Constitution Basics — Set 1

Correct Answer: B. M.N. Roy

• **M.N. Roy** = first proposed the idea of a Constituent Assembly for India in 1934. • **1934/1935** — Roy made the proposal in 1934; INC officially demanded it in 1935; it was finally set up in 1946. • 💡 Option A (Mahatma Gandhi) is wrong because Gandhi never formally proposed a Constituent Assembly; Option C (Sardar Patel) is wrong because Patel chaired the Advisory Committee, not the original proposal; Option D (Jawaharlal Nehru) is wrong because Nehru moved the Objective Resolution, not the Assembly idea.

Correct Answer: D. Cabinet Mission Plan

• **Cabinet Mission Plan** = formulated the scheme under which the Constituent Assembly was constituted in November 1946. • **November 1946** — the Assembly was set up with 389 members total; it first met on December 9, 1946. • 💡 Option A (Wavell Plan) is wrong because it dealt with a proposed executive council, not the Constituent Assembly; Option B (Cripps Mission) is wrong because it proposed dominion status and failed; Option C (Mountbatten Plan) is wrong because it came in 1947 only to partition India.

Correct Answer: B. Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha

• **Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha** = elected temporary President of the Constituent Assembly on December 9, 1946, as the oldest member present. • **French Precedent** — the practice of electing the oldest member as temporary president was borrowed from the French constitutional tradition. • 💡 Option A (H.C. Mukherjee) is wrong because he was elected Vice-President of the Assembly; Option C (Dr. Rajendra Prasad) is wrong because he was the permanent president, not temporary; Option D (B.R. Ambedkar) is wrong because he chaired the Drafting Committee, not the opening session.

Correct Answer: D. Jawaharlal Nehru

• **Jawaharlal Nehru** = moved the Objective Resolution in the Constituent Assembly on December 13, 1946. • **December 13, 1946** — the resolution declared India a sovereign democratic republic and its modified version became the Preamble of the Constitution. • 💡 Option A (B.R. Ambedkar) is wrong because Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee and did not move the Objective Resolution; Option B (Dr. Rajendra Prasad) is wrong because he was Assembly president who presided over proceedings; Option C (Sardar Patel) is wrong because he chaired the Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, not this resolution.

Correct Answer: D. H.C. Mukherjee

• **H.C. Mukherjee** = elected Vice-President of the Constituent Assembly; the Assembly had two Vice-Presidents. • **Two Vice-Presidents** — H.C. Mukherjee and V.T. Krishnamachari both served as Vice-Presidents assisting President Dr. Rajendra Prasad. • 💡 Option A (B.N. Rau) is wrong because Rau was the Constitutional Advisor to the Assembly; Option B (K.M. Munshi) is wrong because he was a member of the Drafting Committee; Option C (J.B. Kripalani) is wrong because he was the INC president and a general member of the Assembly.

Correct Answer: B. July 22, 1947

• **July 22, 1947** = the Constituent Assembly adopted the National Flag of India on this date. • **Tricolour design** — deep saffron on top, white in the middle with the Navy Blue Dharma Chakra (24 spokes), and dark green at the bottom. • 💡 Option A (August 15, 1947) is wrong because that is Independence Day, not the flag adoption date; Option C (January 26, 1950) is wrong because that is the date the Constitution came into force; Option D (November 26, 1949) is wrong because that is the date the Constitution was adopted.

Correct Answer: D. USSR (Soviet Union)

• **USSR (Soviet Union)** = source country for the concept of Five Year Plans in India's planning model. • **Socialist Influence** — both Five Year Plans and Fundamental Duties (Article 51A) trace their inspiration to the Soviet Constitution. • 💡 Option A (UK) is wrong because UK contributed Parliamentary System, not Five Year Plans; Option B (Ireland) is wrong because Ireland contributed DPSP; Option C (USA) is wrong because USA contributed Fundamental Rights and Judicial Review.

Correct Answer: B. Australia

• **Australia** = source country for the Concurrent List, where both Centre and States can legislate on the same subjects. • **Seventh Schedule** — the Concurrent List is part of the Seventh Schedule along with the Union List and State List. • 💡 Option A (Germany) is wrong because Germany contributed the concept of suspension of Fundamental Rights during Emergency; Option C (Japan) is wrong because Japan contributed the phrase 'Procedure established by law'; Option D (Canada) is wrong because Canada contributed Federation with a strong Centre.

Correct Answer: B. South Africa

• **South Africa** = source country for the amendment procedure in the Indian Constitution (Article 368). • **Article 368** — this article lays down the procedure for constitutional amendment; South Africa also influenced the method of Rajya Sabha member election. • 💡 Option A (France) is wrong because France contributed the ideals of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity in the Preamble; Option C (Canada) is wrong because Canada contributed the concept of Federation with a strong Centre; Option D (USA) is wrong because USA contributed Fundamental Rights and Judicial Review.

Correct Answer: C. French Revolution

• **French Revolution (1789)** = source for the ideals of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity enshrined in the Indian Preamble. • **Preamble** — these three ideals form the core values of the Indian republic; Dr. Ambedkar acknowledged borrowing them from revolutionary France. • 💡 Option A (Russian Revolution) is wrong because the Russian Revolution contributed socialist and planning ideas, not Liberty-Equality-Fraternity; Option B (American Revolution) is wrong because the American Revolution contributed the concept of Fundamental Rights; Option D (Glorious Revolution) is wrong because it was a British event that influenced constitutional monarchy, not Indian constitutional values.