Important Questions: The Philosophy of the Constitution | Political Science Class 11 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: What is the significance of political philosophy for a Constitution?
Ans: The political philosophy of the constitution is needed not only to find out the moral content expressed in it and to evaluate its claims but possibly to use it to arbitrate between varying interpretations of many core values in our polity. Every Constitution of the world has philosophic content and base to move society in the desired direction.

Q2: Discuss the Constitution as a mean of the transformation of society
Ans: Constitutions provide peaceful, democratic means to bring about social and economic transformation. It has philosophic backing which sets the direction and objectives of the society.

Q3: Was the Constituent Assembly a sovereign body?
Ans: In a technical sense, the Constituent Assembly was not sovereign because it was set up as per terms and conditions set by the British Government and Constitution will be approved by the British Government before the implementation. But we can say it a Constituent Assembly which was represented only by Indians and there was no kind of interference of the British Government. It was adopted and implemented on behalf of the people of India.

Q4: What is Liberalism?
Ans: Liberalism is one of the main philosophic content of the Indian Constitution. It seeks to liberate the Indian society from the shackles of social and economic backwardness and to take in the area of freedom, equality, and justice.

Q5: What do you mean by Liberalism?
Ans: Liberalism means openers and decisions by rational thinking, discussions, and debates. The liberalism of the Indian constitution differs from western liberalism in many ways. Indian liberalism seeks to achieve the goal of social justice for Indian society through the provision to achieve Fundamental Rights of equality and liberty and by the reservation of seats.

Q6: What is Secularism?
Ans: Secularism is important philosophic and idealistic content of Indian society and polity. It is a positive concept which does not stand on the complete separation of state and religion. It allows the state for positive intervention in religious matters.

Q7: What do you mean by individually and Dignity?
Ans: Individual freedom and dignity of men are two important values of the Indian Constitution .which are based on Liberal Political Philosophy. Indian Constitution is committed to the individual freedom and dignity of men which are mentioned in the Preamble of the Constitution. It is the result of continuous intellectual discussion and debate. The dignity of man means respect for human personality and human feelings. The state must be responsive to the needs of the people. It is for this that freedom of expression is an integral part of the Constitution.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q8: How the constitution is an instrument of socio-economic transformation?
Ans: Constitution provides the framework of government to run the polity on a definite philosophical base. Constitution also provides the mechanism to bring about socio-economic transformation of the society. Constitution keeps a check on the arbitrariness of the ruler and paves the way for achieving the goals of the society set on the basis of a particular philosophy. To bring about the socio-economic transformation of the society, philosophic and value system support is a must which is provided by the political philosophy of the Constitution. For example, the Indian constitution is designed on such a philosophic base so as to get Indian society of age-old evils like illiteracy, casteism, peasantry, and exploitation.

Q9: Explain the main features of the Political philosophy of the Constitution of India.
Ans: Following were some important elements of the political philosophy of the Indian constitution:

• Liberalization
• Social Justice
• Protection of rights and interests of minorities.
• Federation
• Individual freedom
• The dignity of man.
• National integration
• Democracy
• Secularism
• Universal Franchise

Q10: How the Indian constitution seeks to achieve unity in diversity?
Ans: It is said about India that India is not a country, it is a continent because there are numerous languages and dialects, regions, and religions. It has a multi-cultural society. People have different dress patterns, different food habits, different traditions, and different festivals but in spite of this diversity in socio, economic set up there is the threat of unity. This unity is achieved by the spirit of nationalism which is all-pervasive. Indian Constitution is made on such values that spread equality, brotherhood and promote a sense of equality which strengthens nationalism. Therefore there is unity in diversity.

Q11: Define secularism as the value of the Indian Constitution.
Ans: India is a country where people of different religions and faith life together. Art 25 of the Indian Constitution clearly gives the message of secularism. It is provided here that the state will neither patronize any religions nor will become the hindrance of any religion. In 1926 by the 42nd Constitutional amendment the word secularism was added in the Preamble of the Constitution to make it clear that India is a secular state. Our secularism is humanistic scientific and positive. The state is allowed to intervene in religious affairs for a positive purpose.

Q12: Explain the provision of reservation for social justice in the Indian constitution.
Ans: To achieve social justice the Constitution makers made the provision of reservation in services for the people of Scheduled castes and Scheduled tribes. They were of the view that more granting right of. equality will not help in achieving the cause of social justice, special constitutional measures were required to advance the interests of weaker sections. They also provided reservation of seats in Parliament and state legislatures.

Q13: Mention some unitary features of the Indian Constitution.
Ans: The Indian Constitution is based on federal values. It is federal in structure but unitary in spirit. Its striking unitary features are as under:

• Strong center pro center distribution of powers.
• Provision of Emergency power to center under Art 352
• President rule in States as per Art 356
• Unequal representation of States in Parliament
• Control of States by center by All India Government Service
• Provision of special status for some states under Art 370 to Jammu & Kashmir and under Art 371 to Northern Eastern State.

Q14: Comment upon the negative features of the Constituent Assembly.
Ans: Constituent Assembly was constituted in 1966. It took two years, eleven months, and eighteen days to complete the constitution which indicates, how difficult work was to write the Constitution. Some of the negative features of Constituent Assembly are as under

• It was not a sovereign body
• It was an unrepresentative body
• It was Congress dominated
• It was Hindu dominated.

Ultimately it was the best option in the given circumstances and made a wonderful Constitution.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q15: Explain the values and philosophy of the Indian constitution as given in the Preamble of the Constitution.
Ans: The Preamble of the Indian Constitution is the introductory part of the Constitution. It is an integral part of the Constitution. It helps in the explanation and interpretations of different provisions of the Constitution. It starts with the people of India. It means that this Constitution which is written by Constituent Assembly is being adopted on behalf of the people. Further, it says that India will be sovereign, socialistic, secular, democratic. republic. It means that it clearly tells that the form of government will be democratic Republican, it will be based on socialistic economy and as regards the place of religion, it will be secular.
Further, it says that there will be

• Justice – social, economic and Political
• Liberty – of thought and expression
• Equality – of status and opportunity.

These values of justice, liberty, and equality tell the liberal content of the political philosophy of the Constitution. Its preferences are to achieve social justice, economic justice, and political justice, where there will be liberty of expression and thought and equality of status and opportunity. All these values are ensured through Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of state policy. The other values are dignity and national unity and integrity of the nation. Thus preamble speakers of forms of the social, economic, and political system. It speaks of the philosophy, values, and objectives of the Constitution.

Q16: What do you mean by the philosophy of the Constitution?
Ans: The constitution is not merely an aggregation of rules, regulations, and laws. The constitution is not only a legal document but also has a moral and philosophic base and contents. Most of the laws are connected with the customs and values of society. Every Constitution is value ridden which provides the philosophy base to the Constitution. Philosophy provides the moral vision of the constitution. An attempt is made to work out a coherent vision of society and polity conditional upon an interpretation of the key concepts of the Constitution. Philosophy of the Constitution includes the set of ideas embedded in the Constitution. Political philosophy is needed not only to find out the moral content expressed in it and to evaluate its claims but possibly to use it to calibrate between varying interpretations of the many core values of our polity.

Q17: What was the nature of the Constituent Assembly?
Ans: Constituent Assembly was constituted as per the recommenda¬tions of the Cabinet Mission Plan 1946 in response to the demand of the leaders of the National Movement who were demanding the right to self-determination. The following are the features of the Constituent Assembly:

• The Constituent Assembly was constituted on the principle of self-determination.
• It was constituted as per the terms and conditions set by the British Government.
• The Constituent Assembly was constituted by indirect election which was not based on the adult franchise but on the limited right of vote.
• Most of the decisions were taken by consensus and accommodation.
• Many representatives of some groups were nominated
• It was made to write the Constitution of India.

Q18: Explain social justice as the value of the Indian Constitution?
Ans: Social value is the highly cherished value of the Indian Constitution for which various measures have been incorporated in different parts of the Constitution. The value of social justice is referred to in the preamble. The other related values are as under:-

• Justice Social:- economic and political
• Liberty:- Thought and expression
• Equality:- Status and Opportunity

All these values are complementary to the value of Justice. For social justice economic and political justice are necessary. The value of Liberty and equality are also necessary to achieve the objectives of social justice which seeks to achieve an egalitarian society free from inequality, exploitation, and wants.

Q19: What is the importance of individual freedom?
Ans: The Indian Constitution is committed to individual freedom. Individual dignity found the place of importance m the preamble of the Indian constitution. Rights of individual expression are given in Art 19 of the Constitution Many social reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy fought for the cause of individual freedom. Western liberal thinkers also influenced the cause of individual rights and expression. Therefore, the right to individual expression is an essential element of democracy. It is an integral part of the Constitution element of democracy. Individual expression has been part and parcel of the charters of demand of self-determination and democracy. It is very necessary for the fuller development of an individual.

Q20: Comment on the Procedural achievements of the Indian Constitution and Constituent Assembly.
Ans: Besides various achievements of the different values and features of the Indian Constitution there are some procedural achievements which are as under:

• Decisions are taken by discussions, debate, and rational deliberation collectively. Public opinions are given due weight in the decision-making process. Constituent Assembly reflecting the different sections of the society also reflect different shades of opinion and different interest groups. There is the full scope of differing and dissent.
• There was a remarkable spirit of compromise and accommodation to create consensus on controversial issues. Besides a commitment to the idea that decisions on the most important issues must be arrived at consensually rather than by majority vote is equally morally commendable. Most of the controversial and thorny issues are introduced in the best spirit of accommodation and consensus.