Podar International School, Osmanabad

Std: VIII Subject : Geography Topic : CH 3: Indian Constitution

Value of Chapter : Importance of Rules And Regulations

1 Choose the appropriate option.

a) Most of the countries in the world today have a .

i) Constitution ii) law and dissent

iii) vision iv) democracy

b) Indian Constitution .

i) promotes Hinduism as its state religion ii) promotes Islam as its state religion

iii) promotes Hinduism and Islam iv) does not promote any religion

c) In a parliamentary form of government, the real power is given to the .

i) constitutional head ii) legislature

iii) people iv) cabinet

2.Fill in the blanks

a) The Constituent Assembly was formed to draft the Indian Constitution.

b) The Indian Constitution grants fundamental Rights to the citizens and expects

them to follow fundamental duties .

c) The Indian Constitution makes provisions so that a Minority group is not ill-treated by a

majority group.

d) Any change in the constitution is brought about through a as constitutional

amendment.

e) The Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act was passed in 2005.

 Podar International School, Osmanabad
Std: VIII Subject : Geography Topic : CH 3: Indian Constitution

Value of Chapter : Importance of Rules And Regulations

3. Match the columns.Column A Column B

a) Indian Constitution i) government at the Centre and State level

b) Constituent Assembly ii) public control and distribution of all resources

c) Federalism iii) was in effect from 26th January 1950

d) Separation of Powers iv) free from external control

e) Sovereign v) Legislature, Executive, Judiciary

f) Socialism vi) was formed in 1946

Ans : a-iii b-vi c-i d-v e-iv f-ii

4. Answer the following questions in 10 to 20 words.

a) What is a Constitution?

A Constitution is the most signifi cant document that contain the fundamental law of a
nation.

b) What is the ‘Preamble’?

The Preamble of the Indian Constitution is an introduction to the basic ideals and
objectives of the constitution.

c) What is fraternity?

– Fraternity means brotherhood or alliance between a group of people.

d) What do you understand by the term ‘dissent’?

Dissent also means refusal to conform to a particular authority. Dissent can sometimes

bring about a change in society or the political situation of the country.

5. Answer the following questions in 50 to 70 words.

 Podar International School, Osmanabad
Std: VIII Subject : Geography Topic : CH 3: Indian Constitution

Value of Chapter : Importance of Rules And Regulations

a) Why do you think we need a Constitution?

The Constitution serves several purposes. The Constitution lays down ideals of the people
of the country which tells us the basic nature of the society. A country comprises of people
of different castes and communities who have their own set of beliefs and traditions. The
rules and regulations in a Constitution are such that are agreed upon by all individuals.

b) Write a brief note on the ‘making of the Indian Constitution’.

The Constituent Assembly was formed in 1946, to draft the Indian Constitution. It had
over 300 members. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, chairman of the drafting committee, is also
referred to as the Father of the Indian Constitution. Dr. Rajendra Prasad,
JawaharlalNehru, Sardar Vallabbhai Patel, Maulana Azad, Sarojini Naidu, Vijaylaxmi
Pandit were some of the eminent members of the Constituent Assembly that drafted the
Indian Constitution. The Constitution drafted maintained diversity of the different people
while preserving the national unity. The Constitution of India was adopted by the
Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950.

c) Explain any three key features of the Indian Constitution.

Separation of Powers – The Indian Constitution divides the government’s power into

three different entities, namely Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. As read earlier, the
Legislature makes laws, the Executive implements the law and the Judiciary is responsible
for punishing people who break the laws and protect those who have been wronged.
Separation of powers is essential to prevent misuse of power by the government.
Eachorgan of the government acts as a check on the other.

Secularism – Secularism refers to refraining the use or promotion of any religion in

political matters. It also means that there is no state religion. In a diverse country such as
India, there are many religions and the country does not promote any one religion.

Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties – The Constitution of India grants basic
fundamental rights to all citizens, against individuals and the State itself. The Constitution
also lays down some fundamental duties that each citizen is expected to follow. We shall
study about them in detail later.

d) What did the makers of the constitution envision in the Constitution?

 Podar International School, Osmanabad
Std: VIII Subject : Geography Topic : CH 3: Indian Constitution

Value of Chapter : Importance of Rules And Regulations

The makers of the Indian Constitution envisioned the Constitution to be more than just a
legal document; they wanted it to be a guiding principle to conduct the affairs of the
country in a fair and just manner. The Indian Constitution was meant to fulfi ll all the
expectations of the people that they envisaged when they were under British Rule. The
makers of the Constitution wanted to draft it in a manner so as to make everyone equal in
the eyes of law. They wanted to give some special privileges to the down trodden classes
who have been exploited by others for their own benefit.

e) Write about any three features of the ‘preamble’ of the Indian Constitution.

Secular – India is a country of people of different religions, cultures, languages, caste,

creed, etc. The term secular suggests that India does not endorse any religion as the state
religion. It also means that the citizens of the country are not discriminated on the basis of
religion. Citizens of the country are free to practice or preach any religion.

Democratic – The word democracy means power of the people. The word democratic
emphasizes that the leaders of the country will be chosen from among the citizens of the
country itself. It also states that the citizens of the country choose their own leaders.

Republic – The term republic means that the head of the state of India is chosen from
amongst its citizens through their elected representatives. It also means that the position of
the head of the state is not hereditary as in the case of a monarchy.

f) What do you know about law and dissent? Explain with an example.

Law and dissent are like two sides of the same coin. If people agree to most of the laws
made by the government, there will be times when people will not agree to the law made
by them. Dissent also means refusal to conform to a particular authority. Dissent can
sometimes bring about a change in society or the political situation of the country. Let us
look at the following example.

Salt Satyagraha

During the British rule, Mahatma Gandhi showed dissent against the British rule by starting
the Salt Satyagraha or the Salt March in 1930. The British made a law which did not allow
Indians to manufacture salt. They were forced to buy imported and expensive salt which
everybody could not afford. Gandhiji started the Salt Satyagraha, a demonstration against
the British by marching to the town of Dandi and making salt, along with many people.
Gandhiji started a Civil Disobedience Movement by urging everybody to break the unjust
rule made by the British.
 Podar International School, Osmanabad
Std: VIII Subject : Geography Topic : CH 3: Indian Constitution

Value of Chapter : Importance of Rules And Regulations