Making Of The Indian Constitution – Concept & Notes PDF

Topic covered: Making Of The Indian Constitution class 9 notes and MCQs Questions: Constitutional Design (All single detail notes are exam-oriented).

We have discussed in-depth and exam-oriented pointers that can be asked in the board exam of class 9th about the “Making Of The Indian Constitution“ from the NCERT Political Science (Civics) notes for class 9th chapter 2 Constitutional Design.

Download the NCERT Political Science (Civics) for Class 9th Chapter 2 Constitutional Design Notes PDF

Chapter 2: Constitutional Design in Class 9 Political Science explains how a constitution is created and why it is essential for a democracy. It uses the story of South Africa’s struggle against apartheid to show how rules and principles shape equality and justice. Students often get confused with terms like “assembly” or “sovereignty,” so these notes simplify them with clear explanations. Important ideas such as fundamental rights, guiding values, and the purpose of the Preamble are highlighted in an easy-to-follow manner. Download the NCERT Political Science (Civics) for Class 9th Chapter 2 Constitutional Design Notes PDF to revise effectively.

Making Of The Indian Constitution

• India’s Constitution was drawn up under very difficult circumstances, similar to South Africa.
• Writing a constitution for a huge and diverse country like India was not easy.
• At that time, Indians were transitioning from subjects to citizens.

1. Impact of Partition:

• The country was born through partition based on religious differences.
• Partition caused a traumatic experience for both India and Pakistan.
• Around ten lakh people were killed in partition-related violence.

2. Challenge of Princely States:

• British left it to rulers of princely states to decide whether to:
  • Merge with India,
  • Merge with Pakistan, or
  • Remain independent.
• The merger of princely states was a difficult and uncertain task.

3. Uncertain Future:

• When the constitution was being written, the future of the country looked insecure.
• The makers of the constitution had anxieties about both present and future of India.

The Path to Constitution

1. Advantage for Constitution Makers:

• Unlike South Africa, India did not need to build consensus on democracy after Independence.
• Consensus had already evolved during the freedom struggle.
• The national movement was both a struggle against foreign rule and a struggle to transform Indian society and politics.
• Despite differences in opinion, some basic ideas were accepted by almost all leaders.

2. Early Efforts for Constitution:

• 1928: Motilal Nehru and eight Congress leaders drafted a constitution for India.
• 1931 (Karachi Session): Indian National Congress passed a resolution on how the future constitution should look.
• Both documents included:
  • Universal adult franchise
  • Right to freedom and equality
  • Protection of minority rights

3. Influence of Colonial Experience:

• Political institutions of British colonial rule provided useful experience.
• British gave limited voting rights and weak legislatures.
• 1937 elections to Provincial Legislatures and Ministries gave Indians practice in running governments.
• Many procedures were adopted from colonial laws, especially the Government of India Act, 1935.

4. Learning from Other Countries:

• Ideals of French Revolution inspired Indian leaders.
• British parliamentary democracy influenced India’s institutional design.
• US Bill of Rights shaped thinking on citizens’ rights.
• Russian socialist revolution inspired ideas of social and economic equality.

5. Independent Thinking:

• Indian leaders did not blindly copy foreign models.
• At each step, they questioned whether a particular feature suited Indian conditions.
• Years of debate, experience, and learning built confidence in framing an independent constitution.

The Constituent Assembly

1. Formation of the Constituent Assembly:

• The Indian Constitution was drafted by the Constituent Assembly, an assembly of elected representatives.
• Elections to the Constituent Assembly: July 1946.
• First meeting: December 1946.
• After Partition, the Assembly was divided into two:
  • Constituent Assembly of India
  • Constituent Assembly of Pakistan
• Constituent Assembly of India had 299 members.
• Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949.
• Constitution came into effect on 26 January 1950.
• 26 January is celebrated every year as Republic Day.

2. Why Accept the Constitution Made 70+ Years Ago?

• The Constitution reflects a broad consensus of its time, not just the views of its members.
• Unlike many countries, in India no major social group or political party has ever questioned the legitimacy of the Constitution.
• This acceptance is a rare achievement for any constitution.

3. Representation in the Constituent Assembly:

• Though universal adult franchise did not exist then, the Assembly was elected mainly by Provincial Legislatures.
• This gave a fair geographical share to all regions.
• The Assembly was dominated by the Indian National Congress (which led the freedom struggle).
• The Congress included a variety of political groups and opinions.
• Many members in the Assembly did not agree with the Congress.
• In social terms, the Assembly included members from:
  • Different language groups
  • Different castes
  • Different classes
  • Different religions
  • Different occupations
• Even if elected by universal adult franchise, the composition would not have been very different.

4. Working of the Constituent Assembly:

• The Assembly worked in a systematic, open and consensual manner.
• First, basic principles were agreed upon.
• Then, a Drafting Committee, chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, prepared the Draft Constitution.
• The Draft was discussed clause by clause.
• More than 2,000 amendments were considered.
• The Assembly deliberated for 114 days over a period of 3 years.
• Every document and word spoken in the Assembly was recorded.
• These records are called Constituent Assembly Debates.
• Printed debates fill 12 bulky volumes.
• These debates provide the rationale behind each constitutional provision.
• They are still used today to interpret the meaning of the Constitution.

Next & Previous Topics of NCERT/CBSE Political Science (Civics) Class 9 Chapter 2: Constitutional Design

MCQs on NCERT Political Science (Civics) Class 9 Chapter 2 Topic – Making Of The Indian Constitution Class 9 Notes

Here are the top exam-oriented MCQ-type questions on “Making Of The Indian Constitution Class 9 Notes” that you should prepare for your CBSE or state board exams:

Question 1. The making of India’s Constitution was difficult because:

a) India was a small nation
b) India was highly diverse and born through partition
c) There were no educated leaders
d) People had no prior political experience

Answer: b) India was highly diverse and born through partition

Question 2. How many people were killed in partition-related violence during India’s independence?

a) About five lakh
b) About ten lakh
c) About fifteen lakh
d) About twenty lakh

Answer: b) About ten lakh

Question 3. Which problem arose with princely states at the time of independence?

a) They wanted to remain under British rule
b) They had to decide whether to join India, Pakistan or remain independent
c) They refused to follow democracy
d) They opposed the freedom struggle

Answer: b) They had to decide whether to join India, Pakistan or remain independent

Question 4. What big advantage did Indian Constitution makers have compared to South Africa?

a) They had no challenges
b) Consensus about democratic India had already evolved during the freedom struggle
c) They copied South Africa’s constitution
d) They followed British monarchy

Answer: b) Consensus about democratic India had already evolved during the freedom struggle

Question 5. Who drafted a constitution for India as early as 1928?

a) Mahatma Gandhi
b) Jawaharlal Nehru
c) Motilal Nehru and eight other Congress leaders
d) B.R. Ambedkar

Answer: c) Motilal Nehru and eight other Congress leaders

Question 6. Which Congress session in 1931 discussed the framework of India’s future constitution?

a) Lahore session
b) Karachi session
c) Lucknow session
d) Calcutta session

Answer: b) Karachi session

Question 7. The Karachi Resolution of 1931 included which of the following ideas?

a) Universal adult franchise
b) Right to freedom and equality
c) Protection of rights of minorities
d) All of the above

Answer: d) All of the above

Question 8. Which colonial law provided several institutional procedures later adopted in the Indian Constitution?

a) Regulating Act, 1773
b) Government of India Act, 1858
c) Government of India Act, 1935
d) Indian Councils Act, 1909

Answer: c) Government of India Act, 1935

Question 9. Which country inspired India with the ideals of equality from a socialist revolution?

a) Britain
b) USA
c) France
d) Russia

Answer: d) Russia

Question 10. Who prepared the Draft Constitution of India?

a) Jawaharlal Nehru
b) Mahatma Gandhi
c) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Chairman of Drafting Committee
d) Rajendra Prasad

Answer: c) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Chairman of Drafting Committee

Question 11. When were elections to the Constituent Assembly held?

a) 1945
b) July 1946
c) August 1947
d) January 1950

Answer: b) July 1946

Question 12. When did the Constituent Assembly hold its first meeting?

a) August 1946
b) December 1946
c) January 1947
d) November 1949

Answer: b) December 1946

Question 13. The Constituent Assembly of India had how many members?

a) 250
b) 280
c) 299
d) 315

Answer: c) 299

Question 14. When was the Constitution of India adopted?

a) 15 August 1947
b) 26 November 1949
c) 26 January 1950
d) 2 October 1949

Answer: b) 26 November 1949

Question 15. When did the Constitution of India come into effect?

a) 15 August 1947
b) 26 November 1949
c) 26 January 1950
d) 2 October 1950

Answer: c) 26 January 1950

Question 16. Why do we celebrate 26 January as Republic Day?

a) Because the Constitution was adopted
b) Because the Constitution came into effect
c) Because freedom was achieved
d) Because it was Gandhi’s idea

Answer: b) Because the Constitution came into effect

Question 17. How many amendments were considered during Constituent Assembly debates?

a) About 1000
b) About 1500
c) More than 2000
d) Less than 500

Answer: c) More than 2000

Question 18. For how many days did the Constituent Assembly deliberate on the Constitution?

a) 50 days
b) 75 days
c) 114 days spread over 3 years
d) 365 days continuously

Answer: c) 114 days spread over 3 years

Question 19. The Constituent Assembly debates, when printed, filled:

a) 6 volumes
b) 8 volumes
c) 10 volumes
d) 12 volumes

Answer: d) 12 volumes

Question 20. Which of the following statements about the Constituent Assembly is correct?

a) It was directly elected by universal adult franchise
b) It represented all regions, languages, castes, religions, and occupations fairly
c) It was only dominated by one caste group
d) It functioned in secrecy

Answer: b) It represented all regions, languages, castes, religions, and occupations fairly

Question 21. What was the biggest strength of the Constituent Assembly?

a) It copied British laws
b) It worked in a systematic, open and consensual manner
c) It had no opposition
d) It avoided all debates

Answer: b) It worked in a systematic, open and consensual manner