Class 8 Civics Chapter 1 Notes

The Indian Constitution Class 8 Civics Chapter 1 Notes . These Notes provide a detailed overview of Chapter 1 The Indian Constitution from the Civics textbook of Social Science, making it easier for students to understand the chapter. The Notes are created by subject experts of our website CBSE Wale. Our goal is to make learning easier and more convenient. The Notes are trustworthy and provide students with a reliable resource to support their studies.

The Indian Constitution Class 8 Civics Chapter 1 Notes

Need of a Constitution for a Country

Almost every country in the world has a Constitution.
Just because a country has a Constitution it doesn’t mean it is automatically democratic.
The Constitution has many important roles.
It outlines the ideals that represent the kind of country people want to live in.
The Constitution reveals the basic nature of a society.
A country is made up of different communities with some shared beliefs but not complete agreement.
The Constitution is a collection of rules and principles that everyone in the country agrees to follow.
It establishes the foundation for how the country is governed and supports certain values.
The Constitution includes the type of government and shared values that citizens want the country to uphold.

Nepal Constitution:

Nepal used to be ruled by a king.
The previous Constitution of Nepal gave the king the final right in decision-making.
The people of Nepal fought for many years to establish democracy.
In 2006, they succeeded in reducing the powers of the king.
In 2008, Nepal officially became a democratic country.
A new Constitution was written to establish democracy in Nepal.
The old Constitution did not reflect the desires of the people for their country.
Nepal had to change its laws and rules to transition from a monarchy to a democratic government.
In 2015, the people of Nepal adopted a new Constitution.
One important purpose of a Constitution is to define how a country’s political system works.
The previous Constitution of Nepal stated that the king and his ministers would rule the country.
In democratic countries, the Constitution provides guidelines for decision-making in society.
The Constitution protects against the abuse of power by political leaders.
Democratic societies have rules in their Constitution to prevent leaders from misusing their authority.
For example, the Indian Constitution includes laws in the Fundamental Rights section to prevent the misuse of authority.
Fundamental Rights in the Indian Constitution include the right to equality.
The Indian Constitution ensures that no one can be discriminated against based on religion, race, caste, gender, or place of birth.
The Right to Equality is one of the Fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution.
A Constitution in a democracy prevents the dominant group from using its power against weaker individuals or groups.
In democratic societies, there are rules in the Constitution to prevent the exclusion of minorities from equal opportunities.
One reason for having a Constitution is to prevent the majority from dominating the minority.
Inter-community domination is when one community dominates another community.
Intra-community domination is when one member dominates others within the same community.
Another reason for having a Constitution is to protect us from making decisions that harm our own interests.
The Constitution acts as a safeguard against strong emotions that could lead us to support measures against our own well-being.
The Constitution prevents us from making choices that go against the core principles of the country.
A good Constitution has a strong structure and is not easily changed by anyone.
The Constitution plays a crucial role in protecting citizens from their own potentially harmful decisions in democratic societies.

The Indian Constitution: Key Features

The Indian national movement fought for many years to gain independence from British rule.
During this struggle, the nationalists envisioned a future India and made plans for it.
Under British rule, Indians had to follow rules they had no say in making.
Indians’ experience of authoritarian rule made them desire a democratic India where everyone is treated equally and has a voice in governance.
The next step was to establish a democratic government and create the rules for it.
The Constituent Assembly, consisting of around 300 individuals, took on this task in 1946.
Over the next three years, the Constituent Assembly met to write India’s Constitution.
The members of the Constituent Assembly faced challenges due to India’s diverse communities, the impending partition, undecided Princely States, and poor socio-economic conditions.
Despite these challenges, they created a visionary Constitution that respects diversity and promotes national unity.
The Constitution reflects their concerns for addressing poverty and ensuring people’s participation in choosing their representatives.
It aims to address the complexities of India’s society and promote socio-economic progress and democratic governance.
The Indian Constitution has key features that address diversity, unity, socio-economic reform, and representation.
Federalism is a significant feature, allowing decision-making at multiple levels of government.
State governments have autonomy in some matters, while national concerns are governed by central government laws.
The Constitution guarantees universal adult suffrage, allowing all citizens to vote and contest in elections.
The principle of division of powers is incorporated, with three branches of government: legislature, executive, and judiciary.
Fundamental Rights are protected by the Constitution, preventing the misuse of power by the State and protecting individuals’ rights.
Directive Principles of State Policy guide the government in enacting laws and policies for social and economic reforms.
The Constitution ensures the rights of minorities against the majority and emphasizes equality for all citizens.
Secularism is upheld, and changes to the Constitution can alter the country’s fundamental nature.
The Indian Constitution has been amended to address new concerns.

Making of Indian Constitution

In 1934, the Indian National Congress asked for a special group to create a Constitution.
During World War II, the demand for this group gained more support.
The special group, called the Constituent Assembly, started meeting in December 1946.
The Constituent Assembly included only Indian members.
From December 1946 to November 1949, the Assembly worked on writing a constitution for independent India.
The members of the Constituent Assembly had high hopes and strong beliefs while doing this important task.
It took 2 years, 11 months and 18 days to create the Indian Constitution.

Democracy in Nepal

Nepal went through various struggles by the people to establish democracy.
In 1990, a people’s movement succeeded in bringing democracy, which lasted for 12 years until 2002.
In October 2002, King Gyanendra, with the help of the army, started taking control of different parts of the government, using the Maoist uprising as a justification.
King Gyanendra became the head of the government in February 2005.
In November 2005, the Maoists and other political parties signed a 12-point agreement, indicating a return to democracy and peace.
The people’s movement for democracy grew stronger in 2006 and rejected the King’s limited concessions.
In April 2006, the King reinstated the Third Parliament and urged political parties to form a government.
In 2008, Nepal abolished the monarchy and transformed into a democracy.
The provided photos show scenes from the people’s movement for democracy in 2006.

Constituent Assembly

The Constituent Assembly decided that every adult citizen aged 18 or more would have the right to vote.
Shri A.K. Ayyar, a member of the assembly, had great confidence in the common people and believed that democratic rule would be successful.
The implementation of a democratic government, where adults have the right to vote, was expected to bring enlightenment and improve the well-being, living standards, comfort, and quality of life for the common people.
The members of the Constituent Assembly were worried that the executive branch of government might become too powerful and ignore its duties towards the legislature.
To address this concern, the Constituent Assembly added rules in the Constitution to restrict and regulate the actions of the executive branch of government.
The goal was to establish a system of checks and balances to prevent the executive from having too much authority and prevent any abuse of power.

State

In this chapter, the term “State” doesn’t mean state governments, but it’s used to differentiate it from “government.”
“Government” is responsible for carrying out and enforcing laws, and it can change through elections.
On the other hand, “State” refers to a political institution that represents a sovereign people and exists within a particular territory, like the Indian State or the Nepali State.
The Indian State has a democratic type of government, which is just one aspect of the State.
The State encompasses more than just the government and shouldn’t be used interchangeably with it.

The Fundamental Rights in the Indian Constitution include:

Right to Equality: Everyone is equal under the law, and no unfair treatment based on religion, caste, or gender is allowed. It ensures equal access to public places, employment opportunities, and prohibits untouchability.
Right to Freedom: Includes the freedom to express oneself, speak freely, associate with others, move and live anywhere in the country, and pursue any profession or occupation.
Right against Exploitation: Protects individuals from human trafficking, forced labor, and the employment of children under the age of 14.
Right to Freedom of Religion: Guarantees the freedom to practice, profess, and propagate any religion of one’s choice.
Cultural and Educational Rights: Provides minorities, both religious and linguistic, the right to establish educational institutions for preserving and promoting their culture.
Right to Constitutional Remedies: Empowers citizens to seek legal recourse through the court if they believe their Fundamental Rights have been violated by the State.