Class 9 Civics Chapter 2 Question Answers - Constitutional Design

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Q1: What was apartheid?
Ans: Apartheid was a system of racial discrimination practised in South Africa some decades ago. It was imposed by the white Europeans on the blacks. It was another name of exploitation and oppression.

Q2: Why was Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964?
Ans: He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964 because he dared to raise voice against the system of apartheid in his country.

Q3: What were the people of mixed races called in South Africa?
Ans: In South Africa, people of mixed races were referred to as ‘coloured’.

Q4: Name the groups that fought against the apartheid system.
Ans: Groups that fought against apartheid:

• Blacks
• Coloured
• Indians

Q5: Which political party in South Africa led the struggle against the policies of segregation?
Ans: The African National Congress (ANC) was the main organisation that led the fight against the policies of segregation in South Africa.

Q6: Who was Vallabhbhai Patel?
Ans: Vallabhbhai Patel was a prominent Indian leader known for his significant contributions to the country's independence movement.

Q7: What was the Indian National Congress’s resolution at its Karachi session in 1931?
Ans: The resolution at the Karachi session of the Indian National Congress in 1931 focused on the framework of an independent India's Constitution.

Q8: On what basis do we say that the British had introduced very weak legislatures?
Ans: The British rule had given voting rights only to a few. On that basis, we say that the British had introduced very weak legislatures.

Q9: When did the Indian Constitution come into force?
Ans: The Indian Constitution came into force on 26th January 1950.

Q10: When did the Constituent Assembly adopt the Constitution?
Ans: The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949.

Q11: Who played a key role in the making of the Indian Constitution?
Ans: Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar played a key role in the making of the Indian Constitution.

Q12: Which national leader tried to draft a Constitution for India as far back as in 1928?
Ans: In 1928, Motilal Nehru and eight other Congress leaders attempted to draft a Constitution for India.

Q13: Name some important members of the Constituent Assembly?
Ans: Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Kanhaiyalal Maniklal Munshi, etc.

Q14: What do you know about G. Durgabai Deshmukh?
Ans: She was born in Andhra Pradesh. She was an advocate and public activist for women’s emancipation. She founded Andhra Mahila Sabha.

Q15: The Preamble to the Indian Constitution begins with ‘We’ the people of India’. What does this mean?
Ans: It means the Constitution has been drawn up and enacted by the people through their representatives, and not handed down to them by a king or any outside powers.

Q16: Why is India called a ‘republic’?
Ans: India is called a ‘republic’ because here the head of the state is an elected person and not a hereditary position.

Q17: Highlight any one similarity between the story of South African struggle for freedom and the Indian National Movement.
Ans: The leaders of both the struggles i.e. Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela followed the same policy— the policy of non-violence and they remained stick to this policy till the last.

Q18: What do you mean when you say ‘India is a sovereign country’?
Ans: It means people have supreme right to make decisions on internal as well as external matters. No external power can dictate the Government of India.

Q19: What do you mean when you say ‘India is a secular country?
Ans: It means the citizens of India have complete freedom to follow any religion. There is no official religion. Government treats all religious beliefs and practices with equal respect.

Q20: Why did Dr B.R. Ambedkar often criticize Mahatma Gandhi?
Ans: Dr B.R. Ambedkar often bitterly criticized Mahatma Gandhi because he (Mahatma Gandhi) held different understanding of how inequalities could be removed from the Indian society.

Q21: How would you define the term ‘Preamble’?
Ans: It is an introductory statement in a Constitution which states the reasons and guiding values of the Constitution.

Q22: Why does the Constitution of India need to be amended quite regularly?
Ans: The Constitution of India is a very long and detailed document. Therefore it needs to be amended quite regularly to keep it updated.

Q23: What is meant by the term ‘socialist’?
Ans: The term ‘socialist’ means wealth is generated socially and should be shared equally by society. Government should regulate the ownership of land and industry to reduce socioeconomic inequalities.

Q24: ‘Justice’ is a term used in the Preamble to the Indian Constitution. What does it mean?
Ans: The term ‘justice’ means citizens cannot be discriminated on the grounds of caste, religion and gender.

Q25: What is meant by the term ‘liberty’ used in the Preamble to the Indian Constitution?
Ans: ‘Liberty’ means there are no unreasonable restrictions on the citizens in what they think, how they wish to express their thoughts and the way they wish to follow up their thoughts in action.