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Indian Constitution & Polity

General Awareness · Polity, Economy & Geography

Useful for: SSC CGL, Railway RRB, CTET, OTET, OSSTET, REET, UPTET, BPSC TRE

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हिंदी में पढ़ें

Overview

The Constitution was framed by the Constituent Assembly between 1946 and 1949 and borrows features from several constitutions while keeping an Indian structure.

Key points

The Constituent Assembly first met on 9 December 1946; Dr Rajendra Prasad was its President.
Dr B. R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee.
Adopted on 26 November 1949 (Constitution Day); came into force on 26 January 1950 (Republic Day).
It took about 2 years, 11 months and 18 days to frame.
The Preamble was amended once — by the 42nd Amendment (1976), which added "socialist", "secular" and "integrity".

Explanation

Borrowed features: parliamentary system (UK), Fundamental Rights and judicial review (USA), Directive Principles (Ireland), federation with a strong Centre (Canada), Concurrent List (Australia), suspension of rights in emergency (Germany).
Original Constitution: 395 articles, 22 parts and 8 schedules; now 12 schedules.
Basic structure doctrine: Kesavananda Bharati case (1973).
Amendment procedure is in Article 368.

Step by step

Identify the exact fact asked (person, year, article, place).
Recall it from a linked group, not in isolation.
Eliminate options from the wrong period or category.

Examples

Who chaired the Drafting Committee? → Dr B. R. Ambedkar.
"Socialist" and "secular" were added to the Preamble by → the 42nd Amendment, 1976.
The idea of the Concurrent List was borrowed from → Australia.

Traps and advanced points

Trap: Confusing the President of the Constituent Assembly (Rajendra Prasad) with the Drafting Committee chairman (Ambedkar).
Trap: Mixing 26 November 1949 (adopted) and 26 January 1950 (in force).
Trap: Saying DPSP came from the USA (they came from Ireland).

Quick revision

9 Dec 1946 first meeting; 26 Nov 1949 adopted; 26 Jan 1950 in force.
Preamble amended once (1976).
Borrowed features by country.

Practice MCQs

Who appoints the Comptroller and Auditor General of India?
1. President of India
2. Parliament by joint sitting
3. Chief Justice of India
4. Prime Minister alone
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Answer: (a) President of India. President of India appoints the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
Article 153 of the Constitution relates to which office?
1. Chief Minister
2. Attorney General of India
3. Governor of a State
4. Comptroller and Auditor General
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Answer: (c) Governor of a State. Article 153 of the Constitution relates to Governor of a State.
Article 44 of the Constitution is principally associated with which of the following?
1. Emergency provisions
2. Finance Commission
3. Fundamental Duty to vote
4. Uniform Civil Code as a Directive Principle
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Answer: (d) Uniform Civil Code as a Directive Principle. Article 44 of the Constitution is principally associated with Uniform Civil Code as a Directive Principle.
Article 165 provides for which constitutional office in a State?
1. State Election Commissioner
2. Advocate General for the State
3. Attorney General for India
4. Chief Secretary
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Answer: (b) Advocate General for the State. Article 165 provides for which constitutional office in a State? — Advocate General for the State.
Article 51A of the Constitution is principally associated with which of the following?
1. Fundamental Rights
2. Election Commission
3. Fundamental Duties
4. Union Public Service Commission
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Answer: (c) Fundamental Duties. Article 51A of the Constitution is principally associated with Fundamental Duties.
The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on which date?
1. 26 January 1950
2. 26 November 1949
3. 15 August 1947
4. 9 December 1946
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Answer: (b) 26 November 1949. Adopted = 26 November 1949 (isi din Samvidhan Diwas manaya jaata hai).
Who was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution?
1. Sardar Patel
2. Dr. Rajendra Prasad
3. Jawaharlal Nehru
4. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
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Answer: (d) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. Drafting Committee ke Chairman Dr.
The idea of Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution was borrowed from which country?
1. USA
2. Ireland
3. Britain
4. Canada
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Answer: (b) Ireland. DPSP Ireland se liya gaya.
The words 'Socialist' and 'Secular' were added to the Preamble by which amendment?
1. 44th Amendment, 1978
2. 1st Amendment, 1951
3. 73rd Amendment, 1992
4. 42nd Amendment, 1976
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Answer: (d) 42nd Amendment, 1976. 42nd Amendment (1976) — 'mini constitution' bhi kaha jaata hai — ne Socialist, Secular, aur Integrity shabd Preamble me jode.
How long did the Constituent Assembly take to frame the Constitution?
1. 2 years 11 months 18 days
2. 5 years exactly
3. 1 year 5 months
4. 3 years 6 months
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Answer: (a) 2 years 11 months 18 days. 2 saal 11 mahine 18 din.
Which is the longest written constitution in the world?
1. Australia
2. USA
3. India
4. South Africa
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Answer: (c) India. Indian Constitution duniya ka sabse lamba likhit (written) constitution hai — original me 395 Articles, 22 Parts, 8 Schedules.
The Constituent Assembly was constituted based on the recommendations of which plan?
1. Wavell Plan
2. Cripps Mission
3. Cabinet Mission Plan 1946
4. Mountbatten Plan
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Answer: (c) Cabinet Mission Plan 1946. Constituent Assembly Cabinet Mission Plan (1946) ke tahat bani.
Who is regarded as the constitutional advisor to the Constituent Assembly?
1. Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar
2. Sachchidananda Sinha
3. B. N. Rau
4. K. M. Munshi
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Answer: (c) B. N. Rau. B.N.
The Objectives Resolution, which later became the Preamble's basis, was moved by:
1. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
2. Jawaharlal Nehru
3. Dr. Rajendra Prasad
4. Vallabhbhai Patel
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Answer: (b) Jawaharlal Nehru. Objectives Resolution Jawaharlal Nehru ne 13 December 1946 ko move kiya.
The Preamble was amended for the first and only time by which amendment?
1. 1st Amendment
2. 42nd Amendment
3. 44th Amendment
4. 24th Amendment
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Answer: (b) 42nd Amendment. Preamble ab tak sirf ek baar sanshodhit hui — 42nd Amendment (1976) se (Socialist, Secular, Integrity add hue).