The Constitution of India — An Introduction — Class 7 Social Science
Exploring Society Part 1 · Chapter 10
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- Space weighted by chapter size
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
- Space weighted by chapter size
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
- Space weighted by chapter size
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Chapter summary
Key ideas & terms
- Constitution
- A document that lays down a nation's basic principles and laws, the framework of government, and the rights and duties of citizens.
- Constituent Assembly
- The body formed in 1946 that developed and wrote the Indian Constitution over almost three years.
- Fundamental Rights
- Basic rights of citizens, such as the rights to equality, freedom and against exploitation, that are promises which must be kept and can be defended in court.
- Directive Principles of State Policy
- Guidelines reflecting the social and economic vision the Constitution-makers had for India, which the government should try to achieve but are not enforceable in court.
- Preamble
- The introductory statement of the Constitution that expresses its core values and guiding ideals.
- Amendment
- A change made to the Constitution, rigorously debated in Parliament before being accepted, reflecting that it is a living document.
Extra questions & answers
What is a constitution?
It is a document that spells out a nation's basic principles and laws — the framework and roles of the three organs of government, the checks and balances among them, the rights and duties of citizens, and the nation's long-term goals.
When did the Indian Constitution come into effect, and why is that date special?
It came into effect on 26 January 1950, which is why that day is celebrated annually as Republic Day.
Who led the Drafting Committee and chaired the Constituent Assembly?
The Drafting Committee was chaired by Dr B.R. Ambedkar, while Dr Rajendra Prasad was the Chairman of the Constituent Assembly.
What three main influences shaped the Indian Constitution?
The ideals of the Indian freedom movement, India's civilisational heritage and culture, and useful learnings from the constitutions of other countries.
Which ideals came from the freedom struggle into the Constitution?
Values such as equality of all, justice for all, freedom, fraternity and the preservation of India's cultural heritage.
How do Fundamental Rights differ from Directive Principles?
Fundamental Rights are promises that must be kept and can be defended in court, while Directive Principles are goals or guidelines the government should try to achieve but cannot be enforced through a judge.
What ideas did India borrow from other constitutions?
The ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity from France, the Directive Principles inspired by the Irish Constitution, and the concept of an independent judiciary shaped by the American Constitution.
Why is the Constitution called a 'living document'?
Because it can be improved through amendments as the country's needs change over time, such as the addition of Fundamental Duties in 1976 and the Panchayati Raj system in 1992.
What does the Preamble term 'Republic' mean?
It means the head of the state is an elected person and not a hereditary position like a king or queen.
What do 'Sovereign' and 'Secular' mean in the Preamble?
Sovereign means the people have supreme right to make decisions on internal and external matters with no external power dictating to India; Secular means citizens may follow any religion, there is no official religion, and the state respects all faiths equally.
LET'S REMEMBER
Recall that in Grade 6, we saw the meaning of the word ‘constitution’—a document that lays down the basic principles and laws of a nation. In small groups of three, list all the questions that come to your mind about a country’s constitution.
A constitution is a rulebook for a whole country that explains how the government is organised, what laws should be followed, and what rights and duties the citizens have. Some questions we can ask about it are: What is a constitution and why does a country need one? Who writes it and how is it made? What values and ideals does it contain? What does it say about the government, the rights of people, and how laws can be changed? How does it protect equality and justice for everyone?
LET'S EXPLORE
Discuss in your group what might have happened if there was no official rulebook that the referee and the team captains could refer to.
If there was no official rulebook, the dispute about whether the player was out could not be settled fairly. Both teams would argue for their own side, the argument could become angry, the match might be stopped, and no one would accept the final result. A common accepted rulebook is needed for fairness and trust.
What is required to ensure everyone agrees to abide by the rulebook?
To ensure everyone agrees to abide by the rulebook, the rules must be written clearly, made with the consent of all players or their representatives, explained to everyone before the game, and applied equally by an impartial referee whom everyone respects.
What might happen if the team captains did not agree to refer to the rulebook at all?
If the captains did not agree to refer to the rulebook, there would be no neutral way to decide the dispute. The game could end in a fight, the stronger team might dominate, trust would be lost, and future matches would be difficult to organise.
Think of a game that you play often and list the rules you follow. Each group will then present their set of rules to the rest of the class. Listen to each presentation, discuss the rules, and work together to decide on a common set of rules for the game. What challenges do you face in reaching a consensus on rules that everyone agrees with?
For example, if we take kho-kho or football, each group may have slightly different local rules about team size, boundaries, fouls or scoring. Challenges in reaching a consensus are that everyone is used to their own version, some rules favour one group, and we have to compromise, listen patiently, and agree on rules that are fair and clear for all.
What could be the ‘rulebook’ for a country? How would it be made?
The rulebook for a country is its Constitution. It lays down how the government is formed, how laws are made, what rights and duties citizens have, and what ideals the country follows like equality, liberty and justice. It is made by representatives of the people coming together, discussing different views, borrowing good ideas from history and other countries, and writing down agreed rules that everyone promises to respect.
DON'T MISS OUT
Just as your textbook has many sections and chapters, the Constitution of India has 25 parts and 12 schedules. Each part has sections within it. It is the world’s largest written constitution. When it came into effect, it had 22 Parts and 8 schedules. You don’t need to remember these numbers, but can you guess why they have increased since 1950?
The number of Parts and Schedules has increased because the Constitution is a living document that is amended when the country needs new laws and arrangements. For example, Fundamental Duties were added in 1976 and the Panchayati Raj system was added in 1992 through amendments. As India’s needs grew, new parts and schedules were added to cover new subjects and reforms.
LET'S EXPLORE
In small groups, try to find out the names of people from your region who may have participated in the making of the Constitution. What sources can you use to gather this information? (Hint: Look for books in your school or local library. You could also ask your teacher, parents and other elders in the neighbourhood. Explore https://sansad.in/ls/about/constituent-assembly )
We can find names of members from our state or region who were in the Constituent Assembly of 299 members. Useful sources are school and local libraries, history textbooks, teachers, parents and elders, and the official Parliament website on the Constituent Assembly. For example, students from different states can look up members like Dr. B. R. Ambedkar from Maharashtra, Begum Aizaz Rasul from Uttar Pradesh, or other regional representatives listed on the Sansad website.
LET'S EXPLORE
Read the quotation given below. Which article of the Constitution do you think she was referring to? Why do you think she said that the equality of women was not a new concept for India? Discuss in the class. Sir, the women of India are happy to step into their rightful heritage of complete equality with men in all spheres of life and activity. I say so because I am convinced that this is no new concept which has been postulated for the purposes of this Constitution, but is an ideal that has long been cherished by India, though social conditions for some time had tragically debased it in practice. This Constitution affirms that ideal and gives the solemn assurance that the rights of women in law will be wholly honoured in the Indian Republic. — Begum Aizaz Rasul, 22 November 1949, during the Constituent Assembly’s debates
Begum Aizaz Rasul was referring mainly to the Right to Equality, including Article 14 equality before law and Article 15 which prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth, and Article 16 equality of opportunity. She said equality of women was not new for India because ancient Indian traditions respected women, honoured learning and treated different viewpoints with dignity, and women had played important roles in society. Social inequalities that appeared later were a departure from that heritage, and the Constitution restores that original ideal of equal respect for women.
LET'S EXPLORE
Can you find out the amendments made to the Constitution in the past ten years?
The Constitution can be amended by Parliament after thorough debate, and sometimes by state legislatures and public consultation. In the last ten years, amendments have included changes such as the 101st Amendment introducing the Goods and Services Tax in 2016, the 102nd Amendment giving constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes in 2018, the 103rd Amendment providing reservation for Economically Weaker Sections in 2019, and the 106th Amendment providing reservation for women in legislatures in 2023. Students can check the latest list on the Ministry of Law and Justice or Parliament website for complete details.
LET'S EXPLORE
Below is the list of features given in the Preamble. Read them closely from the image above and write down examples of the application of these values in daily life around you. Two have been completed to help you with the exercise. Features of the Preamble: Sovereign, Secular, Republic, Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity - How we see them in our daily lives
Sovereign: India makes its own laws and decisions without any foreign power controlling us; for example, electing our own government and deciding our foreign policy. Secular: A person does not have to take permission from the State to practice the rituals of their religion if the practice does not interfere with anyone else’s day-to-day life; schools allow students of all religions to study together. Republic: The President of India is elected by the people’s representatives, not a king by birth; every citizen can aspire to contest elections. Justice: The State provides equal opportunity to all in jobs, regardless of gender, caste, religion, etc., and gives legal aid to the poor. Liberty: Students can express their thoughts in class and choose their field of study. Equality: All students stand in the same line for mid-day meals and use the same library and playground. Fraternity: We celebrate festivals of different communities together and help each other during floods or other difficulties as one family.
Questions and activities
1. “The Constituent Assembly had representatives from diverse backgrounds in India.” Why do you think it was important to have a diverse set of representatives from all over India?
It was important to have diverse representatives so that the Constitution would reflect the views and needs of all Indians — different regions, languages, religions, castes, tribes, professions and both men and women. Since India is very large and diverse, only a diverse Assembly could understand different problems, build trust across groups, and make fair rules that everyone would accept as their own.
2. Read the statements below carefully and identify which key features / values in the Constitution of India are reflected in each statement. (a) Sheena, Rajat, and Harsh are standing in a line. They are excited to cast their first vote in the general elections.
This reflects Democracy and Universal Adult Franchise, and the political system of elected government. It also shows Equality and Liberty — every adult citizen has an equal right to vote and choose their representatives.
2. Read the statements below carefully and identify which key features / values in the Constitution of India are reflected in each statement. (b) Radha, Imon, and Harpreet study in the same class in the same school.
This reflects Equality, Right to Equality, Right to Education under Fundamental Rights, and Fraternity and Secularism. Children of different religions, castes, genders and regions studying together shows the values of pluralism and unity in diversity.
2. Read the statements below carefully and identify which key features / values in the Constitution of India are reflected in each statement. (c) Parents must make arrangements to ensure their children’s education.
This reflects Fundamental Duties and Fundamental Rights. Article 21A gives the Right to Education and a corresponding Fundamental Duty for parents or guardians to provide opportunities for education to children aged six to fourteen years.
2. Read the statements below carefully and identify which key features / values in the Constitution of India are reflected in each statement. (d) People of all castes, genders, and religions can use the village well.
This reflects Justice, Equality, Right to Equality under Article 14 and prohibition of discrimination under Article 15, and the Directive Principles that aim for social justice. It shows that no one can be denied use of public resources on grounds of caste, gender or religion.
3. It is said that ‘All citizens in India are equal before the law’. Do you think this is a fact? If yes, why? If not, why not? Formulate your arguments.
Legally, it is a fact because Article 14 of the Constitution guarantees equality before the law and the judiciary protects this right, so the same law applies to everyone. In practice, equality is not yet fully achieved because some people face discrimination due to caste, gender, poverty or lack of access to lawyers and education, and some powerful people may get better treatment. Therefore the Constitution gives us the legal promise, but society and government must still work hard to make it real for everyone.
4. You have learnt that ‘India is the only country that provided universal adult franchise to its citizens from the beginning.’ Can you explain why India did it?
India gave every adult the right to vote from its first election in 1951-52 because the freedom movement had demanded equality, liberty and justice for all, and leaders believed democracy must include everyone regardless of caste, gender, religion or education. Unlike many other countries that gave voting rights gradually, India’s founders wanted to show trust in ordinary people and to give the poor and marginalized an equal voice in nation-building from the very start.
5. How did the freedom struggle inspire the making of the Constitution of India? How did India’s civilisational heritage inspire some of the key features in the Constitution of India? Explain.
The freedom struggle inspired the Constitution by giving its core values — equality, justice, liberty, fraternity and the idea of using the Constitution to achieve them. Leaders who had fought British rule brought their experience into the Assembly, so the Constitution provides universal adult franchise, separation of powers, Fundamental Rights, and Centre-State relations. India’s civilisational heritage inspired unity in diversity, vasudhaiva kutumbakam and sarve bhavantu sukhinah, respect for women, respect for nature, pursuit of knowledge and duty of citizens. Concepts like duties of rulers and the people from janapadas, sanghas and rajadharma influenced ideas like Fundamental Duties and the directive to preserve heritage and environment.
6. Do you think we, as a society, have achieved all the ideals of the Constitution? If not, what can we each do as citizens to move our country closer to these ideals?
We have made good progress but have not yet achieved all ideals — inequality, poverty, gender discrimination, pollution and communal differences still exist. As citizens we can follow Fundamental Duties, respect the flag and anthem, protect the environment, value our composite heritage, treat everyone with dignity, ensure education for children, vote honestly, obey laws, and help those in need, thereby practising justice, liberty, equality and fraternity in daily life.
7. Read the clues carefully to solve the crossword on the next page to uncover important concepts from the Indian Constitution. Across - 2. The branch of government that makes laws.
Legislature
7. Read the clues carefully to solve the crossword on the next page to uncover important concepts from the Indian Constitution. Across - 7. The part of the Constitution that outlines the duties of citizens towards the country.
Fundamental Duties
7. Read the clues carefully to solve the crossword on the next page to uncover important concepts from the Indian Constitution. Across - 8. The highest court in India that protects the Constitution.
Supreme Court
7. Read the clues carefully to solve the crossword on the next page to uncover important concepts from the Indian Constitution. Across - 9. A system where the head of state is elected, not hereditary.
Republic
7. Read the clues carefully to solve the crossword on the next page to uncover important concepts from the Indian Constitution. Across - 10. The process by which the Constitution can be changed over time.
Amendment
7. Read the clues carefully to solve the crossword on the next page to uncover important concepts from the Indian Constitution. Down - 1. The group of people who wrote the Indian Constitution.
Constituent Assembly
7. Read the clues carefully to solve the crossword on the next page to uncover important concepts from the Indian Constitution. Down - 3. The statement at the beginning of the Constitution that tells us the values it upholds.
Preamble
7. Read the clues carefully to solve the crossword on the next page to uncover important concepts from the Indian Constitution. Down - 4. The document that lays out the rules and laws of a country.
Constitution
7. Read the clues carefully to solve the crossword on the next page to uncover important concepts from the Indian Constitution. Down - 5. The gas used to preserve the original Constitution safely.
Helium
7. Read the clues carefully to solve the crossword on the next page to uncover important concepts from the Indian Constitution. Down - 6. Basic rights given to every citizen, like freedom and equality.
Fundamental Rights