three-tier system has been implemented in the form of

• central government,
• state government and
• local government (Panchayati Raj system).

(iv) Fundamental Duties and Fundamental Rights-The Constitution grants certain fundamental rights to citizens.
These are-

1. Right to Equality,
2. Right to Freedom,
3. Right against Exploitation,
4. Right to education,
5. Right of constitutional remedies.

Our constitution-makers recognized that some important goals could not be achieved immediately, and therefore, these goals were included in the Constitution as Directive Principles of State Policy, with the instruction that the State should strive to achieve them whenever possible. These Directive Principles represent the essence of India’s social and economic vision, such as directing the government to establish social and economic justice, a welfare state, a uniform civil code, and to protect the environment and wildlife.

The Relevance of the Constitution-The Constitution, written more than seventy years ago, remains relevant today because it includes provisions for incorporating new laws and making necessary changes through amendments as needed over time. Amendments to the Constitution are subject to thorough discussion and deliberation. Public opinion is also often considered. Some amendments may even be initiated through popular movements. For all these reasons, the Indian Constitution remains relevant today because it has been adapted to the changing needs of the times through necessary amendments.

Let’s Explore (Page No. 211-212)

Question.
What could be the ‘rulebook’ for a country? How would it be made?
Answer:
The ‘rulebook’ can be considered the Constitution for a country. It is typically created through long debates and deliberations by a constituent assembly composed of elected representatives of that country.

Question.
In small groups, try to find out the names of people from your region who may have participated in the making of the Constitution. What sources can you use to gather this information?
Answer:
To find out more about this, you can search for books at your school or local library. You can also ask your teacher, parents, or elderly people in your neighbourhood. This is to be done by the students themselves.

Question.
Read the quotation (page no.221) of given below. Which article of the Constitution do you think she was referring to?
Answer:
In our opinion, this quotation is referring to Article 14 of the Constitution (Right to Equality).

Question.
Can you find out the amendments made to the Constitution in the past ten years?
Answer:
The major amendments made to the Indian Constitution in the last 10 years (2015-2025) are as follows-

1. 100th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2015-This grant constitutional status to the land boundary agreement between India and Bangladesh.
2. 101st Amendment Act, 2016-This act implemented the Goods and Services Tax across the entire country.
3. 102nd Amendment Act, 2018-This act granted constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes.
4. 103rd Amendment Act, 2019-This constitutional amendment provides 10% reservation in educational institutions and government jobs for economically weaker sections.
5. 104th Amendment Act, 2019-This extended the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies for a period of 10 years.
6. 105th Amendment Act, 2021-This restores the power of the states to create their own list of socially and educationally backward classes.
7. 106th Amendment Act, 2023-This act provides for the reservation of 33 percent of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and all state legislative assemblies. This act is also called Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.

Let’s Explore (Page No. 226)

Question.
Below is the list of features given in the Preamble. Read them closely from the image above and write down examples of the application of these values in daily life around you. Two have been completed to help you with the exercise.
Answer:

Class 7 The Constitution of India An Introduction Question Answer

Question 1.
“The Constituent Assembly had representatives from diverse backgrounds in India.” Why do you think it was important to have a diverse set of representatives from all over India? ‘
Answer:
The inclusion of representatives from diverse regions and backgrounds in the Constituent Assembly was, in our opinion, important for the following reasons-
1. A representative, inclusive, and just constitution. In our view, it was crucial for the Constituent Assembly to include representatives from diverse regions and backgrounds so that the constitution would reflect the interests and perspectives of all. This ensured that India’s constitution became an inclusive document that reflects the country’s diversity and is just for all communities and sections of society.

2. Exchange of ideas-The inclusion of representatives from different ideologies facilitated a healthy exchange of ideas and helped strengthen the draft of the constitution.

3. National Unity-The inclusion of representatives from various sections of society in the Constituent Assembly ensured that a sense of unity was fostered among different parts and communities of the country.

4. Collective consensus-The constitution, formed by people with diverse viewpoints coming together, reflects the broad consensus of its time.

Question 2.
Read the statements below carefully and identify which key features/values in the Constitution of India are reflected in each statement.
(a) Sheena, Rajat, and Harsh are standing in a line. They are excited to cast their first vote in the general elections.
(b) Radha, Imon, and Harpreet study in the same class in the same school.
(c) Parents must make arrangements to ensure their children’s education.
(d) People of all castes, genders, and religions can use the village well.
Answer:
(a) The right to universal adult suffrage.
(b) This situation reflects the values and provisions of the Indian Constitution, such as the right to equality and the right to education.
(c) This situation illustrates the fundamental duties enshrined in the Indian Constitution, which include the duty of parents or guardians to ensure education for their children.
(d) This demonstrates a key feature of the right to equality under the Indian Constitution. The right to equality prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion, race, caste, sex, and place of birth, and ensures equal access to public places (such as wells, tanks, and bathing ghats).

Question 3.
It is said that ‘All citizens in India are equal before the law’. Do you think this is a fact? If yes, why? If not, why not? Formulate your arguments.
Answer:
In India, all citizens are equal before the law, according to the constitutional provision (Article 14); however, in our opinion, this is not the reality, as all citizens do not benefit equally from the law for the following reasons-

1. Lack of resources-Due to poverty or economic limitations, some people is unable to access legal aid or benefit from their rights.
2. Lack of education and awareness- Due to a lack of legal awareness and education, many citizens are unaware of their rights and are unable to use them.
3. Social discrimination-Social prejudice or discrimination also prevents some people from exercising their right to equality.

Question 4.
You have learnt that ‘India is the only country that provided universal adult franchise to its citizens from the beginning.’ Can you explain why India did it?
Answer:
From the very beginning, India granted universal adult suffrage to its citizens due to the Constituent Assembly’s commitment to social justice, democratic principles, and equality. India’s freedom struggle was fundamentally a fight against foreign rule and for self-governance. Granting universal adult suffrage is a powerful assertion of a truly democratic and independent nation.

Universal adult suffrage was crucial in freeing India from colonial traditions. Secondly, universal adult suffrage was granted in India from the very beginning so that all adult citizens, regardless of their background (such as caste, religion, gender, or economic status), could have the right to participate equally in the political process of choosing their government.

Thirdly, the framers of India’s constitution wanted to create a nation where everyone would have equal opportunities after independence. Therefore, they granted the right to vote to all adult citizens from the very beginning.

Question 5.
How did the freedom struggle inspire the making of the Constitution of India? How did India’s civilisational heritage inspire some of the key features in the Constitution of India? Explain.
Answer:
The freedom struggle inspired the drafting of the Indian Constitution in several ways. For example-
1. It laid the foundation for values such as equality, justice, liberty, fraternity, and the preservation of India’s cultural heritage. These principles were incorporated into the Preamble and Fundamental Rights of the Constitution, and the Constitution itself was viewed as a means of achieving these values and ideals.

2. The demand for a Constituent Assembly arose during the freedom struggle, and it was supported by the Indian National Congress. Leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru demanded that the constitution be framed by a Constituent Assembly elected on the basis of adult suffrage, without any external interference.

3. The freedom struggle united people of diverse religions, languages, and cultures, fostering the principle of ‘unity in diversity’. This spirit was enshrined in the Constitution.

4. The experience and learning from the freedom struggle also provided answers to many of the ‘how’ and ‘what’ questions, like how to make sure that every adult citizen has a right to vote. Similarly, it provided solutions to many questions, such as’ what should be the process if we want to amend the Constitution’.

Features of the Constitution inspired by the heritage of Indian civilization-
1. Diversity and Unification-The constitutional features of diversity and unification are inspired by the legacy of Indian civilization. Driven by the spirit of unity in diversity, the Indian Constitution adopted a federal structure that provides for the separation of powers, but also incorporates a balance of unitary features.

2. Inclusion of some fundamental principles-Some fundamental principles are. embedded in our culture, such as the acceptance of differing viewpoints. Nature as sacred, the pursuit of learning and knowledge, respect for women, the concepts of vasudhaiva kutum- bakam, and scirve bhcivantu sukhinah. All these principles find a place in our Constitution, though you might find them expressed a little differently. These fundamental principles have been incorporated into the constitution primarily in the form of fundamental rights and duties.

Question 6.
Do you think we, as a society, have achieved all the ideals of the Constitution? If not, what can we each do as citizens to move our country closer to these ideals?
Answer:
No, as a society, we have not yet fully achieved all the ideals of the Constitution. The responsibilities of citizens in achieving these constitutional ideals are as follows-
1. Promote equality and justice-

• Treat all citizens equally and do not discriminate on the basis of caste, religion, gender, or place of birth.
• Help those affected by social and economic disadvantages.
• Obey the law and encourage others to do the same.

2. Understand your fundamental rights and duties-

• We should be aware of our fundamental rights as enshrined in the Constitution and exercise them.
• We should fulfill our fundamental duties.

3. Active participation in democracy-

• As citizens, we should participate in the voting process and cast our votes responsibly.
• We should engage in public debates and discussions.
• We should understand and question our responsibilities towards the government and society.

4. Personal responsibility-

• Contribute to a clean and healthy society.
• Be kind and respectful towards the people around you.
• Help those in need whenever possible.

Question 7.
Read the clues carefully to solve the crossword on the next page to uncover important concepts from the Indian Constitution.

Across :
2. The branch of government that makes laws.
7. The part of the Constitution that outlines the duties of citizens towards the country.
8. The highest court in India that protects the Constitution.
9. A system where the head of state is elected, not hereditary.
10. The process by which the Constitution can be changed over time.

Down :
1. The group of people who wrote the Indian Constitution.
3. The statement at the beginning of the Constitution that tells us the values it upholds.
4. The document that lays out the rules and laws of a country.
5. The gas used to preserve the original Constitution safely.
6. Basic rights given to every citizen, like freedom and equality.
Answer:
Across-
2. Legislature,
7. Fundamental duties,
8. Supreme Court,
9. Republic,
10. Amendment.

Down-
1. Constituent Assembly,
3. Preamble,
4. Constitution,
5. Helium,
6. Fundamental Rights.