POC01 — Historical Background of the Indian Constitution

📗 CDS General Knowledge20 Questions · No Negative Marking

Question 1 of 20

The Constituent Assembly of India was constituted as per the recommendations of:

ASimon Commission BCripps Mission CCabinet Mission Plan DMountbatten Plan

The Cabinet Mission Plan (1946) recommended the formation of a Constituent Assembly. The Assembly first met on 9 December 1946. The Simon Commission (1927) dealt with constitutional reforms; the Cripps Mission (1942) offered post-war Dominion status; the Mountbatten Plan (1947) led to partition.

Question 2 of 20

Who presided over the first session of the Constituent Assembly?

AB.R. Ambedkar BJawaharlal Nehru CSachidananda Sinha DRajendra Prasad

Dr. Sachidananda Sinha was the temporary (pro-tem) President of the Constituent Assembly at its first meeting on 9 December 1946. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was later elected permanent President of the Constituent Assembly on 11 December 1946.

Question 3 of 20

The Government of India Act 1935 is considered significant because it:

AIntroduced the Regulating Act framework BIntroduced dyarchy at the Centre and federal CGave India full Dominion status DEstablished the Supreme Court of India

The Government of India Act 1935 introduced provincial autonomy, a federal structure, and dyarchy at the Centre. It served as the primary source for many provisions of the Indian Constitution including emergency powers, federal scheme, judiciary, and public service commissions.

Question 4 of 20

The Objective Resolution, which became the basis for the Preamble, was adopted on:

A9 December 1946 B22 January 1947 C26 November 1949 D26 January 1950

Jawaharlal Nehru moved the Objective Resolution on 13 December 1946. It was unanimously adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 22 January 1947. It declared India a sovereign democratic republic and outlined the principles of Justice, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.

Question 5 of 20

Which of the following constitutional documents most influenced the Fundamental Rights provisions?

ABritish Magna Carta BIrish Constitution CAmerican Bill of Rights DCanadian Constitution

The American Bill of Rights (first ten amendments to the US Constitution) influenced the Fundamental Rights chapter in Part III of the Indian Constitution. The concept of judicial review as a safeguard for rights was also borrowed from the USA.

Question 6 of 20

The Indian Councils Act of 1861 is historically significant because it:

AIntroduced dyarchy in provinces BRestored the legislative powers to the CCreated the Federal Court DProvided for elections to legislative councils

The Indian Councils Act 1861 restored the legislative powers that were taken away by the Charter Act 1833. It made the Governor-General's Council a legislative body and allowed Indians to be nominated to expanded councils — a modest beginning to Indian participation in governance.

Question 7 of 20

The concept of parliamentary government was borrowed by India from:

AFrance BUSA CIreland DUnited Kingdom

India adopted the parliamentary form of government — Cabinet system, collective responsibility, PM as head of government, President as nominal head — from the United Kingdom's Westminster model. The British parliament (House of Commons/Lords) served as the template.

Question 8 of 20

Which Constitutional Amendment transferred 'Education' from the State List to the Concurrent List?

A24th Amendment B42nd Amendment C44th Amendment D73rd Amendment

The 42nd Amendment Act 1976 transferred 'Education' from the State List to the Concurrent List. This gave Parliament the power to legislate on education — important for implementing national education policy. The same amendment also moved 'Forests' and 'Wild Animals and Birds' to the Concurrent List.

Question 9 of 20

The Charter Act of 1813 is noted for:

AAbolishing the East India Company BEnding the East India Company's trade monopoly CTransferring power to the British Crown DCreating the position of Viceroy

The Charter Act 1813 ended the East India Company's trade monopoly over India (except for tea and trade with China). It also asserted British sovereignty over Company territories and allocated one lakh rupees annually for education in India.

Question 10 of 20

The British paramountcy over Indian princes formally ended in:

A1935 B1946 C1947 D1950

British paramountcy over the Indian princely states formally lapsed on 15 August 1947 when India became independent. Thereafter, the princely states had to choose accession to India or Pakistan (or theoretically remain independent). Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and V.P. Menon integrated most states into India.

Question 11 of 20

Who was the Constitutional Adviser to the Constituent Assembly who prepared the initial draft?

AK.M. Munshi BAlladi Krishnaswami Ayyar CB.N. Rau DT.T. Krishnamachari

Sir Benegal Narsing Rau served as the Constitutional Adviser. He studied constitutions of various countries, prepared notes, and submitted a preliminary draft of the Constitution which became the working document for the Drafting Committee under Dr. Ambedkar.

Question 12 of 20

The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 introduced which significant concept?

AFederal structure for all of India BDyarchy in provinces — division of subjects CSeparate electorates for all minorities DProvision for Dominion status

The Government of India Act 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms) introduced dyarchy in provinces, dividing subjects into 'reserved' (controlled by the Governor) and 'transferred' (managed by elected ministers). It also set up a bicameral central legislature.

Question 13 of 20

The Constituent Assembly acted as the provisional Parliament of India until:

A26 January 1950 BThe first general election was held in 1952 C26 November 1949 D15 August 1947

After the Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950, the Constituent Assembly continued as the provisional Parliament of India until the first general elections were held in 1951-52. The first Lok Sabha was constituted after those elections in April 1952.

Question 14 of 20

Which session of the Indian National Congress first clearly demanded complete independence?

ACalcutta Session 1928 BLahore Session 1929 CNagpur Session 1920 DLucknow Session 1916

The Lahore Session of INC in December 1929, presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru, passed the Purna Swaraj (complete independence) resolution. 26 January 1930 was declared as Independence Day, and it was celebrated annually until 26 January 1950 became Republic Day.

Question 15 of 20

The Regulating Act of 1773 is considered a landmark because it:

AGave India independence BProvided the first written constitution CCreated the Constituent Assembly DAbolished the East India Company

The Regulating Act 1773 was the first step by the British Parliament to regulate the affairs of the East India Company. It created the position of Governor-General of Bengal (Warren Hastings was the first), established a Supreme Court in Calcutta, and required Company reports to the British Government.

Question 16 of 20

The doctrine that Parliament cannot amend the basic structure of the Constitution was established in:

AGolaknath Case 1967 BMinerva Mills Case 1980 CKesavananda Bharati Case 1973 DI.R. Coelho Case 2007

The Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala case (1973) by a 13-judge bench established the Basic Structure doctrine. The Court held Parliament can amend any part of the Constitution but cannot destroy its basic structure — federalism, secularism, democracy, judicial review, and fundamental rights.

Question 17 of 20

The Cripps Mission of 1942 failed primarily because:

ACongress wanted full independence, not post-war Dominion status BThe Muslim League supported it, but Congress rejected it CBritain itself rejected its own proposals before they were presented DIt offered partition of India as an immediate condition

The Cripps Mission offered Dominion status after World War II and a Constituent Assembly — but Congress wanted immediate transfer of power. Gandhi called it a 'post-dated cheque on a crashing bank.' Congress rejected it, leading to the Quit India Movement in August 1942.

Question 18 of 20

The Directive Principles of State Policy were borrowed from the Constitution of:

AUSA BCanada CIreland DAustralia

The Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV) were inspired by the Irish Constitution of 1937 (Bunreacht na hEireann), which had similar 'Directive Principles of Social Policy'. The Irish Constitution in turn drew inspiration from the Spanish Constitution.

Question 19 of 20

Which provision of the Government of India Act 1935 is most directly reflected in the Indian Constitution?

AThe provision for Indian Parliament BThe emergency provisions and federal scheme CThe provision for Dominion status DThe right to self-determination

The emergency provisions, federal distribution of powers (three lists), the scheme of All-India Services, the Public Service Commission, and the Federal Court were all directly drawn from the Government of India Act 1935 into the Indian Constitution.

Question 20 of 20

The Constituent Assembly took approximately how long to complete its task?

A1 year B2 years, 11 months, 18 days C3 years, 6 months D5 years

The Constituent Assembly worked for 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days — from 9 December 1946 to 26 November 1949. It held 11 sessions covering 165 days of actual work. The Constitution was the product of extensive debate, with over 7,600 amendments proposed, of which 2,473 were actually moved.