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Did you know it took almost 3 years to draft the Indian Constitution, which is the lengthiest written document in the world? NCERT Class 8 Chapter 1 The Indian Constitution carries all the basic and updated details about the Constitution of India, how it was formed, what were the challenges, and the names of different committees and their heads, etc. This chapter aims to help Class 8 students learn about the Indian Constitution within a historical context. This has been done with the intent that students become aware of the major influence that our anti-colonial struggle had on Indian democracy. In discussing the Constitution, students will also learn about the fundamental rights, federalism, secularism, rights in the Indian Constitution, and more.
Table of Contents
Download Social Science Class 8 Civics Chapter 1 Important Questions and Answers PDF
Important Notes in NCERT Class 8 Chapter 1
Federalism
This refers to the existence of more than one level of government in the country. In India, we have governments at the state level and the centre. The vast number of communities in India meant that a system of government needed to be devised that did not involve only persons sitting in the capital city of New Delhi and making.
While each state in India enjoys autonomy in exercising powers on certain issues, subjects of national concern require that all of these states follow the laws of the central government. The Constitution contains lists that detail the issues that each tier of government can make laws on. The Constitution also specifies where each tier of government can get the money for the work that it does. Under federalism, the states are not merely agents of the federal government but draw their authority from the Constitution as well. All persons in India are governed by laws and policies made by each of these levels of government.
Parliamentary Form of Government
The Constitution of India guarantees universal adult suffrage for all citizens. When they were making the Constitution, the members of the Constituent Assembly felt that the freedom struggle had prepared the masses for universal adult suffrage and that this would help encourage a democratic mindset and break the clutches of traditional caste, class and gender hierarchies. This means that the people of India have a direct role in electing their representatives. Also, every citizen of the country, irrespective of his/her social background, can contest in elections. These representatives are accountable to the people.
Separation of Powers
According to the Constitution, there are three organs of government. These are the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. The legislature refers to our elected representatives. The executive is a smaller group of people who are responsible for implementing laws and running the government.
The judiciary, of which you will read more in Unit 3 of this book, refers to the system of courts in this country. To prevent the misuse of power by any one branch of government, the Constitution says that each of these organs should exercise different powers. Through this, each organ acts as a check on the other organs of government and this ensures the balance of power between all three.
Also Read: Separation of Powers in a Democracy
Secularism
A secular state is one in which the state does not officially promote any one religion as the state religion. The citizens of India have the right to follow any religion.
Also Read: Chapter 2 – Understanding Secularism
Fundamental Rights
The section on Fundamental Rights has often been referred to as the ‘conscience’ of the Indian Constitution. Colonial rule had created a certain suspicion of the State in the minds of the nationalists and they wanted to ensure that a set of written rights would guard against the misuse of State power in independent India.
Fundamental Rights, therefore, protect citizens against the arbitrary and absolute exercise of power by the State. The Constitution, thus, guarantees the rights of individuals against the State as well as against other individuals.
Rights in the Indian Constitution
The Fundamental Rights in the Indian Constitution include:
- Right to Equality: All persons are equal before the law. This means that all persons shall be equally protected by the laws of the country. It also states that no citizen can be discriminated against based on their religion, caste or sex. Every person has access to all public places including playgrounds, hotels, shops etc. The State cannot discriminate against anyone in matters of employment. But there are exceptions to this that you will read about later in this book. The practice of untouchability has also been abolished.
- Right to Freedom: This includes the right to freedom of speech and expression, the right to form associations, the right to move freely and reside in any part of the country, and the right to practise any profession, occupation or business.
- Right against Exploitation: The Constitution prohibits human trafficking, forced labour, and employment of children under 14 years of age.
- Right to Freedom of Religion: Religious freedom is provided to all citizens. Every person has the right to practise, profess and propagate the religion of their choice.
- Cultural and Educational Rights: The Constitution states that all minorities, religious or linguistic, can set up their educational institutions to preserve and develop their own culture.
- Right to Constitutional Remedies: This allows citizens to move the court if they believe that any of their Fundamental Rights have been violated by the State.
Important Definitions in NCERT Class 8 Chapter 1
- Arbitrary: When nothing is fixed and is instead left to one’s judgment or choice. This can be used to refer to rules that are not fixed, decisions that have no basis etc.
- Ideal: A goal or a principle in its most excellent or perfect form.
- Indian national movement: The Indian national movement emerged in nineteenth-century India and saw thousands of men and women coming together to fight British rule. This culminated in India’s independence in 1947.
- Polity: A society that has an organised political structure. India is a democratic polity. Sovereign: In the context of this chapter it refers to an independent people.
- Human Trafficking: The practice of the illegal buying and selling of different commodities across national borders. In the context of Fundamental Rights discussed in this chapter, it refers to illegal trade in human beings, particularly women and children.
- Tyranny: The cruel and unjust use of power or authority.
Important MCQs with Answers in NCERT Class8 Chapter 1
1. Which of the following is not a fundamental right guaranteed by the Indian Constitution?
(a) Right to equality
(b) Right to education
(c) Right to property
(d) Right to life
2. Who was the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution?
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) B.R. Ambedkar
(c) Mahatma Gandhi
(d) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
3. What is the role of the Supreme Court in the Indian Constitution?
(a) To interpret the Constitution and protect fundamental rights
(b) To make laws for the country
(c) To elect the President of India
(d) To head the executive branch of the government
4. What is the principle of universal adult suffrage enshrined in the Indian Constitution?
(a) Every citizen of India above the age of 18 has the right to vote.
(b) Only educated citizens of India have the right to vote.
(c) Only men have the right to vote in India.
(d) Only property owners have the right to vote in India.
5. What is the significance of the Indian Constitution?
(a) It establishes a framework for the government of India.
(b) It guarantees fundamental rights to all citizens.
(c) It promotes unity and diversity in India.
(d) All of the above.
MCQ Answers:
- (c) Right to property
- (b) B.R. Ambedkar
- (a) To interpret the Constitution and protect fundamental rights
- (a) Every citizen of India above the age of 18 has the right to vote.
- (d) All of the above
Important Questions and Answers in NCERT Class 8 Chapter 1 The Indian Constitution
Q.1 Why does a democratic country need a Constitution?
Ans. A democratic country needs a constitution because it serves several purposes including:
- It lays out certain ideals that form the basis of the kind of country that we as citizens aspire to live in.
- A Constitution tells us what the fundamental nature of our society is. A country is usually made up of different communities of people who share certain beliefs but may not necessarily agree on all issues.
- A Constitution helps serve as a set of rules and principles that all persons in a country can agree upon as the basis of how they want the country to be governed. This includes not only the type of government but also an agreement on certain ideals that they all believe the country should uphold.
Q.2 Look at the wording of the two documents given below. The first column is from the 1990 Nepal Constitution. The second column is from the more recent Constitution of Nepal.
| 1990 Constitution of Nepal Part 7: Executive | 2015 Constitution of Nepal Part 7: Federal Executive |
| Article 35: Executive Power: The executive power of the Kingdom of Nepal shall be vested in his Majesty and the Council of Ministers | Article 75: Executive Power: The Executive Power of Nepal shall, pursuant to this Constitution and law, be vested in the Council of Ministers |
What is the difference in who exercises ‘Executive Power’ in the above two Constitutions of Nepal?
Ans. In Article 35 of the 1990 Constitution of Nepal, the power to rule the country set rules and manage the country are all vested in the King of the country and the Ministers appointed under him.
However, Article 75 of the 2015 Constitution of Nepal states that the rules, governance and management of the country will be based on the laws mentioned in the Constitution of the country under the supervision of the Ministers.
Q.3 What would happen if there were no restrictions on the power of elected representatives?
Ans: In a democracy, we choose our leaders so that they can exercise power responsibly on our behalf. However, there is always the possibility that these leaders might misuse their authority and the Constitution usually provides safeguards against this.
Q.4 In each of the following situations, identify the minority. Write one reason why you think it is important to respect the views of the minority in each of these situations.
(a) In a school with 30 teachers, 20 of them are male.
The minority here are the 10 female teachers teaching in the school. It is important to keep the point of view of the female teachers in mind because despite being a minority, their opinions are of great importance, and no decision made keeping the majority views in mind should cause discomfort for the female teachers.
(b) In a city, 5 per cent of the population are Buddhists.
Here, the minority is the 5 per cent Buddhist population in the city. Their views should be respected. Just because they are in the minority with different religious beliefs, they should not be disrespected. Any decision should be taken keeping in mind the religious feelings of the Buddhist population.
(c) In a factory mess all employees, 80 per cent are vegetarians.
The minority here are the 20 per cent of non-vegetarians having food at the factory mess. The food prepared in the factory mess must be prepared for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians.
(d) In a class of 50 students, 40 belong to more well-off families.
In this case, the minority are the 10 students who do not belong to well-off families. It is important to keep their viewpoints in mind because they may not be able to contribute to the various expenses required by the school and they should not feel humiliated for the same.
Q.5 The column on the left lists some of the key features of the Indian Constitution. In the other columns, write two sentences, in your own words, on why you think this feature is important.
| Key Feature | Significance |
| Federalism | |
| Separation of Powers | |
| Fundamental Rights | |
| Parliamentary Form of Government |
Ans.
| Key Feature | Significance |
| Federalism | It is important because, in a country like India, there are people living at different levels, and only one level of government cannot govern them. Hence, forming a government for the different levels is important. The Panchayati Raj is responsible for governing the village, the state government is responsible for governing the state, and the Central Government is responsible for governing the entire country. |
| Separation of Powers | There are three organs of governance: legislature, executive and judiciary. Each of these organs has different powers and serves different functions. In order to prevent the misuse of power by any one branch of government, the Constitution says that each of these organs should exercise different powers. |
| Fundamental Rights | Fundamental Rights are a set of rights that the Constitution offers to every citizen of the country. These rights include the Right to Freedom, the Right to Equality, the Right against Exploitation, the Right to Freedom of Religion, Cultural and Educational Rights and the Right to Constitutional Remedies. These rights give every citizen of the country the right to be considered equal, not to get discriminated based on caste, culture or religion, to get equal educational opportunities and to be equal in front of the law. |
| Parliamentary Form of Government | A democratic government is one where the citizens of the country have the right to elect their representatives. When the Constitution was being made, it was made sure that every citizen of the country, irrespective of caste, colour, creed and religion, would have the right to elect their leaders under universal adult suffrage, i.e., where the right to vote will be given to all. |
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FAQs
Right to Freedom in the Indian Consitution includes the right to freedom of speech and expression, the right to form associations, the right to move freely and reside in any part of the country, and the right to practise any profession, occupation or business.
A secular state is one in which the state does not officially promote any one religion as the state religion. The citizens of India have the right to follow any religion.
The Indian national movement emerged in nineteenth-century India and saw thousands of men and women coming together to fight British rule. This culminated in India’s independence in 1947.
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