Skip to content
CNMS ICSE - 7 Std
Share
Explore

Answers to textbook exercises

Prepared by: learnloophq@gmail.com

Chapter: 12. The Constitution And The Preamble

⁠

Warm Up!

When did India become independent?
India became independent on 15 August 1947.
What do we celebrate on 26th January every year?
We celebrate Republic Day on 26th January every year.
Who framed the Indian Constitution? Why is this a major milestone in the history of modern India?
The Indian Constitution was framed by the Constituent Assembly. This is a major milestone in the history of modern India because it marked the transition of the country into a self-governing nation, establishing the fundamental rules, duties of citizens, and structural limits of the government without any foreign imposition.

Think and Answer

The Indian National Congress had declared India independent in 1929 and celebrated 26 January as Independence Day every year from 1930 onwards. Do you think the Indian leaders were ready and capable of governing the affairs of the country at that point of time? Why?
Yes, Indian leaders had spent decades studying administrative structures, organizing extensive grassroots social and political campaigns, and managing localized self-governing bodies. This preparation gave them the foundational understanding and maturity necessary to govern the country’s affairs.

Discuss

Which of the objectives of the Constitution do you consider the most important? Why? Share your views with the class.
Fraternity is highly critical because a diverse democracy cannot survive without a spirit of brotherhood and oneness. This social bond is essential to eradicate deep-rooted social evils like untouchability and communalism, making the pursuit of justice, liberty, and equality possible.

HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills)

How do the concepts of fraternity and democracy go hand-in-hand in building a stable nation?
Democracy relies on equal participation and peaceful negotiation among different sections of society. Fraternity fosters a sense of brotherhood and oneness that breaks down social barriers, converting a highly diverse population into ‘one people’. Without fraternity, social divisions can lead to instability, making a functional democracy impossible.

Values and Life Skills

What are the ways in which you can prove to be a responsible citizen?
You can prove to be a responsible citizen by obeying the laws of the country, preserving public property, protecting the environment, respecting the rights and faiths of fellow citizens, and promoting community harmony.
⁠

Exercises

A. Fill in the blanks.

The Constitution of India was framed by the ___________.
Constituent Assembly
The Preamble tells us about the ___________ of the Constitution, the ___________ of the state and its main ___________.
source; nature; objectives
Socialism involves ___________ distribution of the country’s wealth among ___________ sections of the people.
fair; all
The people of India elect their own government because India is a ___________ country.
democratic
The President of India has a fixed term of ___________ years.
5

B. Match the following.

1946
© The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly was held.
1947
(a) India became independent.
1949
(b) The Constitution of India was passed.
1950
(e) India became a sovereign, democratic republic.
1976
(d) The Constitution of India was amended.

C. Choose the correct answer.

India won freedom from the British/French/Portuguese rule on 15 August 1947.
British
The chairman of the Constituent Assembly of India was Dr Rajendra Prasad/B. R. Ambedkar/Maulana Azad.
Dr Rajendra Prasad
The source of the Indian Constitution is the President/the Prime Minister/the people of India.
the people of India
A democratic/socialist/secular state does not have an official religion.
secular
A democracy can work only if there is a spirit of jealousy/brotherhood/competition among the different sections of society.
brotherhood

D. State whether the following are true or false. Rewrite the false statements correctly.

The Constitution of India was framed by the British government.
False. Correct Statement: The Constitution of India was framed by the Constituent Assembly.
Sarojini Naidu was a member of the Constituent Assembly.
True.
The Preamble is the conclusion to the Constitution.
False. Correct Statement: The Preamble is the introduction to the Constitution.
When the President of India dies, their child becomes the next President.
False. Correct Statement: India is a republic, which means the head of state is an elected official and the office is not hereditary.
All Indian citizens are equal in the eyes of the law.
True.

E. My mixed bag

Choose the odd one out. (a) Socialist (b) Liberty © Secular (d) Democratic
(b) Liberty (Liberty is an objective of the Constitution, whereas Socialist, Secular, and Democratic describe the nature of the state).
Read the statements below and choose the correct option.
(d) (A) and (B) are both true, and (B) is the correct reason for (A).

F. Answer the following questions in one or two words/sentences.

Define the term ‘constitution’.
A constitution is a body of fundamental rules and regulations according to which a country is organized and governed.
When did the Constitution of India come into force?
The Constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950.
What is the Preamble of the Indian Constitution?
The Preamble is an introduction to the Constitution that outlines its source, the nature of the state, and its primary aims and objectives.
How do we know that the Constitution of India was not imposed on us by the British?
We know this because the Preamble opens with the words “We, the people of India,” indicating that the authority of the Constitution is derived entirely from the Indian citizens and was drafted by an elected Constituent Assembly.
Who gives the government of India the authority to govern the country?
The people of India give the government of India the authority to govern.

G. Give reasons for the following.

Why is the Preamble of the Constitution important?
The Preamble is important because it serves as an introduction explaining the source of power of the Constitution, defining the nature of the Indian state (sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic, republic), and declaring its foundational objectives.
How can social evils be overcome?
Social evils can be overcome by actively promoting a spirit of fraternity and oneness among diverse social groups, which removes social barriers like untouchability and communalism.

H. Answer the following questions briefly.

Explain the meaning of the following terms: (a) Sovereign (b) Democratic © Republic
(a) Sovereign: India is an independent nation, entirely free from external control, with no outside power interfering in its internal or foreign policy.
(b) Democratic: The people of India hold the power to elect their own representatives and govern the nation through them.
© Republic: The country has an elected head of state (the President) with a fixed tenure, rather than a hereditary monarch.
State the basic features of the following: (a) A socialist state (b) A secular state
(a) A socialist state: Strives for a fair distribution of national wealth among all sections of the public and provides equal opportunities to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.
(b) A secular state: Does not adopt an official state religion, does not discriminate against individuals based on faith, and guarantees citizens the freedom to practice, profess, and propagate their own religion.
State the objectives of the Constitution with reference to: (a) Justice (b) Liberty © Equality
(a) Justice: All citizens are equal in the eyes of the law, and no individual is denied justice due to birth, race, caste, creed, sex, status, or religion.
(b) Liberty: Citizens are guaranteed fundamental rights, such as freedom of thought, expression, and the freedom to follow any religion.
© Equality: All citizens are equal before the law and protected equally under it, ensuring no state-led discrimination.
Why did the framers of the Constitution decide to promote fraternity among the people of India?
The framers promoted fraternity to ensure unity and stability. They recognized that a diverse nation cannot progress or operate as a democracy without social harmony, which is achieved by breaking down barriers and fostering national brotherhood.

I. Source-based questions

Identify the person in the picture.
Dr Rajendra Prasad.
Name two other prominent members of the Constituent Assembly.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and Sarojini Naidu.
When was the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly held?
9 December 1946.
When did the Constitution come into force?
26 January 1950.
What is the introduction to the Constitution called? What does it tell us about the source of the Constitution?
It is called the Preamble. It states that the source of the Constitution’s authority is “We, the people of India.”
Mention the objectives stated in the introduction of the constitution.
Justice, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.
⁠

Do and Learn

A. Use your imagination

Imagine you are a member of the core group that will function as a Drafting Committee for preparing the constitution for an ideal school. State the objectives of the school in the Preamble. Draw up a list of rights and duties for students and teachers.
Preamble of the School Constitution: “We, the students and teachers of this school, resolve to build a community based on respect, equality, and continuous learning…”
Rights of Students: Right to equal and fair learning opportunities; Right to express opinions respectfully.
Duties of Students: Duty to respect teachers and classmates; Duty to protect school property and complete academic tasks.
Rights of Teachers: Right to work in a safe, constructive environment; Right to voice concerns to administration.
Duties of Teachers: Duty to guide all students equally; Duty to provide quality education and foster positive student growth.

B. Debate

Organize a Mock Parliament. Discuss and debate on any topic or an important issue of your choice. Conclude the session with the passing/rejection of the bill.
Proposed Bill: “The Mandatory Weekly Community Service Bill for Middle Schoolers.”
Process: The ruling party presents the bill highlighting its social-emotional benefits; the opposition challenges it based on academic load; votes are cast; the speaker announces the results.

C. Project work

Prepare a questionnaire for your domestic help/security guard/sweeper/vegetable seller and use it to find out their views and experiences with regard to justice, liberty, equality and fraternity as mentioned in the Constitution.
Sample Questions:
Do you feel respected and treated as an equal by the residents of this neighborhood?
Have you ever faced any discrimination or difficulty while trying to access public services?
Do you feel safe expressing your personal opinions or following your religion freely?
Do you believe that the police and legal system treat everyone equally, regardless of their income?
With help from your teacher, arrange for the screening of the documentary film, Tryst with Destiny. Follow this up with a quiz contest in class.
Quiz Question 1: Who delivered the famous ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech?
Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru.
Quiz Question 2: At what historical moment was this speech delivered?
Answer: On the eve of India’s independence, near midnight on 14 August 1947.
Watch the proceedings during a parliamentary debate on TV (Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha channels). Write a report on your observations and impressions.
Sample Report Excerpt: “During the debate on the new bill, I observed the Speaker managing the session by allocating specific time limits to members. Members from different parties presented arguments with statistics, though some interruptions occurred before a final consensus was reached.”
Prepare a questionnaire on the making of the Indian Constitution. With your teacher’s help, invite a retired judge or advocate and find out all that you want to know through an interactive session.
Sample Questions for the Guest:
What was the most legally complex challenge faced by the Constituent Assembly?
How does the Judiciary interpret the ‘Preamble’ when resolving modern disputes?
Use your imagination and with the help of pictures, photographs, sketches, cartoons, paintings, etc. illustrate the following concepts: (a) sovereign; (b) socialist; © secular; (d) democratic; (e) republic.
Illustration Ideas:
(a) Sovereign: A drawing of the Indian map free from any external hand or external flags.
(b) Socialist: A balance scale distributing resources or wealth equally between people of different backgrounds.
Gallery
 
Want to print your doc?
This is not the way.
Try clicking the ··· in the right corner or using a keyboard shortcut (
CtrlP
) instead.