Test: Constitution: Why And How?- 2 - UPSC MCQ

In 2008, Nepal emerged as a democratic republic after abolishing the monarchy and in 2015 adopted a new constitution.

• The Assertion is correct as the Constituent Assembly did indeed strive for consensus to ensure that the provisions of the Constitution would not favor any particular interest.
• The Reason is false because the Assembly sessions were open to the press and public, indicating transparency rather than secrecy.
• Since the Reason is false, it cannot be considered a correct explanation of the Assertion.

- Statement i is correct because a constitution does encapsulate the historical and cultural identity of a nation while setting the framework for democratic governance.

- Statement ii is incorrect; the Indian Constitution does not prioritize ethnic identity for citizenship, contrasting with countries like Germany, which have ethnic-based citizenship laws.

- Statement iii is correct as many constitutions include provisions for protecting basic rights, which is a common feature.

- Statement iv is incorrect because the relationship between regions and the central government is a fundamental aspect addressed in most constitutions, including the Indian Constitution.

Thus, the correct answer is Option A: i and iii.

• The Assertion is true because the Constitution was indeed adopted amid the chaos of the Partition, reflecting the social and political turmoil of that time.
• The Reason is also true as the framers faced immense pressure to ensure representation of diverse communities, including various religions and Scheduled Castes.
• Furthermore, the Reason correctly explains the Assertion, as the need to address societal complexities directly influenced the drafting process of the Constitution.

Two hundred eighty-four members were present on 24 January 1950 and appended their signature to the constitution as finally passed.

• The assertion is true because the Objective Resolution of 1946 indeed outlined key principles that were later incorporated into the Constitution.
• The reason is also true as it highlights the importance of aligning the government with the aspirations of the nationalist movement.
• Furthermore, the reason correctly explains the assertion as it illustrates how the resolution's emphasis on democracy and equality served as a moral foundation for the Constitution.

The assembly had twenty-eight members from the scheduled castes.

Fundamental Rights (A) protect citizens' freedoms and limit government power (1). The Constituent Assembly (B) was the body responsible for drafting the Indian Constitution (2). Universal Suffrage (C) refers to voting rights for all adult citizens regardless of religion, caste, gender, or income (3). Public Reason (D) is the principle that constitutional debates should be based on reasoned argument (4).

- Statement i is correct because a balanced arrangement of government institutions is indeed crucial for the effectiveness of a constitution.

- Statement ii is incorrect; the framers sought to balance power between the central and state governments.

- Statement iii is also correct as the parliamentary system does facilitate a distribution of powers within the government.

- Statement iv is incorrect; the Constituent Assembly actively learned from the experiences of other countries to shape the Constitution.

Thus, the correct answer is Option A: i and iii.

Statement I is false because the Directive Principles of State Policy are not justiciable and cannot be enforced by the courts. Statement II is true because Balanced Institutional Design is important to prevent any single group from dominating the government.