Detailed, Step-by-Step NCERT Solutions for 11 Political Science Chapter 10 The Philosophy of the Constitution Questions and Answers were solved by Expert Teachers as per NCERT (CBSE) Book guidelines covering each topic in chapter to ensure complete preparation.
The Philosophy of the Constitution NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Political Science Chapter 10
The Philosophy of the Constitution Questions and Answers Class 11 Political Science Chapter 10
Question 1.
The following are’ certain laws.’Are they connected with any value? If yes, than what is underlying value? Give regions?
a. Both daughters and sons will have share in the family property.
b. There will be different slabs of sales tax on different consumer items
c. Religions instructions will not be given in any government school.
d. There shall be no beggar or forced labour.
Answer:
(a) Here in this sentence the value of equality is connected, because both sons and daughter have been treated equally in the share of family property.
(b) No value is connected.
(c ) Here also value of secularism is connected because the religious instruction is prohibited in government school as a result of secular nature of the state.
(d) No value is attached.
Question 2.
Which of the options given below cannot be used to complete the following statement?
a. Check the power of the government
b. Protect minorities from majority
c. Bring independence from colonial rule
d. Ensure that a long term vision is not lost by momentary passions.
e. Bring social change in peaceful manner.
Answer:
(c) Bring independence from colonial rule
Question 3.
The following are different positions about leading and understand¬ing constituent assembly debates.
1. Which of these statements argues that Constituent Assembly debates are relevant even today? Which statement says that they are not relevant?
2. With which of these positions do you agree and why?
a. Common people are too busy in earning livelihood and meeting different pressures of life. They can’t understand the legal language of these debates.
b. The conditions and challenges today are different from the time when the Constitution was made. To read the ideas of Constitution makers and use them for our new times is trying to bring past in the present.
c. Our ways of understanding the world and the present challenges have not changed totally. Constituent Assembly debates can provide us reasons why certain practises are important In a period when constitutional practises are being challenged, not knowing the reasons can destroy them.
Answer:
1. Statement ‘a’ and ‘b’ argues that the debates of Constituent Assembly are irrelevant today. While statement ‘c’. argues that debates of Constituent Assembly are relevant today.
2. J agree with position of statement ‘a’ that common people are too busy in earning livelihood, therefore they cannot understand legal language of the debates.
I also agree with the position of statement ‘c’ that debates of Constituent Assembly can provide us the reasons of importance of certain constitutional practices.
Question 4.
Explain the difference between the Indian Constitution and western ideas in the light of
a. Understanding of secularism
b. Art 370 and Art 371
c. Affirmative action
d. Universal adult franchise.
Answer:
‘A’ There are differences between the Indian Constitution in following areas although India is a secular state and western ideas also support secularism.
1. The western view of secularism is based on strict separation between the state and religion while in India state is allowed to interfere in religion for positive purpose. In India state is allowed to give aid to educational institution based on religion.
2. Here in India emphasis is on individual equality as well as inter community equality while in western ideas emphasis is on equality and individuals ‘B’ Art 370 and Art 371.
In India asymmetrical federalism prevails because Under Art 370 special status is given to Jammu & Kashmir and Art 371 provides special status to North eastern states to protect their local identity through constrictions on immigration. Indian federalism is asymmetrical in the sense also that centre is strong and has more powers than states. The western federations are symmetrical (Example, U.S.A.)
c. Affirmative action In Indian Constitution to improve the living conditions and status of traditionally backward sections of the society, provided reservation in matter of employment as a part of Affirmative action. Such Affirmative action is not given in western states.
d. Universal adult franchiseIn Indian Constitution and also is western constitution the principle of adult franchise has been accepted.
Question 5.
Which of these following principles of secularism are adopted in the constitution of India?
a. that state will have nothing to do with religion.
b. the state will have close relation with religion.
c. the state can discriminate among re{igion.
d. that state will recognise rights of religious groups.
e. that state will have limited powers to interfere in affairs of religions.
Answer:
‘D’ that the state will recognise right of religious groups.
Question 6.
Match the following
| a. | Freedom to criticise treatment of widows | I. Substantive achivement |
| b. | Taking decisions in the constituent Assembly on the basis of reason not self respect . | II. Procedural achivement |
| c. | Accepting importance of Community in an Individual is life | III. Neglect of gender Justice |
| d | Article 370 Art 371 | IV. Liberal individualism |
| e. | Unequal rights to women regarding family property and children | V. Attention to requirements of a Particular region ‘ |
Answer:
Following are the correct matches
a – I, b – II, c – IV, d – V, e – III
Question 7.
This discussion was taking place in a class. Read the various arguments and state, which of these do you agree with and why.
Jayesh: I still think that our Constitution is only a borrowed document
Saba : Do you mean to say that there is nothing Indian in it? But is there such thing as Indians and western in the case of values and ideas? Take equality between men and women. What is western about it? And even if it is, should wo reject it only because it is western?
Jayesh: What I mean is that after fighting for independence from the British, did we not adopt their system of parliamentary government?
Neha: You forget that when we fought the British, we were not against the British as such, we were against the principle of colonialism. That has nothing to do with adopting a system of government that we wanted, wherever it came from. ‘
Answer:
On going through the above discussion between Jayesh and Neha, we find that both are correct to some extent. Jayesh is right that Indian Constitution is a borrowed bag because we have taken and adopted many systems and institution from different countries of the world, but we adapted them to our requirements.
Neha is also right that there is too much Indian is our Constitution. We have many precedents,-traditions and past history, which has shaped the formation of Constitution.
Government of India Act 1935 and Nehru Report 1928 forms the Indian sources of the Indian Constitution. We gave adopted the Constitution from different parts of the world as per our requirements and suitabilities.
Question 8.
Why it is said that the making of Indian Constitution was unrepresentative ? Does that make the Constitution unrepresentative? Give rea¬sons for your answer.
Answer:
It is said about the Constituent Assembly that it was unrepresentative, it is true to some extent because it was not directly elected by the people. It was based on the election of 1946. Secondly there was limited franchise and not adult franchise at that time. Thirdly most of the members were nominated to represent different sections of the society.
But we would say that it was a serious effort to make it the truely representative. It was the best effort in those circumstances. Direct election of the Constituent Assembly was not possible at that time. It was made for the people and its constitution was implemented and adopted in the name of ‘the people of India’. Therefore we can say that it was representative body.
Question 9.
One of the limitations of the Constitution of India is that it does not adequately attend to gender justice. What evidence can you give to substantiate this charge? If you were writing the Constitution today what provisions would you recommend for remedying this limitation.
Answer:
We feel that there are sufficient provisions to achieve the gender justice. For example Fundamental rights of Equality given in Art 14, 15 and 16 are sufficient attempt for gender Equality arid under justice.
There are sufficient provisions also in the chapter of ‘Directive Principles’ in the IVth part of the Constitution for the improved of living conditions and status of women. However there is nothing in the Constitution to achieve the gender justices in.practices because still we see the glancing situations of gender injustice. I would recommend the inclusion of practical provision to achieve the gender justice.
Question 10.
Do you agree with the statement that “It is not clear why in is a poor developing country, certain basic socio, economic rights were del¬egated to the section on Directive Principles rather than made an integral feature of our fundamental Rights?” Give reasons for your answer. What do you think are the possible reasons for putting socio, economic rights in the section of Directive Principles?
Answer:
It is true that basic socio-economic requirements have been included in the chapter of Directive Principles of the State Policy and notin the chapter of Fundamental Rights. But it is not so because the Constitution makers were less serious and concerned about these socio, economic need of the people.
Fact is that these needs were put in the chapter of Directive Principles because that is not justicible and did not put them in the chapter of Fundamental Right because it is justiciable.
Since there were inadequacy of the resources at the time of Constitution-making and constitution makers wanted to fulfill these socio-economic needs, therefore they put them in the chapter of Directive principles to be given by future governments and people could not claim them in the court of law.