NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science Part 1 Chapter 10 The Constitution of India – An Introduction

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Class 7 Social Science Part 1 Chapter 10 Question Answer

Answer:
It was important because India is a large country with many regions, languages, religions, cultures and social groups. If only a few people from one region or community had written the Constitution, it might not have represented the needs and views of everyone in the country. Having diverse representatives ensured that the Constitution reflected the concerns of different provinces, professions and social groups, including women. This made the Constitution more fair, inclusive and acceptable to all citizens of India, since it was truly “of the people”, not just of a select few.

a. Sheena, Rajat and Harsh are standing in a line. They are excited to cast their first vote in the general elections.
b. Radha, Imon and Harpreet study in the same class in the same school.
c. Parents must make arrangements to ensure their children’s education.
d. People of all castes, genders and religions can use the village well.
Answer:
Identifying key features/values reflected in each statement:
a. Sheena, Rajat and Harsh standing in line to cast their first vote → This reflects Universal Adult Franchise (the right of every eligible citizen to vote).

b. Radha, Imon and Harpreet studying in the same class in the same school → This reflects Equality (equal access to education regardless of background).

c. Parents must make arrangements to ensure their children’s education → This reflects Fundamental Duties (the duty of parents/guardians to provide education to children between 6 and 14 years).

d. People of all castes, genders and religions using the village well → This reflects Right against Discrimination/Equality (no one is denied access to public places based on caste, gender or religion).

Answer:
Yes, I think this is a fact, because the Constitution clearly guarantees the Right to Equality under Article 14, which states that all citizens are equal before the law. This means no person can be given special treatment or discriminated against by the law based on caste, religion, gender or social status. However, in real life, achieving this ideal completely can be difficult due to social inequalities, lack of awareness about legal rights, poverty or corruption, which may sometimes prevent people from getting equal treatment in practice. So, while equality before the law is a guaranteed constitutional right, society still needs to work towards making sure it is followed properly and fairly for everyone in daily life.

Answer:
India provided universal adult franchise from the very beginning because our freedom struggle was based on the values of equality and justice for all. The makers of the Constitution believed that in a true democracy, every citizen, regardless of caste, gender, religion or economic status, should have an equal right to choose their government. This was a bold step, especially since many other democracies, like Switzerland and the UK, gave voting rights to all their citizens (including women) much later. India wanted to build an inclusive democracy from day one, where the poorest and most marginalised citizens also had a voice in choosing their representatives, reflecting the country’s commitment to equality and justice.

Answer:
The freedom struggle inspired the Constitution because many of its leaders, who fought for India’s independence, became members of the Constituent Assembly. They carried forward the values they had fought for, such as equality, justice, freedom and fraternity and used the Constitution as a tool to achieve these ideals for independent India.
India’s civilisational heritage also played a big role. Ancient Indian traditions valued the acceptance of different viewpoints, respect for Nature, pursuit of knowledge, respect for women and concepts like vasudhaiva kutumbakam (“the world is one family”). Governance traditions from mahājanapadas, sanghas and concepts like rājadharma emphasised the duties and role of people in governance. These ideas influenced features like the Fundamental Duties in our Constitution, showing that our ancient values of collective responsibility and respect for others were carried forward into the modern Constitution.

Answer:
I don’t think we have achieved all the ideals of the Constitution yet. Even though the Constitution promises equality, justice, liberty and fraternity to all, in real life we still see problems like discrimination based on caste, gender inequality, poverty and unequal access to education and opportunities in many parts of the country.
As citizens, we can take small steps to move closer to these ideals. We can respect and value people from different castes, religions and backgrounds equally, and speak up against discrimination when we see it. We can also fulfil our Fundamental Duties, like respecting the Constitution, protecting the environment, and valuing India’s diverse culture. Additionally, being aware of our rights and using them responsibly, helping spread awareness about equality and justice among our friends and family and supporting causes that help disadvantaged groups can help us contribute towards building a society that truly reflects the values enshrined in our Constitution.

7. Read the clues carefully to solve the crossword on the next page to uncover important concepts from the Indian Constitution.

Answer:
Across
2. LEGISLATURE – The branch of government that makes laws.
7. FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES – The part of the Constitution that outlines the duties of citizens towards the country.
8. SUPREME COURT – The highest court in India that protects the Constitution.
9. REPUBLIC – A system where the head of state is elected, not hereditary.
10. AMENDMENT – The process by which the Constitution can be changed over time.

Down
1. CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY – The group of people who wrote the Indian Constitution.
3. PREAMBLE – The statement at the beginning of the Constitution that tells us the values it upholds.
4. CONSTITUTION – The document that lays out the rules and laws of a country.
5. HELIUM – The gas used to preserve the original Constitution safely.
6. FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS – Basic rights given to every citizen, like freedom and equality.

Class 7 Social Science Part 1 Chapter 10 Very Short Answer Type Questions.

1. What is a constitution?
See AnswerA constitution is a document that spells out a nation’s basic principles and laws.

2. When did the Constitution of India come into effect?
See AnswerThe Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950, celebrated as Republic Day.

3. Who was the Chairman of the Constituent Assembly?
See AnswerDr. Rajendra Prasad was the Chairman of the Constituent Assembly.

4. Who chaired the Drafting Committee of the Constitution?
See AnswerDr. B.R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee of the Constitution.

5. When was the Constituent Assembly formed?
See AnswerThe Constituent Assembly was formed on 9 December 1946.

6. How many parts and schedules does the Constitution of India have today?
See AnswerThe Constitution of India has 25 parts and 12 schedules.

7. Why is the Constitution preserved in a helium-filled case?
See AnswerHelium doesn’t react with paper or ink, helping preserve the Constitution over time.

8. Name one country whose constitution inspired the Directive Principles of State Policy.
See AnswerThe Directive Principles of State Policy were inspired by the Irish Constitution.

9. What are Fundamental Duties?
See AnswerFundamental Duties are moral obligations of citizens, such as respecting the Constitution and national symbols.

10. What is the difference between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles?
See AnswerFundamental Rights are enforceable in court; Directive Principles are guidelines the government should try to follow.

11. When was Part IV-A (Fundamental Duties) added to the Constitution?
See AnswerPart IV-A, containing Fundamental Duties, was added to the Constitution in 1976.

12. When was the Panchayati Raj System added to the Constitution?
See AnswerIt was added in 1992 through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act.

13. Who wrote the text of the Constitution by hand?
See AnswerCalligrapher Prem Behari Narain Raizada wrote the text of the Constitution by hand.

14. Who illustrated the pages of the Constitution?
See AnswerNandalal Bose and his team illustrated the pages of the Constitution.

15. Name any three values mentioned in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.
See AnswerThree values in the Preamble are Justice, Liberty and Equality (also Fraternity, Sovereign, Secular, Democratic Republic).

Class 7 Social Science Part 1 Chapter 10 Short Answer Type Questions.

1. Why do we need a constitution for a country?
See AnswerA constitution acts like a rulebook that lays out the framework of government, checks and balances between its organs, rights and duties of citizens and the long-term goals of the nation, ensuring fairness and order.

2. How was the Indian Constitution developed?
See AnswerThe Indian Constitution was written by the Constituent Assembly, formed in 1946 with representatives from diverse regions and social groups. It was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950.

3. How did the Indian freedom movement influence the Constitution?
See AnswerMany freedom movement leaders were members of the Constituent Assembly and carried forward values like equality, justice, freedom and fraternity, using the Constitution as a tool to achieve the ideals of the freedom struggle.

4. How did India’s civilisational heritage shape the Constitution?
See AnswerConcepts like vasudhaiva kutumbakam, respect for different viewpoints, Nature as sacred and duties-based governance from India’s ancient traditions influenced the Constitution, especially concepts like Fundamental Duties.

5. Name three countries whose constitutions influenced India’s Constitution and what was adopted from them.
See AnswerLiberty, equality and fraternity were adopted from France’s constitution; the Directive Principles of State Policy were inspired by Ireland; and the independent judiciary concept was shaped by the American Constitution.

6. What is the difference between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy?
See AnswerFundamental Rights are enforceable promises that citizens can demand in court if violated. Directive Principles are goals or guidelines for the government to work towards, but cannot be enforced through the judiciary.

7. Why is the Constitution called a ‘living document’?
See AnswerThe Constitution is called a living document because it can be amended over time to address new needs, such as the addition of Fundamental Duties in 1976 and integration of the Panchayati Raj System in 1992.

8. What does the Preamble of the Indian Constitution tell us?
See AnswerThe Preamble summarises the Constitution’s core values — that India is a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic committed to Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity for all its citizens.

9. How were amendments to the Constitution made, according to the chapter?
See AnswerAmendments are rigorously debated in Parliament, sometimes requiring debate in legislative assemblies too. Public opinions are often sought and some changes, like the national flag ruling in 2004, come through popular movements or court decisions.

10. What role did women play in shaping the Constitution, as reflected in the chapter?
See AnswerThe Constituent Assembly had 15 women members. Begum Aizaz Rasul spoke about equality of women being an ideal long cherished in India, affirmed and assured through the Constitution’s provisions.

Class 7 Social Science Part 1 Chapter 10 Long Answer Type Questions.

1. Explain what a constitution is and why every country needs one, using examples from the chapter.
See AnswerA constitution is a document that lays out a nation’s basic principles and laws – it defines the framework of the legislature, executive and judiciary, establishes checks and balances between them, states citizens’ rights and duties and outlines the country’s long-term goals. As shown through the kabaddi match example in the chapter, just like a game needs an official rulebook to settle disputes fairly, a country needs a constitution to function smoothly, resolve conflicts and ensure everyone agrees on the same set of rules for governance.

2. Describe the process through which the Indian Constitution was developed.
See AnswerThe Indian Constitution was developed by the Constituent Assembly, formed on 9 December 1946, with 389 members initially (later reduced to 299 after Partition), including 15 women, representing India’s diverse regions and social groups. Dr. Rajendra Prasad served as its Chairman, while the Drafting Committee, chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, prepared the initial text. After almost three years of deliberation, the Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950, a day we now celebrate as Republic Day.

3. Explain the three major influences that shaped the Indian Constitution.
See AnswerThe Indian Constitution was shaped by three major influences. First, the Indian freedom movement contributed values like equality, justice, freedom and fraternity, as many freedom fighters were part of the Constituent Assembly. Second, India’s civilisational heritage brought in ideas like vasudhaiva kutumbakam, respect for diverse viewpoints and duty-based governance, reflected in provisions like Fundamental Duties. Third, following the spirit of “let noble thoughts come from every side”, the makers studied constitutions of France, Ireland, the USA, the UK and others, adopting ideas like liberty-equality-fraternity from France and an independent judiciary from the USA.

4. Differentiate between Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties, and Directive Principles of State Policy.
See AnswerFundamental Rights are guaranteed rights, such as the Right to Equality and Right to Freedom, which citizens can demand and enforce through courts if violated. Fundamental Duties are moral responsibilities of citizens, like respecting the Constitution, protecting the environment and valuing India’s composite culture, though they are not legally enforceable. Directive Principles of State Policy are goals the government should strive to achieve, such as ensuring a good standard of living or protecting the environment, but citizens cannot go to court to demand these, as they act more like guidelines than strict rules.

5. Why is the Indian Constitution described as a ‘living document’, and how has it evolved since 1950?
See AnswerThe Indian Constitution is called a living document because its makers understood that new laws and rules would be needed as the country evolved, so they allowed for amendments through a rigorous parliamentary process. For example, it originally had 22 parts and 8 schedules, which have grown to 25 parts and 12 schedules today. Fundamental Duties were added in 1976 through the 42nd Amendment and the Panchayati Raj System was formally integrated in 1992 through the 73rd Amendment. Even court decisions, like the 2004 ruling allowing citizens to fly the national flag, show how the Constitution continues to adapt to society’s needs.