Question

Here are some false statements. Identify the mistake in each case and rewrite these correctly based on what you have read in this chapter. a) Leaders of the freedom movement had an open mind about whether the country should be democratic or not after independence. b) Members of the Constituent Assembly of India held the same views on all provisions of the Constitution. c) A country that has a constitution must be a democracy. d) Constitution cannot be amended because it is the supreme law of a country.

Answer 1

Answer for Question (a)

• There was no doubt in the minds of the leaders of the freedom movement that India should be a democratic nation that gave equal political rights to everyone.
• They wanted to give equality to all citizens irrespective of caste, religion, language, culture, and gender.
• They wanted to give social justice and remove all discriminatory practices in the country. The rule of law is the foundation of democracy.
• The Constitution of India is the supreme law.

Answer for Question (b)

• Members of the Constituent Assembly did not have the same views on all the provisions of the Constitution.
• The Constituent Assembly worked in a consensual, open, and systematic manner.
• Initially there was agreement on some of the basic principles.
• The draft constitution was prepared for discussion.
• Clause by clause there was discussion on the draft constitution.
• The number of amendments that were considered was more than two thousand.
• Spread over three years, the members of the constituent assembly debated for 114 days.
• The debates of constituent assembly are preserved, which are used for interpretation of the constitution.

Answer for Question (c)

• All countries that have constitutions are not necessarily democratic.
• In many countries the Constitution exists as a mere piece of paper.
• But all countries that are democratic will have constitutions.

Answer for Question (d)

• The constitution can be amended, the constitution has provided provisions for amendment.
• While amending the constitution, a set of procedures have to be followed which are given in the constitution.
• Till date, our constitution has been amended many times.
• The Constitution provided provisions for amendment taking into account the fluid situations that arise over the change of time and which may not have existed when the constitution was adopted.