Social Science - Class 8
Chapter 16 : Our Constitution
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A. Tick the correct option.
1. In a parliamentary form of government —
(a)
(b) the executive is answerable to the Parliament ✅
(c)
(d)
2. The Constituent Assembly of India consisted of —
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d) indirectly elected members ✅
3. Most of the provisions of Indian Constitution can be amended by —
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d) special majority ✅
4. Freedom of religion makes India a —
(a)
(b) Secular state ✅
(c)
(d)
5. Which one of the following statements goes against the spirit of federalism in India?
(a)
(b)
(c) The government at the Centre is very strong ✅
(d)
B. Fill in the blanks.
1. Family is the basic unit of society.
2. India is a vast country with various physical, cultural and social diversities.
3. The Constitution provides a set of rules, principles and laws acceptable to almost all.
4. England is not a republic because its Head of the State is queen/king.
5. India has a single integrated judicial system.
C. Write a technical term or an appropriate word for each of the following statements.
1. Mohan is a Gujarati but lives in Himachal Pradesh and has a dual citizenship – False
2. The President of India has the power to remove any judge of the Supreme Court – False
3. There were 15 female members in the Constituent Assembly of India – True
4. A Constitution is called rigid or flexible on the basis of the procedure for its amendments – True
5. India is a sovereign and socialist state but not secular – False
D. Answer the following questions in brief.
1. Cite three examples to prove that Indian Constitution is quite dynamic.
Answer: Indian Constitution is dynamic, which means it can change with time. Here are three examples:
Abolition of Privy Purse – Privileges of kings were removed.
Nationalisation of Banks – Private banks were taken over by the government.
Reservation for OBCs – Seats were reserved for backward classes for their upliftment.
These show that the Constitution changes according to the needs of society.
Answer: The Indian Constitution is both rigid (hard to change) and flexible (can be changed when needed).
Here are three such features:
a) It is stable and prevents quick and careless changes.
b) It is a sacred document that provides a strong base for democracy.
c) Still, it is flexible because it allows amendments when required.
This balance helps in keeping the Constitution relevant and strong.
3. “India has a parliamentary form of government.” Give any three examples to support this statement.
Answer: India follows a parliamentary system. Here are three reasons:
a) There is a strong link between legislature and executive.
b) Ministers are chosen from the members of Parliament (MPs).
c) The President is the nominal head, while the Prime Minister is the real head.
This system ensures the government is answerable to the people’s representatives.
Answer: The Indian federation is unique because:
a) It took the best features from many world constitutions.
b) These features were modified to suit Indian needs and conditions.
c) It is a perfect blend of unity and diversity.
Thus, it is a special model that works well for India’s vast and varied population.
5. Explain the procedures of amending the Indian Constitution.
Answer: There are three ways to amend the Indian Constitution:
a) By Simple Majority – Some parts can be changed by just a simple majority in Parliament.
b) By Special Majority – Some changes need a two-thirds majority in both Houses.
c) By Special Majority and Ratification – Some amendments also need approval from at least half of the states after passing in Parliament.
This method ensures only useful and important changes are made.
E. Answer the following questions.
1. Describe the composition and contribution of the Constituent Assembly of India.
Answer: The Constituent Assembly had members from different religions and communities.
a) It included famous leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
b) There were also 15 women members in the Assembly.
Contributions of the Assembly:
a) Gave importance to democracy.
b) Guaranteed justice, equality, and freedom to all citizens.
c) Focused on helping the poor and ending exploitation of backward people.
This shows the Assembly worked for a fair and equal society.
2. Describe any five salient features of the Indian Constitution.
Answer: Five important features of the Indian Constitution are:
a) It combines the best parts of many world constitutions.
b) It includes national goals written in the Preamble.
c) It adopted good ideas from England, USA, Canada, Ireland, etc.
d) It reflects the needs and hopes of Indian people.
e) It includes principles of freedom fighters who wanted equality and justice.
This makes our Constitution a well-balanced and thoughtful document.
3. Mention any five purposes which the Constitution of India serves towards strengthening democracy.
Answer: The Constitution helps in making democracy strong in many ways. Here are five purposes:
a) It defines the political system of the country.
b) It gives equal rights to bring justice for all.
c) It protects minority groups from being ignored.
d) It controls the majority so they don’t misuse power.
e) It protects national interests and unity.
Thus, the Constitution is the foundation of a fair democratic India.
4. India is a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. Explain.
Answer: Here’s what each word in this phrase means:
a) Sovereign – India is independent and makes its own decisions in internal and external matters.
b) Socialist – Everyone is treated equally, with no discrimination of caste, colour, religion, or wealth.
c) Secular – India has no official religion. Every citizen is free to follow any religion.
d) Democratic – People elect their government, and the real power is with the people.
e) Republic – The President (head of the country) is elected, not born into the role.
Together, these values describe how India runs as a modern, fair, and people-powered country.
5. Why do some people say that India is a federation with unitary features? Explain with the help of any five Constitutional provisions.
Answer: Though India is a federation, it also has some unitary (centralized) features. Here are five reasons:
a) Strong Central Government – The center has more powers than the states.
b) Single Citizenship – All Indians have only one citizenship, not state-wise.
c) One Judiciary System – There is a common court system, with the Supreme Court at the top.
d) One Constitution – India has a single Constitution for the whole country; states cannot make their own.
e) Union List Control – The Parliament controls the Union List, which has more and important subjects, and residuary powers also lie with the center.
So, India’s federation has many unitary powers to keep the nation united.