Class 8 History Social Science Chapter 12 India After Independence
Question.1.Choose the correct option.
(i) Which one is not a feature of the Indian Constitution?
(a) It adopted universal adult franchise
(b) It gave politicians special powers
(c) It provided equality before law to all citizens
(d) It offered special privileges for the poorest and most disadvantaged Indians
(ii) Which one is the subject of the State List?
(a) Education (b) Defence
(c) Forests (d) Agriculture
(iii) Who is called the father of the Indian Constitution?
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) Vallabhbhai Patel
(d) Bhimrao Ambedkar
(iv) The bilingual state of Bombay was divided into separate states for
(a) Marathi and Telugu speakers
(b) Marathi and Malayalam speakers
(c) Marathi and Gujarati speakers
(d) Bengali and Gujarati speakers
(v) Who was the Deputy Prime Minister of the Independent India?
(a) Motilal Nehru
(b) Bhim Rao Ambedkar
(c) Vallabhbhai Patel (d) MaulanaAzad
Answer.(i) (b), (ii) (a), (iii) (d), (iv) (d), (v) (c).
(i) Which one is not a feature of the Indian Constitution?
(a) It adopted universal adult franchise
(b) It gave politicians special powers
(c) It provided equality before law to all citizens
(d) It offered special privileges for the poorest and most disadvantaged Indians
(ii) Which one is the subject of the State List?
(a) Education (b) Defence
(c) Forests (d) Agriculture
(iii) Who is called the father of the Indian Constitution?
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) Vallabhbhai Patel
(d) Bhimrao Ambedkar
(iv) The bilingual state of Bombay was divided into separate states for
(a) Marathi and Telugu speakers
(b) Marathi and Malayalam speakers
(c) Marathi and Gujarati speakers
(d) Bengali and Gujarati speakers
(v) Who was the Deputy Prime Minister of the Independent India?
(a) Motilal Nehru
(b) Bhim Rao Ambedkar
(c) Vallabhbhai Patel (d) MaulanaAzad
Answer.(i) (b), (ii) (a), (iii) (d), (iv) (d), (v) (c).
Question.2.Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence.
(i) Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was also the ………….. minister of newly independent India.
(ii) The Bhilai steel plant was set up with the help of the former …………. in 1959.
(iii) In 1966, the state of Punjab was divided into ………… and ……………..
(iv) India’s population in 1947 was almost …………… million.
(v) Soon after Independence, India chose to grant …………… right to all its citizens regardless of gender, class or education.
Answer. (i) Foreign
(ii) Uncivilised, civilised
(iii) Punjab, Haiyana
(iv) 345
(v) Voting
(i) Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was also the ………….. minister of newly independent India.
(ii) The Bhilai steel plant was set up with the help of the former …………. in 1959.
(iii) In 1966, the state of Punjab was divided into ………… and ……………..
(iv) India’s population in 1947 was almost …………… million.
(v) Soon after Independence, India chose to grant …………… right to all its citizens regardless of gender, class or education.
Answer. (i) Foreign
(ii) Uncivilised, civilised
(iii) Punjab, Haiyana
(iv) 345
(v) Voting
Question.3.State whether each of the following statements is True or False.
(i) The adivasis or the Scheduled Tribes were not granted reservation in seats and jobs.
(ii) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar belonged to a Marathi-speaking dalit family.
(iii) Bridges and dams became the symbol of development in free India.
(iv) Dharavi in Gujarat is one of the world’s largest slums.
(v) Nehru and Patel wanted to divide the country on the basis of language.
Answer. (i) False, (ii) True, (iii) True, (iv) False, (v) False.
(i) The adivasis or the Scheduled Tribes were not granted reservation in seats and jobs.
(ii) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar belonged to a Marathi-speaking dalit family.
(iii) Bridges and dams became the symbol of development in free India.
(iv) Dharavi in Gujarat is one of the world’s largest slums.
(v) Nehru and Patel wanted to divide the country on the basis of language.
Answer. (i) False, (ii) True, (iii) True, (iv) False, (v) False.
Question.4.Match the items given in Column A correctly with those given in Column B.
Answer. (i) (c), (ii) (a), (iii) (e), (iv) (b), (v) (d).
Answer. (i) (c), (ii) (a), (iii) (e), (iv) (b), (v) (d).
VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Question.1. When was the Indian Constitution adopted?
Answer. The Indian Constitution was adopted on 26 January, 1950.
Answer. The Indian Constitution was adopted on 26 January, 1950.
Question.2. Which step has been described as revolutionary?
Answer. All Indians above the age of 21 would be allowed to vote in state and national elections.
Answer. All Indians above the age of 21 would be allowed to vote in state and national elections.
Question.3. On what point did Nathuram Godse disagree with Gandhiji?
Answer. Nathuram Godse disagreed with Gandhiji’s conviction that Hindus and Muslims should live together in harmony.
Answer. Nathuram Godse disagreed with Gandhiji’s conviction that Hindus and Muslims should live together in harmony.
Question.4. Name two subjects of the State List.
Answer. Education and health.
Answer. Education and health.
Question.5. Name two subjects of the Concurrent List.
Answer. Forests and agriculture.
Answer. Forests and agriculture.
Question.6. Who was Potti Sriramulu?
Answer. He was a veteran Gandhian who went on a hunger strike demanding the formation of Andhra state to protect the interests of Telugu speakers.
Answer. He was a veteran Gandhian who went on a hunger strike demanding the formation of Andhra state to protect the interests of Telugu speakers.
Question.7. When did the new state of Andhra Pradesh come into existence?
Answer. The new state of Andhra Pradesh came into existence on 1 October, 1953. .
Answer. The new state of Andhra Pradesh came into existence on 1 October, 1953. .
Question.8. What were the points of focus of the Second Five Year Plan?
Answer. • Development of heavy industries.
• Building of large dams.
Answer. • Development of heavy industries.
• Building of large dams.
Question.9. How was the Bhilai Steel Plant viewed?
Answer. The Bhilai Steel Plant was viewed as an important sign of the development of modem India after Independence.
Answer. The Bhilai Steel Plant was viewed as an important sign of the development of modem India after Independence.
Question.10.What was the basic objective of the foreign policy of Independent India?
Answer. The basic objective of the foreign policy of Independent India was non-alignment, i.e. the American and Soviet alliances.
Answer. The basic objective of the foreign policy of Independent India was non-alignment, i.e. the American and Soviet alliances.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Question.1.What created problems in unifying the people of India after it got independence?
Answer. The points that created problems were:
(a) At the time of independence, India’s population was large. It was divided too. There were divisions between high castes and low castes, between the majority Hindu corrfrnunity and Indians who practised other faiths.
(b) The citizen of this country spoke different languages, wore different kinds of dresses, ate different kinds of foods and practised different professions.
Answer. The points that created problems were:
(a) At the time of independence, India’s population was large. It was divided too. There were divisions between high castes and low castes, between the majority Hindu corrfrnunity and Indians who practised other faiths.
(b) The citizen of this country spoke different languages, wore different kinds of dresses, ate different kinds of foods and practised different professions.
Question.2. What was the label of development of India at the time it got inde¬pendence?
Answer. At the time India got independence the label of its development was veiy low. A vast majority of Indians lived in the villages. Farmers and peasants depended on the monsoon for their survival. So did the non-farm sector of the rural economy, for if the crops failed, barbers, carpenters, weavers and other service groups would not get paid for their services either.
In the cities too the condition was not good. Factory workers usually lived in crowded slums. They had little access to education and health care.
Answer. At the time India got independence the label of its development was veiy low. A vast majority of Indians lived in the villages. Farmers and peasants depended on the monsoon for their survival. So did the non-farm sector of the rural economy, for if the crops failed, barbers, carpenters, weavers and other service groups would not get paid for their services either.
In the cities too the condition was not good. Factory workers usually lived in crowded slums. They had little access to education and health care.
Question.3. What special privileges were offered for the poorest and most disadvantaqed Indians by the constitution?
Answer. First of all the practice of untouchability was abolished. Hindu temples were thrown open to all including the former untouchables.
• A certain percentage of seats in legislatures as well as jobs in government were reserved for members of the lowest castes.
• Alongwith the former untouchables, the adivasis also known as the Scheduled Tribes were also granted reservation in seats and jobs. They too had been deprived and discriminated against like the Scheduled Castes.
Answer. First of all the practice of untouchability was abolished. Hindu temples were thrown open to all including the former untouchables.
• A certain percentage of seats in legislatures as well as jobs in government were reserved for members of the lowest castes.
• Alongwith the former untouchables, the adivasis also known as the Scheduled Tribes were also granted reservation in seats and jobs. They too had been deprived and discriminated against like the Scheduled Castes.
Question. 4. How have powers and functions of the Central and State Governments been divided by the Constitution?
Answer. The Indian Constitution gives the division of power in the form of three lists, known as Union List, State List and Concurrent List. The Union List includes subjects such as taxes, defence and foreign affairs. On these subjects the central government makes the laws. The State List includes subjects such as education and health. It is the exclusive responsibility of the state government to take care of these subjects. In the last comes the Concurrent List which contains subjects such as forests and agriculture. On these subjects the Centre and the States have joint responsibility.
Answer. The Indian Constitution gives the division of power in the form of three lists, known as Union List, State List and Concurrent List. The Union List includes subjects such as taxes, defence and foreign affairs. On these subjects the central government makes the laws. The State List includes subjects such as education and health. It is the exclusive responsibility of the state government to take care of these subjects. In the last comes the Concurrent List which contains subjects such as forests and agriculture. On these subjects the Centre and the States have joint responsibility.
Question.5. Under what circumstances a compromise was made with respect to language?
Answer. Several members of the Constituent Assembly believed that the English language should be driven out of India with the British rule. They were of the opinion that Hindi should take place of English language. However, those who did not speak Hindi were of different opinion. T.T. Krishnamachari on behalf of the people of the south strongly opposed Hindi. Some threatened to separate from India if Hindi was imposed on them. Finally, a compromise was made. It was decided that while Hindi would be the ‘official language’ of India, English would be used in the courts, the services, and communications between one state and another.
Answer. Several members of the Constituent Assembly believed that the English language should be driven out of India with the British rule. They were of the opinion that Hindi should take place of English language. However, those who did not speak Hindi were of different opinion. T.T. Krishnamachari on behalf of the people of the south strongly opposed Hindi. Some threatened to separate from India if Hindi was imposed on them. Finally, a compromise was made. It was decided that while Hindi would be the ‘official language’ of India, English would be used in the courts, the services, and communications between one state and another.
Question.6. Under what circumstances did the new state of Andhra Pradesh come into being?
Answer. The decision of the Congress leaders not to divide the country on linguistic lines disappointed the Kannada speakers, Malayalam speakers and the Marathi speakers. They had all looked forward to having their own state. The Telrtgu-speaking districts of what was the Madras Presidency raised the strongest protests. In October 1952, a veteran Gandhian named Potti Sriramulu went on a hunger fast demanding the formation of Andhra state to protect the interests of Telugu-speakers. The fast went on and with it hartals and bandhs began to be observed. Meanwhile, Potti Sriramulu died. This incidence intensified the situation. The protests now became widespread and intense. This forced the Central Government to give in to demand. On 1 October, 1953, the new state of Andhra Pradesh came into being.
Answer. The decision of the Congress leaders not to divide the country on linguistic lines disappointed the Kannada speakers, Malayalam speakers and the Marathi speakers. They had all looked forward to having their own state. The Telrtgu-speaking districts of what was the Madras Presidency raised the strongest protests. In October 1952, a veteran Gandhian named Potti Sriramulu went on a hunger fast demanding the formation of Andhra state to protect the interests of Telugu-speakers. The fast went on and with it hartals and bandhs began to be observed. Meanwhile, Potti Sriramulu died. This incidence intensified the situation. The protests now became widespread and intense. This forced the Central Government to give in to demand. On 1 October, 1953, the new state of Andhra Pradesh came into being.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Question.1. Give a detailed descriptions of the features of the Indian Constitution.
Answer. We have a writtten Constitution which was adopted on 26 January 1950.
Features:
(a) One feature of the Indian Costitution was that it adopted universal adult franchise. All Indians above the age of 21 (now 18) would be allowed to vote in state and national elections.
(b) Our Constitution guaranteed equality before the law to all citizens, regardless of their caste or religious affiliation.
(c) The Constitution offered special privileges for the poorest and most disadvantaged Indians. The evil practice of untouchability was abolished. Hindu temples were thrown open to all, including the former untouchables. After a long debate, the Constituent Assembly also recommended that a certain percentage of seats in legislatures as well as jobs in government be reserved for members of the lowest castes, including the adivasis.
(d) Our Constitution clearly defined the powers and functions of the central and the state governments. It gave division of power in the form of three lists—a Union List with subjects such as taxes, defence and foreign affairs, which would be the exclusive responsibility of the Centre, a State List of subjects such as education and health, which would be taken care of mainly by the States, a Concurrent List under which would come subjects such as forests and agriculture in which the Centre and the States would have joint responsibility.
Answer. We have a writtten Constitution which was adopted on 26 January 1950.
Features:
(a) One feature of the Indian Costitution was that it adopted universal adult franchise. All Indians above the age of 21 (now 18) would be allowed to vote in state and national elections.
(b) Our Constitution guaranteed equality before the law to all citizens, regardless of their caste or religious affiliation.
(c) The Constitution offered special privileges for the poorest and most disadvantaged Indians. The evil practice of untouchability was abolished. Hindu temples were thrown open to all, including the former untouchables. After a long debate, the Constituent Assembly also recommended that a certain percentage of seats in legislatures as well as jobs in government be reserved for members of the lowest castes, including the adivasis.
(d) Our Constitution clearly defined the powers and functions of the central and the state governments. It gave division of power in the form of three lists—a Union List with subjects such as taxes, defence and foreign affairs, which would be the exclusive responsibility of the Centre, a State List of subjects such as education and health, which would be taken care of mainly by the States, a Concurrent List under which would come subjects such as forests and agriculture in which the Centre and the States would have joint responsibility.
Question.2. Write in brief the process of state formation.
Answer. The Congress leaders were in no mood to further divide the country on linguistic lines. This created great
disappointment among the Kannada speakers, Malayalam speakers, and the Marathi speakers, and the Telugu speakers, because they had all looked forward to having their own state. The Telugu speakers, however, showed the strongest protests. Their leader Potti Sriramulu went on a hunger fast demanding the formation of Andhra state to protect the interests of Telugu speakers. As the fast went on, it attracted much Hartals and bandhs began to be observed. Meanwhile, Potti Sriramulu died. This incidence intensified the situation. The protests took intense form. This forced the Central Government to give in to the demand and the new state of Andhra Pradesh came into existence on 1 October, 1953.
After the formation of Andhra Pradesh, other linguistic communities also demanded their own separate states. Hence, a State Reorganisation Commission was set up, which submitted its report in 1956. It recommended the redrawing of district and provincial boundaries to form compact provinces of Assamese, Bengali, Oriya, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu speakers respectively. The large Hindi-speaking region of north India was broken up into several states. Then in 1960, the bilingual state of Bombay was divided into separate states for Marathi and Gujarati speakers. In the year 1960, the state of Punjab was also divided into Punjab and Haiyana, Punjab for the Punjabi speakers and Haryana for the rest who spoke Haryanvi or Hindi.
Answer. The Congress leaders were in no mood to further divide the country on linguistic lines. This created great
disappointment among the Kannada speakers, Malayalam speakers, and the Marathi speakers, and the Telugu speakers, because they had all looked forward to having their own state. The Telugu speakers, however, showed the strongest protests. Their leader Potti Sriramulu went on a hunger fast demanding the formation of Andhra state to protect the interests of Telugu speakers. As the fast went on, it attracted much Hartals and bandhs began to be observed. Meanwhile, Potti Sriramulu died. This incidence intensified the situation. The protests took intense form. This forced the Central Government to give in to the demand and the new state of Andhra Pradesh came into existence on 1 October, 1953.
After the formation of Andhra Pradesh, other linguistic communities also demanded their own separate states. Hence, a State Reorganisation Commission was set up, which submitted its report in 1956. It recommended the redrawing of district and provincial boundaries to form compact provinces of Assamese, Bengali, Oriya, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu speakers respectively. The large Hindi-speaking region of north India was broken up into several states. Then in 1960, the bilingual state of Bombay was divided into separate states for Marathi and Gujarati speakers. In the year 1960, the state of Punjab was also divided into Punjab and Haiyana, Punjab for the Punjabi speakers and Haryana for the rest who spoke Haryanvi or Hindi.
Question.3. Give an account of the successes and failures of the country during sixty-two years of its independence.
Answer. Sixty-two years of independence have passed. This duration covers a long journey. A lot have been achieved during this time. But at the same time there have been a number of failures.
Successes :
(a) India is still united and it is still democratic. These achievements definitely make us proud. Many foreign observers had felt that India could not survive as a single country. Others believed that it would come under military rule. Neither of these predictions proved to be true. As many as thirteen general elections have been held since independence, as well as hundreds of state and local elections.
(b) There is a free press and an idependent judicially.
(c) The fact that people speak different languages or practise different faiths has not come in the way of national unity.
Failures:
(a) Deep divisions are still there. Despite constitutional guarantees, people belonging to the lowest castes, such as dalits face violence and discrimination. In many parts of rural India they are not allowed access to water sources, temples, parks and other public places.
(b) The gulf between the rich and the poor has grown over the years. Some groups of people avail all facilities while many others continue to live below the poverty line.
(c) Our Constitution provides equality before the law but in real life this does not happen. Some Indians are more equal than others.
Answer. Sixty-two years of independence have passed. This duration covers a long journey. A lot have been achieved during this time. But at the same time there have been a number of failures.
Successes :
(a) India is still united and it is still democratic. These achievements definitely make us proud. Many foreign observers had felt that India could not survive as a single country. Others believed that it would come under military rule. Neither of these predictions proved to be true. As many as thirteen general elections have been held since independence, as well as hundreds of state and local elections.
(b) There is a free press and an idependent judicially.
(c) The fact that people speak different languages or practise different faiths has not come in the way of national unity.
Failures:
(a) Deep divisions are still there. Despite constitutional guarantees, people belonging to the lowest castes, such as dalits face violence and discrimination. In many parts of rural India they are not allowed access to water sources, temples, parks and other public places.
(b) The gulf between the rich and the poor has grown over the years. Some groups of people avail all facilities while many others continue to live below the poverty line.
(c) Our Constitution provides equality before the law but in real life this does not happen. Some Indians are more equal than others.
SOURCE-BASED QUESTIONS
Question.1. Read the following extract (Source 1) taken from NCERT textbook and answer the questions that follow:
Questions:
(i) What problem does Nehru talk about in this letter?
(ii) How does he propose to sort it out?
Answers:
(i) Nehru talks about the problem of Muslim minority living in India after the partition,
(ii) He proposes to sort out this problem by providing security and the rights of citizens to the Muslim minority.
Questions:
(i) What problem does Nehru talk about in this letter?
(ii) How does he propose to sort it out?
Answers:
(i) Nehru talks about the problem of Muslim minority living in India after the partition,
(ii) He proposes to sort out this problem by providing security and the rights of citizens to the Muslim minority.
PICTURE-BASED QUESTIONS
Question.1. Observe the picture taken from NCERT textbook and answer the questions that follow:
Questions:
(i) Who is the person addressing the audience?
(ii) What is he speaking about? .
Answers:
(i) Jawaharlal Nehru is addressing the audience.
(ii) He is introducing the resolution that outlined the objectives of the Constitution.
Questions:
(i) Who is the person addressing the audience?
(ii) What is he speaking about? .
Answers:
(i) Jawaharlal Nehru is addressing the audience.
(ii) He is introducing the resolution that outlined the objectives of the Constitution.
India after Independence NCERT Class 8 Social and Political life Extra Questions
Question 1
What were the problems that faced the new government after independence?
Solution
A majority of Indians lived in villages and development of villages was the need of the hour. Agriculture had to be improved as farmers and peasants depended on the monsoon for their survival.
Barbers, carpenters, weavers and other service groups of the non-farm sector of the rural economy would not get paid for their services if the crops failed, so the government was faced with the task of building dams for irrigation.
In the cities, factory workers lived in crowded slums and had little access to education or health care, the government had to draft schemes to educate the poor and provide adequate health care.
Question 2
What were the new Government’s priorities?
Solution
A vast majority of people had to be lifted above the poverty line and to achieve this agricultural productivity had to be increased to feed the enormous population. Industries had to be set up to provide jobs for the jobless. These were the government’s main priorities after independence.
Question 3
Write a brief note on the Constituent Assembly.
Solution
The Constituent Assembly was set up to draft out the constitution of India. The Constituent Assembly met numerous times while the Indian constitution was being written. The writing of the constitution took almost three years to be completed; from December 1946 to November 1949.
The meetings of the “Constituent Assembly” were held in New Delhi. The members of the assembly came from all over India, and from different political parties. The most important role was played by Dr B.R. Ambedkar, who was Chairman of the Drafting Committee. Under the supervision of Dr B.R. Ambedkar the document was finalised.
The Indian constitution was completed and adopted on 26 January 1950. On 26th January, India became a Republic and since Republic Day has been celebrated on 26th January every year.
Question 4
What is Universal adult franchise? Was it adopted by the Indian constitution?
Solution
Universal adult franchise is the right or privilege of voting. The Indian Constitution adopted universal adult franchise. All Indians above the age of 21 would be allowed to vote in state and national elections.
This was a revolutionary step as Indians have never been allowed to choose their own leaders.
Question 5
How was the ‘right to vote’ in adopted in the UK and the US?
Solution
In countries like United Kingdom and the United States, the right to vote was granted in stages. First only men of property had the vote, next men who were educated had the right to vote. After a long struggle working-class men got the vote. And finally, after a bitter struggle American and British women were granted the vote.
Question 6
Write a brief not on abolition of untouchability and Reservation Policy.
Solution
Abolition of untouchability and the Reservation Policy was another important feature of the Indian constitution. The Constitution offered special privileges for the poorest and most disadvantaged Indians.
The practice of untouchability was abolished. Hindu temples, previously open to only the higher castes, were thrown open to all, including the untouchables.
The Constituent Assembly recommended that a certain percentage of seats in legislatures as well as jobs in government be reserved for members of the lowest castes.
Many members of the Constituent Assembly argued against the Reservation policy. But many members stated that the policy was necessary to uplift the Harijans as they have been suppressed for thousands of years.
Along with the former Untouchables, the Adivasis or Scheduled Tribes were also granted reservation in Educational Institutions and jobs. Like the Scheduled Castes, these Indians too had been deprived and discriminated against. The new constitution sought to provide them with good education, health care and a profitable livelihood.
Question 7
What are 3 lists of subjects that the constitution has provided to balance the different views on power sharing between the centre and the state?
Solution
The 3 lists of subjects provided by the constitution are…
What were the problems that faced the new government after independence?
Solution
A majority of Indians lived in villages and development of villages was the need of the hour. Agriculture had to be improved as farmers and peasants depended on the monsoon for their survival.
Barbers, carpenters, weavers and other service groups of the non-farm sector of the rural economy would not get paid for their services if the crops failed, so the government was faced with the task of building dams for irrigation.
In the cities, factory workers lived in crowded slums and had little access to education or health care, the government had to draft schemes to educate the poor and provide adequate health care.
Question 2
What were the new Government’s priorities?
Solution
A vast majority of people had to be lifted above the poverty line and to achieve this agricultural productivity had to be increased to feed the enormous population. Industries had to be set up to provide jobs for the jobless. These were the government’s main priorities after independence.
Question 3
Write a brief note on the Constituent Assembly.
Solution
The Constituent Assembly was set up to draft out the constitution of India. The Constituent Assembly met numerous times while the Indian constitution was being written. The writing of the constitution took almost three years to be completed; from December 1946 to November 1949.
The meetings of the “Constituent Assembly” were held in New Delhi. The members of the assembly came from all over India, and from different political parties. The most important role was played by Dr B.R. Ambedkar, who was Chairman of the Drafting Committee. Under the supervision of Dr B.R. Ambedkar the document was finalised.
The Indian constitution was completed and adopted on 26 January 1950. On 26th January, India became a Republic and since Republic Day has been celebrated on 26th January every year.
Question 4
What is Universal adult franchise? Was it adopted by the Indian constitution?
Solution
Universal adult franchise is the right or privilege of voting. The Indian Constitution adopted universal adult franchise. All Indians above the age of 21 would be allowed to vote in state and national elections.
This was a revolutionary step as Indians have never been allowed to choose their own leaders.
Question 5
How was the ‘right to vote’ in adopted in the UK and the US?
Solution
In countries like United Kingdom and the United States, the right to vote was granted in stages. First only men of property had the vote, next men who were educated had the right to vote. After a long struggle working-class men got the vote. And finally, after a bitter struggle American and British women were granted the vote.
Question 6
Write a brief not on abolition of untouchability and Reservation Policy.
Solution
Abolition of untouchability and the Reservation Policy was another important feature of the Indian constitution. The Constitution offered special privileges for the poorest and most disadvantaged Indians.
The practice of untouchability was abolished. Hindu temples, previously open to only the higher castes, were thrown open to all, including the untouchables.
The Constituent Assembly recommended that a certain percentage of seats in legislatures as well as jobs in government be reserved for members of the lowest castes.
Many members of the Constituent Assembly argued against the Reservation policy. But many members stated that the policy was necessary to uplift the Harijans as they have been suppressed for thousands of years.
Along with the former Untouchables, the Adivasis or Scheduled Tribes were also granted reservation in Educational Institutions and jobs. Like the Scheduled Castes, these Indians too had been deprived and discriminated against. The new constitution sought to provide them with good education, health care and a profitable livelihood.
Question 7
What are 3 lists of subjects that the constitution has provided to balance the different views on power sharing between the centre and the state?
Solution
The 3 lists of subjects provided by the constitution are…
- A Union List, with subjects such as taxes, defence and foreign affairs, which would be the exclusive responsibility of the Centre
- A State List of subjects, such as education and health, which would be taken care of principally by the states
- A Concurrent List, under which would come subjects such as forests and agriculture, in which the Centre and the states would have joint responsibility.
