NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Social Science Civics Chapter 2 Constitutional Design

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Social Science Civics Chapter 2 Constitutional Design are available here to assist students in their CBSE exam preparation and achieve good marks. In a democracy, rulers are not unrestricted in their actions. There are specific fundamental rules that both citizens and the government must abide by. These rules collectively form the Constitution. This chapter delves into the topic of Constitutional Design, covering the roles of leaders in crafting the Constitution, the guiding principles it embodies, and its significance. The exercise in this chapter includes questions related to these aspects. To aid students in finding answers to the exercise questions, we have provided reliable and easily accessible NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Social Science Civics Chapter 2 Constitutional Design. These solutions offer step-by-step instructions, ensuring a simplified understanding of the solutions when preparing for the Social Science Exam.

1. Here are some false statements. Identify the mistake in each case and rewrite these correctly based on what you have read in this chapter.
a. Leaders of the freedom movement had an open mind about whether the country should be democratic or not after independence.
b. Members of the Constituent Assembly of India held the same views on all provisions of the Constitution.
c. A country that has a constitution must be a democracy.
d. Constitution cannot be amended because it is the supreme law of a country.

Ans.

a. Leaders of the freedom movement had a consensus that after independence, India will be a democratic nation.
b. Members of the constituent assembly of India held the same views on the basic principles of the Constitution.
c. A country that is a democratic country must have a Constitution.
d. A Constitution can be amended with time and the needs of the citizens.

2. Which of these was the most salient underlying conflict in the making of a democratic constitution in South Africa?
a. Between South Africa and its neighbours
b. Between men and women
c. Between the white majority and the black minority
d. Between the coloured minority and the black majority

Ans. Conflict between the coloured minority and the black majority

3. Which of these is a provision that a democratic constitution does not have?
a. Powers of the head of the state
b. Name of the head of the state
c. Powers of the legislature
d. Name of the country

Ans. Name of the head of the state

4. Match the following leaders with their roles in the making of the Constitution:

Ans.  

5. Read again the extracts from Nehru’s speech ‘Tryst with Destiny’ and answer the following:
a. Why did Nehru use the expression “not wholly or in full measure” in the first sentence?
b. What pledge did he want the makers of the Indian Constitution to take?
c. “The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye”. Who was he referring to?

Ans.  

a) Jawaharlal Nehru, in his speech ‘Tryst with Destiny,’ employed the phrase ‘not wholly or in full measure’ to emphasize his belief that nation-building is a complex undertaking that cannot be accomplished instantaneously. He envisioned it as a gradual process, requiring time and effort.

b) Nehru expressed his desire for the framers of the Indian constitution to take a solemn vow to serve India and its people, as well as to contribute to the broader cause of humanity.

c) Nehru made a reference to Mahatma Gandhi, revered as the father of our nation.

6. Here are some of the guiding values of the Constitution and their meaning. Rewrite them by matching them correctly.

Ans.  

7. How did your school celebrate Constitution Day on November 26th? Prepare a brief report.

Ans.  Students should write the report on their own. They may take help from the article below-

My school celebrated Constitution Day on November 26th with a variety of events and activities.

The morning assembly: The morning assembly began with the flag hoisting ceremony. The Principal then gave a speech about the importance of the Constitution and how it has shaped India into the country it is today.
Quiz competition: A quiz competition was held for students of all grades. The quiz consisted of questions about the Constitution, its history, and its significance.
Debate competition: A debate competition was also held for students of all grades. The students debated on topics related to the Constitution, such as its strengths and weaknesses, and its impact on Indian society.
Art competition: An art competition was held for students of all grades. The students were asked to create a poster or painting that depicted the importance of the Constitution.
Pledge-taking ceremony: A pledge-taking ceremony was held for all students. The students recited the pledge to uphold the Constitution and to be responsible citizens of India.
Discussion sessions: There were also discussion sessions held for students and teachers. These sessions were led by experts on the Constitution and they discussed various aspects of the Constitution, such as its history, its provisions, and its impact on Indian society.

8 Here are different opinions about what made India a democracy. How much importance would you give to each of these factors?
a. Democracy in India is a gift of the British rulers. We received training to work with representative legislative institutions under British rule.
b. Freedom Struggle challenged the colonial exploitation and denial of different freedoms to Indians. Free India could not be anything but democratic.
c. We were lucky to have leaders who had democratic convictions. The denial of democracy in several other newly independent countries shows the important role of these leaders.

Ans. 

a) Democracy emerged as the fundamental value of our nation during the freedom struggle against British colonial rule. Through the Indian Councils Act, Indians gained the opportunity to participate in legislative councils, and their experiences and insights became instrumental in shaping the legislative institutions of independent India.

b) The freedom struggle not only aimed to challenge colonial exploitation but also worked towards establishing democracy. It emphasized the importance of consensus-based decision-making, rejecting the imposition of laws on individuals without their consent.

c) Our freedom struggle adopted nonviolent methods such as ‘Satyagraha’ (truth-force) and ‘Ahimsa’ (nonviolence) to achieve independence from British rule. These peaceful struggles aimed to liberate India from the grasp of the British and secure the rightful freedom for its people.

9 Read the following extract from a conduct book for ‘married women’, published in 1912. ‘God has made the female species delicate and fragile both physically and emotionally, pitiably incapable of self-defence. They are destined thus by God to remain in male protection – of father, husband and son – all their lives. Women should, therefore, not despair, but feel obliged that they can dedicate themselves to the service of men’. Do you think the values expressed in this para reflected the values underlying our constitution? Or does this go against the constitutional values?

Ans. The values presented in the paragraph above do not align with the values enshrined in our Constitution. The Indian Constitution guarantees fundamental rights to all citizens, irrespective of their gender, caste, sex, place of birth, or religion. Through various legislative acts, women have been granted equal rights as men, reflecting the commitment to gender equality within our constitution.

10 Read the following statements about a constitution. Give reasons why each of these is true or not true.
a. The authority of the rules of the constitution is the same as that of any other law.
b. Constitution lays down how different organs of the government will be formed.
c. Rights of citizens and limits on the power of the government are laid down in the constitution.
d. A constitution is about institutions, not about values.

Ans.  

a. Not true because the Constitution is the supreme law.
b. True, as the constitution lays out the roles and powers of the legislature, executive and judiciary.
c. True, as the Constitution has provided Fundamental Rights to each and every citizen of India.
d. Not true as the Constitution holds values on which all institutions work.