Class 9 Civics Chapter 2 Extra Questions And Answers

Constitutional Design Class 9 civics chapter 2 extra questions and answers are available here. These extra questions and answers are prepared by the subject experts of our team.

Constitutional Design Class Class 9 Civics Chapter 2 Extra Questions And Answers

Question 1: What did Nelson Mandela fight against?
Answer: Nelson Mandela fought against both white and black domination.

Question 2: What was Mandela’s ideal society?
Answer: Mandela’s ideal society was democratic and free, where everyone lives together in harmony with equal opportunities.

Question 3: Was Mandela willing to die for his ideal?
Answer: Yes, Mandela was prepared to die for his ideal of a democratic and free society.

Question 4: Why was Mandela being tried?
Answer: Mandela was being tried for treason by the white South African government.

Question 5: What was the outcome of Mandela’s trial?
Answer: Mandela and seven other leaders were sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964.

Question 6: Why were Mandela and the others sentenced to life imprisonment?
Answer: They were sentenced for opposing the apartheid regime in South Africa.

Question 7: Where did Mandela spend 27 years in prison?
Answer: Mandela spent 27 years in Robben Island prison.

Question 8: What was apartheid?
Answer: Apartheid was a system of racial discrimination unique to South Africa, imposed by white Europeans.

Question 9: How did the white Europeans come to control South Africa?
Answer: During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, European trading companies occupied South Africa with arms and force, similar to their occupation of India.

Question 10: How was South Africa different from India in terms of European settlement?
Answer: Unlike India, a large number of white Europeans settled in South Africa and became the local rulers.

Question 11: How did apartheid divide people?
Answer: Apartheid divided people based on their skin color, labeling native black South Africans as ‘blacks’, mixed-race people as ‘coloured’, and people who migrated from India.

Question 12: How were non-whites treated under apartheid?
Answer: Non-whites, including blacks, coloureds, and Indians, were treated as inferiors and did not have voting rights. They faced severe restrictions and segregation in all aspects of life.

Question 13: What restrictions did blacks face under apartheid?
Answer: Blacks were forbidden from living in white areas, needed permits to work in white areas, and were segregated in public facilities such as trains, buses, hotels, schools, and hospitals. They could not visit white churches or form associations to protest.

Question 14: Who fought against the apartheid system?
Answer: Since 1950, blacks, coloureds, and Indians fought against apartheid, launching protest marches and strikes. The African National Congress (ANC) led the struggle, supported by workers’ unions, the Communist Party, and sensitive whites.

Question 15: How did the international community respond to apartheid?
Answer: Several countries denounced apartheid as unjust and racist.

Question 16: How did the white racist government respond to the anti-apartheid struggle?
Answer: The white racist government continued to rule by detaining, torturing, and killing thousands of black and coloured people.

Question 17: Why did the government change its policies towards blacks?
Answer: The government realized they could no longer keep blacks under their rule through repression due to increasing protests and struggles against apartheid.

Question 18: What changes did the government make?
Answer: Discriminatory laws were repealed, bans on political parties were lifted, and restrictions on the media were removed.

Question 19: When was Nelson Mandela released from prison?
Answer: Nelson Mandela was released after 28 years of imprisonment.

Question 20: What significant event happened on 26 April 1994?
Answer: The new national flag of the Republic of South Africa was unfurled, marking the birth of a new democracy.

Question 21: What ended with the new flag and democracy?
Answer: The apartheid government ended, paving the way for a multi-racial government.

Question 22: What was Mandela’s view on the transition from apartheid to democracy?
Answer: Mandela believed the peaceful transition was possible because people were willing to see the goodness in others and that faith in human beings is the cornerstone of democracy.

Question 23: What did black leaders appeal for after the emergence of the new democratic South Africa?
Answer: Black leaders appealed to fellow blacks to forgive the whites for past atrocities and to build a new South Africa based on equality, democratic values, social justice, and human rights.

Question 24: How was the new constitution of South Africa created?
Answer: The party that ruled through oppression and the party that led the freedom struggle sat together for two years of discussion and debate to draw up a common constitution.

Question 25: What is notable about the South African constitution?
Answer: It is considered one of the finest constitutions, giving its citizens the most extensive rights and ensuring that everyone is part of the solution.

Question 26: How is the South African constitution viewed globally?
Answer: It inspires democrats worldwide and is seen as a model of democracy.

Question 27: What did Mandela say about the South African constitution?
Answer: Mandela said the constitution speaks of both the past and future, serving as a pact to prevent a repetition of the racist, brutal, and repressive past, and as a charter for transforming the country into one shared by all its people.

Question 28: Why was a constitution needed in the new South African democracy?
Answer: The oppressors and the oppressed needed to trust each other and safeguard their interests. A constitution was needed to ensure that both parties could agree on rules and protect their rights.

Question 29: What were the main concerns of the black majority and the white minority?
Answer: The black majority wanted to ensure that majority rule was respected and to secure social and economic rights. The white minority wanted to protect their privileges and property.

Question 30: What compromise did both parties agree on?
Answer: The whites agreed to majority rule and one person one vote, and some basic rights for the poor and workers. The blacks agreed that majority rule would not be absolute and that the property of the white minority would be protected.

Question 31: How was the compromise implemented and maintained?
Answer: The solution was to write down rules (the constitution) that everyone would follow, ensuring trust and stability. These rules outlined how rulers would be chosen, what governments could and could not do, and the rights of citizens.

Question 32: What is a constitution?
Answer: A constitution is a set of written rules accepted by everyone in a country that outlines how the government works, the limits on government power, citizens’ rights, and the aspirations for a good society.

Question 33: What does a constitution do?
Answer: It generates trust and coordination, specifies how the government is constituted and who has power, lays down limits on government powers and citizens’ rights, and expresses the aspirations for creating a good society.

Question 34: Are constitutions only for democratic countries?
Answer: No, not all countries with constitutions are democratic, but all democratic countries have constitutions.

Question 35: What historical examples show the practice of having a constitution?
Answer: After the War of Independence, Americans adopted a constitution. After the Revolution, the French approved a democratic constitution. This practice has become standard in democracies.

Question 36: What was the advantage the makers of the Indian Constitution had compared to South Africa?
Answer: Unlike South Africa, the makers of the Indian Constitution did not need to create a consensus about what a democratic India should look like, as much of this consensus had already evolved during the freedom struggle.

Question 37: What was the national movement’s goal beyond fighting foreign rule?
Answer: The national movement aimed to rejuvenate the country and transform society and politics.

Question 38: Were there differences of opinion during the freedom struggle about the path India should take?
Answer: Yes, there were sharp differences of opinion, which still exist today.

Question 39: What basic ideas were widely accepted before the Constituent Assembly met?
Answer: Basic ideas included universal adult franchise, the right to freedom and equality, and protecting the rights of minorities.

Question 40: What documents reflected these basic values?
Answer: The constitution drafted by Motilal Nehru and other Congress leaders in 1928 and the resolution from the Karachi session of the Indian National Congress in 1931.

Question 41: How did familiarity with colonial political institutions help in creating the Indian Constitution?
Answer: Experience with colonial institutions helped in setting up new institutions and working them effectively. The Indian Constitution adopted many details from colonial laws like the Government of India Act, 1935.

Question 42: What was the benefit of years of deliberation on the constitution framework?
Answer: Leaders gained confidence to learn from other countries’ experiences, while adapting ideas to suit India’s own context.

Question 43: Which international influences inspired the Indian leaders?
Answer: Indian leaders were inspired by the ideals of the French Revolution, British parliamentary democracy, the US Bill of Rights, and the socialist revolution in Russia.

Question 44: How did Indian leaders use these international inspirations?
Answer: They questioned and adapted these inspirations to fit India’s own needs and circumstances, rather than simply imitating them.

Question 45: Who were the makers of the Indian Constitution?
Answer: The makers were the members of the Constituent Assembly, which was a body of elected representatives.

Question 46: When were elections to the Constituent Assembly held?
Answer: Elections were held in July 1946.

Question 47: When did the Constituent Assembly first meet?
Answer: The first meeting was held in December 1946.

Question 48: What happened to the Constituent Assembly after the country was divided into India and Pakistan?
Answer: The Constituent Assembly was also divided into the Constituent Assembly of India and that of Pakistan.

Question 49: How many members were in the Constituent Assembly of India?
Answer: The Constituent Assembly of India had 299 members.

Question 50: When was the Indian Constitution adopted and when did it come into effect?
Answer: The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950.

Question 51: Why do we accept the Constitution made by the Constituent Assembly?
Answer: The Constitution reflects a broad consensus of its time and has been widely accepted without questioning its legitimacy by any major social group or political party.

Question 52: How was the Constituent Assembly chosen?
Answer: It was elected mainly by members of existing Provincial Legislatures, as there was no universal adult franchise at the time.

Question 53: How was the Constituent Assembly representative of India?
Answer: It had a fair geographical representation and included members from various political groups, social classes, languages, castes, and religions.

Question 54: What was the process for drafting the Constitution?
Answer: Basic principles were decided first, then a Drafting Committee chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar prepared a draft. The draft was thoroughly discussed, with more than two thousand amendments considered over 114 days spread over three years.

Question 55: How are the discussions and decisions of the Constituent Assembly preserved?
Answer: Every document and word spoken was recorded and preserved in the ‘Constituent Assembly Debates,’ which are used to interpret the Constitution. These debates are compiled in 12 volumes.

Question 56: Who was Jhaverbhai Patel and what roles did he play?
Answer: Jhaverbhai Patel (1875-1950), born in Gujarat, was a lawyer and leader of the Bardoli peasant satyagraha. He was Minister of Home, Information, and Broadcasting in the Interim Government and played a crucial role in integrating Indian princely states. He later served as Deputy Prime Minister.

Question 57: What were Abul Kalam Azad’s contributions and later roles?
Answer: Abul Kalam Azad (1888-1958), born in Saudi Arabia, was an educationist, author, theologian, and scholar of Arabic. He was a Congress leader and opposed Muslim separatist politics. Later, he served as Education Minister in the first union cabinet.

Question 58: What roles did T.T. Krishnamachari have?
Answer: T.T. Krishnamachari (1899-1974), born in Tamil Nadu, was a member of the Drafting Committee. He was an entrepreneur and Congress leader and later became Finance Minister in the Union Cabinet.

Question 59: What were Rajendra Prasad’s roles and achievements?
Answer: Rajendra Prasad (1884-1963), born in Bihar, was the President of the Constituent Assembly. He was a lawyer known for his role in the Champaran satyagraha and served three times as the president of Congress. He later became the first President of India.

Question 60: Who was H. C. Mookherjee and what were his contributions?
Answer: H. C. Mookherjee (1887-1956), born in Bengal, was the Vice-Chairman of the Constituent Assembly, a reputed author, and educationist. He was a Congress leader, a member of the All India Christian Council, and the Bengal Legislative Assembly. Later, he served as Governor of West Bengal.

Question 61: Why is Mahatma Gandhi not listed among the makers of the Indian Constitution?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi was not a member of the Constituent Assembly. However, many members of the Assembly followed his vision.

Question 62: What did Mahatma Gandhi envision for the Indian Constitution in his 1931 article?
Answer: Gandhi wanted a constitution that would:

• Free India from all forms of oppression and patronage.
• Ensure that the poorest felt they had a voice in the country’s making.
• Eliminate high and low classes and ensure harmony among all communities.
• Abolish untouchability and the use of intoxicating substances.
• Grant women equal rights as men.

Question 63: How did Dr. Ambedkar’s view of inequality differ from Gandhi’s?
Answer: Dr. Ambedkar shared Gandhi’s dream of eliminating inequality but had a different approach. He criticized Gandhi’s vision and expressed concern about living a life of contradictions where political equality was not matched by social and economic equality.

Question 64: What was Dr. Ambedkar’s concern about the future of India in his speech to the Constituent Assembly?
Answer: Dr. Ambedkar was concerned that India would continue to have contradictions between political equality and social/economic inequality. He worried that failing to address social and economic inequalities could jeopardize political democracy.

Question 65: What did Jawaharlal Nehru say in his speech to the Constituent Assembly on 15 August 1947?
Answer: Nehru’s speech included:

• The idea that India was fulfilling its long-standing pledge to freedom.
• A call to dedicate themselves to the service of India and humanity.
• A recognition of the responsibility that came with freedom, including ending poverty, ignorance, disease, and inequality.
• An acknowledgment that while the ultimate goal of eliminating suffering might be beyond reach, the work to alleviate it must continue.

Question 66: Who was Jawaharlal Nehru and what were his roles?
Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru was born in Uttar Pradesh, a lawyer and Congress leader who advocated socialism, democracy, and anti-imperialism. He served as the Prime Minister of the interim government and later became the first Prime Minister of India.

Question 67: What were Sarojini Naidu’s contributions and roles?
Answer: Sarojini Naidu, born in Andhra Pradesh, was a poet, writer, and political activist. She was one of the foremost women leaders in the Congress and later became the Governor of Uttar Pradesh.

Question 68: Who was Somnath Lahiri and what roles did he play?
Answer: Somnath Lahiri, born in West Bengal, was a writer, editor, and leader of the Communist Party of India. He later became a member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.

Question 69: What were Kanhaiyalal Maniklal Munshi’s achievements?
Answer: Kanhaiyalal Maniklal Munshi, born in Gujarat, was an advocate, historian, and linguist. He was a Congress leader and Gandhian, later serving as a minister in the Union Cabinet and founding the Swatantra Party.

Question 70: What were Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar’s contributions and roles?
Answer: Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, born in Madhya Pradesh, was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee and a social revolutionary thinker who fought against caste divisions. He later became the Law Minister in the first post-independence Indian Cabinet and founded the Republican Party of India.

Question 71: Who was Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and what were his contributions?
Answer: Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, born in West Bengal, was the Minister for Industry and Supply in the Interim Government, an educationist, lawyer, and active member of the Hindu Mahasabha. He later became the founder President of Bharatiya Jansangh.

Question 72: What is the purpose of the Preamble in the Indian Constitution?
Answer: The Preamble introduces the basic values of the Constitution and serves as a guide to evaluate the laws and actions of the government. It reflects the philosophy on which the entire Constitution is built and is considered the soul of the Constitution.

Question 73: What does the phrase “We, the People of India” signify in the Preamble?
Answer: It indicates that the Constitution has been created and enacted by the people through their representatives, rather than being handed down by a king or any external power.

Question 74: What does “Sovereign” mean in the context of the Indian Constitution?
Answer: It means that the people of India have the supreme right to make decisions on internal and external matters, and no external power can dictate the government’s actions.

Question 75: What is the meaning of “Socialist” in the Preamble?
Answer: It means that wealth should be generated socially and shared equally. The government should regulate land and industry ownership to reduce socio-economic inequalities.

Question 76: What does “Secular” imply about the Indian state?
Answer: It implies that citizens have the freedom to follow any religion, but the government does not have an official religion and treats all religions equally.

Question 77: How does the term “Democratic” define the government?
Answer: It defines a government where people have equal political rights, elect their rulers, and hold them accountable, with the government operating according to established rules.

Question 78: What does “Republic” mean in the Indian Constitution?
Answer: It means that the head of the state is elected, not appointed through hereditary succession.

Question 79: What does “Justice” entail in the Preamble?
Answer: It means that citizens should not be discriminated against based on caste, religion, or gender. The government should work towards reducing social inequalities and ensuring the welfare of all, especially disadvantaged groups.

Question 80: What is meant by “Liberty” in the Constitution?
Answer: Liberty means there are no unreasonable restrictions on citizens’ thoughts, expression, and actions.

Question 81: What does “Equality” signify in the context of the Constitution?
Answer: It signifies that all individuals are equal before the law, and traditional social inequalities should be eliminated. The government should ensure equal opportunities for all.

Question 82: What does “Fraternity” mean in the Preamble?
Answer: It means that all citizens should act as if they are members of the same family and should not treat others as inferior.

Question 83: What is the primary purpose of a constitution beyond stating values and philosophy?
Answer: The primary purpose of a constitution is to embody these values into institutional arrangements, defining how institutions are structured and operate.

Question 84: Why does the Indian Constitution need to be amended regularly?
Answer: The Indian Constitution needs to be amended regularly to keep it updated and in accordance with people’s aspirations and changes in society.

Question 85: How did the framers of the Indian Constitution view its nature?
Answer: The framers did not see the Constitution as a sacred, static, and unalterable law. They believed it should evolve with time through constitutional amendments.

Question 86: What are constitutional amendments?
Answer: Constitutional amendments are changes made to the Constitution to keep it updated and relevant to current needs and circumstances.

Question 87: Why might the Indian Constitution be difficult to understand on first reading?
Answer: The Constitution is written in very legal language, which can be complex and challenging to understand initially.

Question 88: What does the Indian Constitution describe regarding institutional arrangements?
Answer: It describes the procedure for choosing leaders, defines the distribution of power and decision-making authority, and sets limits on government actions by providing certain rights to citizens.