Indian Constitutional Development (Question & Answers)

1. The Cabinet Mission to India was headed by (Asstt Grade 1992)
(a) Stafford Cripps
(b) A.V. Alexander
(c) Lord Pethick Lawrence
(d) Hugh Gaitskell
Ans: (c)
2. The Constitution of India was adopted by the: (Teachers’ Exam 1994)
(a) Governor General
(b) British Parliament
(c) Constituent Assembly
(d) Parliament of India
Ans: (c)
3. The Constituent Assembly for undivided India first met on
(a) 6th December, 1946
(b) 9th December, 1946
(c) 20th February, 1947
(d) 3rd June, 1947
Ans: (b)
4. When the Constituent Assembly for the Dominion of India reassembled on 31st October, 1947, its reduced membership was:
(a) 299
(b) 311
(c) 319
(d) 331
Ans: (a)
5. Who among the following was the Constitutional adviser to the Constituent Assembly of India? (CDS 1995)
(a) Dr. B.N. Rao
(b) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
(c) K.M. Munshi
(d) M.C. Setalvad
Ans: (a)
6. The Constitution of India was enacted by a Constituent Assembly set up:
(a) under the Indian Independence Act, 1947
(b) under the Cabinet Mission Plan, 1946
(c) through a resolution of the provisional government
(d) by the Indian National Congress
Ans: (b)
7. The Constituent Assembly which framed the Constitution for Independent India was set up in :
(a) 1945
(b) 1946
(c) 1947
(d) 1949
Ans: (b)
8. Who presided over the inaugural meeting of the Constituent Assembly of India?
(a) Sachidananda Sinha
(b) B. R. Ambedkar
(c) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(d) P. Upendra
Ans: (a)
9. Who among the following was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution? [CDS 1992]
(a) Rajendra Prasad
(b) Tej Bahadur Sapru
(c) C. Rajagopalachari
(d) B. R. Ambedkar
Ans: (d)
10. How long did the Constituent Assembly take to finally pass the Constitution?
(a) about 6 months in 1949
(b) exactly a year since Nov 26, 1948
(c) about 2 years since Aug 15, 1947
(d) about 3 years since Dec 9, 1946
Ans: (d)
11. Who was the President of the Constituent Assembly?
(a) Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(c) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
(d) C. Rajagopalachari
Ans: (b)
12. The demand for the Constituent Assembly was put forward by the Indian National Congress in 1936 at its session held at :
(a) Kanpur
(b) Bombay
(c) Lucknow
(d) Lahore
Ans: (c)
13. The Constituent Assembly arrived at decisions on the various provisions of the Constitution:
(a) by a majority vote
(b) by a two-thirds majority
(c) by consensus
(d) unanimously
Ans: (c)
14. The most profound influence on the drafting of the Indian Constitution was exercised by the
(a) U.S. Constitution
(b) British Constitution
(c) Government of India Act, 1935
(d) French ideals of Liberty and Fraternity
Ans: (c)
15. Match the following: Committees of Constituent Assembly Chairmen
A. Drafting Committee 1. Vallabhbhai PateI
B. Committee on Fundamental and Minority Rights 2. Jawaharlal Nehru
C. Union Constitution Committee 3. Kanhiyalal Munshi
D. Working Committee 4. B.R. Ambedkar
A B C D
(a) 1 2 3 4
(b) 4 2 1 3
(c) 4 1 3 2
(d) 4 1 2 3
Ans: (d)
16. Which one of the following statements is correct? (IAS 2004)
(a) The Constituent Assembly of India was elected by the Provincial Assemblies in the year 1946
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru; M.A. Jinnah and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel were members of the Constituent Assembly of India
(c) The First Session of the Constituent Assembly of India was held in January, 1947
(d) The Constitution of India was adopted on 26th January, 1950
Ans: (a)
17. Match the following:
A. July 22, 1947 1. Adoption of National Song by the Constituent Assembly
B. January 24, 1950 2. Adoption of National Emblem by the Government
C. January 26, 1950 3. Adoption of National Calendar by the Government
D. March 22, 1957 4. Adoption of National Flag by the Constituent Assembly
A B C D
(a) 4 1 2 3
(b) 3 1 2 4
(c) 4 2 1 3
(d) 2 1 3 4
Ans: (a)
18. Which of the following is/are correctly matched?
I. India’s National Song-Vande Mataram
II. India s National Flower-Rose
III. India’s National Animal-Tiger
IV. India’s National Bird-Eagle
(a) I and IV
(b) I, II and III
(c) II, III and IV
(d) I and III
Ans: (d)
19. The design of the National Flag was adopted by the Constitutent Assembly of India in:
(a) July, 1948
(b) July, 1950
(c) July, 1947
(d) August, 1947
Ans: (c)
20. Which of the following are the principal features of Government of India Act, 1919?
1. Introduction of dyarchy in the executive government of the provinces.
2. Introduction of separate communal electorate for Muslims.
3. Devolution of legislative authority by the Centre to the Provinces.
4. Expansion and reconstitution of Central and Provincial Legislatures.
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1, 2 and 4
(c) 2, 3 and 4
(d) 1, 3 and 4
Ans: (d)
21. Which of the following proved to be the most short lived of all the British constitutional experiments in India?
(a) Government of India Act, 1919
(b) Indian Council Act, 1909
(c) Pitt’s India Act, 1784
(d) Government of India Act, 1935
Ans: (b)
22. Which one of the following Acts formally introduced the principles of elections for the first time?
(a) Indian Councils Act, 1909
(b) Government of India Act, 1919
(c) Government of India Act, 1935
(d) Indian Independence Act, 1947
Ans: (a)
23. Which of the following features do not contribute to making the Indian Constitution the bulkiest in the world?
I. Various types of emergencies are considered in detail.
II. It codifies the rights and privileges of the members of Parliament and State Legislatures.
III. It enumerates all types of Indian citizenship and how it can be terminated.
IV. It contains not only a list of fundamental rights but also the restrictions to be placed on them.
(a) I and II
(b) I and IV
(c) II and III
(d) II, III and IV
Ans: (c)
24. Which of the following statements is/are not correct about the Objectives Resolution?
I. It was moved by Jawaharlal Nehru in the Constituent Assembly.
II. It called for just rights for minorities.
III. It formed the basis for the chapter on Fundamental Rights.
IV. It called for the establishment of a socialist and secular polity.
(a) I and II
(b) I, II and III
(c) III and IV
(d) Only III
Ans: (c)
25. Which of the following items is wrongly matched?
(a) December 9, 1947-Constituent Assemby’s first meeting
(b) November 26, 1949-the people of India adopted, enacted and gave to themselves the Constitution
(c) January 24,’ 1950-the Constitution was finally signed by the members of the Constituent Assembly
(d) January 26, 1950-the date of commencement of the Constitution
Ans: (a)
26. Which of the following provisions of the Constitution came into force from November 26, 1949 ?
I. Provisions relating to citizenship.
II. Provisions relating to elections.
III. Provisions relating to provisional Parliament.
IV. Fundamental Rights.
(a) I and II
(b) I, III and IV
(c) I, II and III
(d) None
Ans: (c)
27. Which of the following Acts gave representation to Indians for the first time in the Legislature?
(a) Indian Councils Act, 1909
(b) Indian Councils Act, 1919
(c) Government of India Act, 1935
(d) None of the above
Ans: (c)
28. The Crown took the Government of India into its own hands by :
(a) Charter Act, 1833
(b) Government of India Act, 1858
(c) Indian Council Act, 1861
(d) Government of India Act, 1935
Ans: (b)
29. Consider the following statements. The Indian Constitution is :
(1) unwritten Constitution.
(2) written Constitution.
(3) largely based on Government of India Act, 1935.
(a) 2 and 1 are correct
(b) 2 and 3 are correct
(c) 1 and 2 are correct
(d) 1 and 3 are correct
Ans: (b)
30. The Indian Constitution establishes a secular state, meaning:
1. the State treats all religions equally.
2. freedom of faith and worship is allowed to all the people.
3. educational institutions, without exception, are free to impart religious instruction.
4. the State makes no discrimination on the basis of religion in matters of employment.
(a) I and II
(b) I, II and III
(c) II, III and IV
(d) I, II and IV
Ans: (d)
31. The nationalist demand for a Constituent Assembly was for the first time conceded by the British Government, though indirectly and with reservations in the:
(a) Cripps proposals
(b) August Offer
(c) Cabinet Mission Plan
(d) Act of 1935
Ans: (b)
32. Which of the following was adopted from the Maurya dynasty in the emblem of Government of India?
(a) Four lions
(b) Chariot wheel
(c) Horse
(d) Words ‘Satyameva Jayate’
Ans: (a)
33. The office of Governor-General of India was created by (Asstt Grade 1991)
(a) Charter Act, 1813
(b) Charter Act, 1833
(c) Government of India Act, 1858
(d) Government of India Act, 1935
Ans: (c)
34. Who among the following is known as the Father of the Indian Constitution?
(a) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
(b) Mahatma Gandhi
(c) Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) Vallabhbhai PateI
Ans: (a)
35. When did Mr. Attlee, Prime Minister of England, announce the transfer of power to the Indians?
(a) February, 1947
(b) August, 1947
(c) June, 1948
(d) June, 1949
Ans: (c)
36. Who proposed the Preamble before the Drafting Committee of the Constitution? (UDC 1994)
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) B.R. Ambedkar
(c) B.N. Rao
(d) Mahatma Gandhi
Ans: (a)
37. Which of the following is correct regarding the Indian Constitution?
(a) It is completely based on British Constitution
(b) It is made only on the basis of Government of India Act, 1935
(c) It is a mixture of several Constitutions
(d) It is original
Ans: (c)
38. Match the following:
A. Govt. of India Act, 1919 1. Provincial autonomy
B. Govt. of India Act, 1935 2. Separate Electorate
C. Minto-Morley Reforms 3. Dyarchy
D. Cabinet Mission Plan 4. Constituent Assembly
A B C D
(a) 1 2 3 4
(b) 2 4 3 1
(c) 4 1 3 2
(d) 3 1 2 4
Ans: (d)
39. The amendment procedure laid down in the Constitution of India is on the pattern of?
(a) Government of India Act, 1935
(b) Government of India Act, 1947
(c) Constitution of South Africa
(d) Constitution of UK
Ans: (c)
40. The first session of the Constituent Assembly was held in :
(a) Bombay
(b) Calcutta
(c) Lahore
(d) New Delhi
Ans: (d)
41. Who among the following was the Chairman of the Union Constitution Committee of the Constituent Assembly? [IAS 2005]
(a) B.R. Ambedkar
(b) J.B. Kripalani
(c) Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar
Ans: (c)
42. Who among the following was not a member of the Constituent Assembly? (CDS 2009)
(a) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
(b) Acharya J.B. Kriplani
(c) Lok Nayak Jayprakash Narayan
(d) K.M. Munshi
Ans: (c)
43. Which among the following is/are the feature (s) of a Federal State? ([NDA 2008)
1. The powers of the Central and the State (Constituent Unit) Governments are clearly laid down
2. It has an unwritten Constitution. Select the correct answer using the codes given below
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: (a)
44. Who was the first Foreign Minister of free India? (NDA 2008)
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) Gulzari Lal Nanda
(c) Lal Bahadur Shastri
(d) John Mathai
Ans: (a)
45. Under whom among the following was the first draft of the Constitution of India prepared in October 1947 by the advisory branch of the office of the Constituent Assembly? (IAS 2006)
(a) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) K.M. Munshi
(d) B.N. Rau
Ans: (d)
46. Which one among the following is a fundamental duty of citizens under the Constitution of India? (CDS 2012)
(a) To provide friendly cooperation to the people of the neighbouring countries
(b) To protect monuments of national importance
(c) To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so
(d) To know more and more about the history of India
Ans: (c)
47. The first effort at drafting a Dominion Status Constitution for India was made in response to the (CDS 2011)
(a) Minto-Morley Reforms
(b) Montague-Chelmsford Reforms
(c) Simon Commission
(d) First Round Table Conference
Ans: (c)
48. The Constitution of India divided the states of India in categories A. B. C. and D in the year 1950. In this context which of the following statements is correct? (CDS 2011)
(a) The Chief Commissioner was the executive head of category A states. The Rajpramukh was the executive head of category B states. The Governor was the executive head of categories C and D states.
(b) The Pajpramukh was the executive head of category A states. The Chief Commissioner was the executive head of categories Band C states. The Governor was the executive head of the category D states.
(c) The Governor was the executive head of category A states. The Rajpramukh was the executive head of category B states. The Chief Commissioner was the executive head of categories C and D states.
(d) The Governor was the executive head of category A states. The Chief Commissioner was the executive head of category B states. The Rajpramukh was the executive head of categories C and D states.
Ans: (c)
49. The Constitution of India was promulgated on January 26, 1950 because:
(a) this day was being celebrated as the Independence Day since 1929
(b) it was the wish of the framers of the Constitution
(c) the British did not want to leave India earlier than this date
(d) it was an auspicious day
Ans: (a)
50. The idea of the Constitution of India was first of all given by :
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
(c) Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) M.N. Roy
Ans: (d)
51. The members of the Constituent Assembly were:
(a) elected by Provincial Assemblies
(b) elected directly by people
(c) nominated by the government
(d) only representatives of the princely States
Ans: (a)
52. Which of the following statements regarding the’ Constituent Assembly are true? (IAS 1993)
1. It was not based on Adult Franchise.
2. It resulted from direct elections.
3. It was a multi-party body.
4. It worked through several Committees.
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Ans: (c)
53. Who among the following was not a member of the Constituent Assembly established in July 1946? (UTI 1993)
(a) Vallabhbhai Patel
(b) Mahatma Gandhi
(c) K.M. Munshi
(d) J.B. Kripalani
Ans: (b)
54. India became a Sovereign, democratic republic on :
(a) Aug 15, 1947
(b) Jan 30, 1948
(c) Jan 26, 1950
(d) Nov 26, 1929
Ans: (c)
55. Which one of the following made the Indian Legislature bicameral:
(a) Indian Councils Act, 1909
(b) Government of India Act, 1919
(c) Government of India Act, 1935
(d) Indian Independence Act, 1947
Ans: (b)
56. The first attempt at introducing a representative and popular element in administration was made by :
(a) Indian Councils Act, 1900
(b) Indian Councils Act, 1909
(c) Government of India Act, 1935
(d) Indian Councils Act, 1919
Ans: (b)
57. The Government of India Act, 1935 vested the residuary power in the:
(a) British Parliament
(b) Federal Legislature
(c) State Legislature
(d) Governor-General
Ans: (d)
58. Which of the following was not one of the features of Government of India Act, 1935 ?
(a) Provincial autonomy
(b) Dyarchy of centre
(c) Bicameral Legislature
(d) All India federation
Ans: (c)
59. Which one of the following aimed at providing a federal structure for India?
(a) Indian Council Act, 1909
(b) Montague-Chelmsford Reforms Act, 1919
(c) Charter Act, 1831
(d) Government of India Act, 1935
Ans: (d)
60. What was the main stipulation of Government of India Act, 1935 ?
(a) A federation was suggested
(b) Unitary form of government was recommended
(c) Complete independence guaranteed
(d) Dyarchy was made applicable at provincial level
Ans: (c)