Q30. Who was the Provisional President of the Constituent Assembly before Dr. Rajendra Prasad took over?
[UPSC CSE Prelims, GS Paper I, 2024]
(A) C. Rajagopalachari
(B) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
(C) T. T. Krishnamachari
(D) Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha
Answer: (D) Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha
Explanation: Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha presided temporarily over the first Constituent Assembly meeting on 9 December 1946, following the practice of appointing the senior member. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected the Assembly’s permanent President two days later, on 11 December.
Q29. Which term was used for the states in the Draft Constitution presented by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar on 4 November 1948?
[UPSC CDS-II, General Knowledge, 1 September 2024]
(A) Union of States
(B) Federation of States
(C) Autonomous States
(D) Subsidiary States
Answer: (A) Union of States
Explanation: Ambedkar used “Union of States” to emphasise that India’s federal arrangement was not created by an agreement giving constituent states a right to secede. Article 1 subsequently retained the phrase, declaring India, that is Bharat, a Union of States.
Q28. Consider Granville Austin’s assessment:
(i) The Congress predominated in the Constituent Assembly.
(ii) The Assembly, Congress and government were institutionally distinct but linked through overlapping membership.
Which is correct?
[RPSC Assistant Professor (Political Science), Paper II, 11 September 2024]
(A) Both (i) and (ii) are true
(B) Neither (i) nor (ii) is true
(C) Only (i) is true
(D) Only (ii) is true
Answer: (A) Both (i) and (ii) are true
Explanation: Granville Austin highlighted both Congress predominance and the close organisational connection between the Assembly, Congress and government. The institutions remained formally distinct, but overlapping personnel helped translate the national movement’s political leadership into the Constitution-making process.
Q27. The Constituent Assembly held eleven sessions while framing the Constitution. Over how many days were its sittings spread?
[SSC MTS, 13 November 2024, Shift 2]
(A) 180
(B) 165
(C) 115
(D) 132
Answer: (B) 165
Explanation: The Constituent Assembly held eleven principal sessions, with deliberations extending over 165 sitting days. Its committee system undertook substantial preparatory work between sessions. These meetings were spread across nearly three years, culminating in adoption of the Constitution in November 1949.
Q26. Who introduced the Objectives Resolution in the Constituent Assembly?
[SSC MTS, 21 October 2024, Shift 2]
(A) Rajendra Prasad
(B) Jawaharlal Nehru
(C) Vallabhbhai Patel
(D) B. R. Ambedkar
Answer: (B) Jawaharlal Nehru
Explanation: Jawaharlal Nehru moved the Objectives Resolution on 13 December 1946. The Assembly adopted it on 22 January 1947. It stated the guiding ideals of sovereignty, democracy, justice and equality and provided the philosophical foundation for the Constitution’s Preamble.
Q25. In which year was the National Anthem adopted in its Hindi version by the Constituent Assembly?
[SSC CHSL, Tier-I, 10 July 2024, Shift 3]
(A) 1954
(B) 1942
(C) 1950
(D) 1947
Answer: (C) 1950
Explanation: The Constituent Assembly adopted “Jana Gana Mana” as the National Anthem on 24 January 1950, shortly before the Constitution commenced. Rabindranath Tagore composed the song, which was first publicly sung at the 1911 Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress.
Q24. In which month and year were elections to the Constituent Assembly of India held?
[SSC GD Constable, 27 February 2024, Shift 2]
(A) July 1946
(B) April 1946
(C) March 1946
(D) May 1946
Answer: (A) July 1946
Explanation: Elections to Constituent Assembly seats allocated to the British Indian provinces were conducted in July 1946. Members were chosen indirectly by provincial legislators, using proportional representation and the single transferable vote. The Assembly first met on 9 December 1946.
Q23. Consider two statements:
I. Constitution Day is observed each year on 26 November to promote constitutional values.
II. The Constituent Assembly established Ambedkar’s Drafting Committee on 26 November 1949.
Which is correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims, GS Paper I, 2023]
(A) Both statements are correct, and II explains I
(B) Both statements are correct, but II does not explain I
(C) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
(D) Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct
Answer: (C) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
Explanation: Constitution Day is observed on 26 November because the Constitution was adopted on that date in 1949. The Drafting Committee had been appointed much earlier, on 29 August 1947. Thus the first statement is correct and the second is false.
Q22. Who among the following was an original member of the Constituent Assembly’s Drafting Committee?
[SSC CHSL, Tier-I, 17 August 2023, Shift 4]
(A) Dr. K. M. Munshi
(B) B. N. Rau
(C) T. T. Krishnamachari
(D) N. Madhava Rau
Answer: (A) Dr. K. M. Munshi
Explanation: K. M. Munshi belonged to the original seven-member Drafting Committee formed in August 1947. B. N. Rau was Constitutional Adviser rather than committee member. T. T. Krishnamachari and N. Madhava Rau entered later as replacements for other members.
Q21. When did the Drafting Committee publish the first draft of the Indian Constitution?
[SSC CGL, Tier-I, 17 July 2023, Shift 1]
(A) June 1948
(B) May 1948
(C) January 1948
(D) February 1948
Answer: (D) February 1948
Explanation: The Drafting Committee published its draft in February 1948, enabling public scrutiny and further consideration. It had been set up in August 1947 with B. R. Ambedkar as chairman. The Assembly subsequently debated revisions before adopting the final Constitution in November 1949.
