Making of Constitution – NDA Polity PYQs

NDA 2020-I/II

Q. 1. The principle that the framing of the new Constitution for independent India should be primarily (though not solely) the responsibility of Indians themselves, was for the first time conceded in the

(a)  Government of India Act, 1935

(b)  August Offer of Viceroy Linlithgow

(c)  Cripps Proposals

(d)  Cabinet Mission

Answer: (b)  August Offer of Viceroy Linlithgow

Explanation: The August Offer of 1940, made by Viceroy Lord Linlithgow, was the first occasion on which the British government formally conceded that Indians should be primarily responsible for framing their own Constitution. The Government of India Act 1935 gave India a comprehensive constitutional framework but did not address who would frame a future constitution for independent India. The Cripps Proposals (1942) elaborated constitutional machinery further but came after the August Offer. The Cabinet Mission (1946) was the most consequential proposal and actually established the Constituent Assembly: but it was not the first to acknowledge this principle. The historical credit for the first concession belongs to the August Offer of 1940. Concept Tested: Chronological sequence of British proposals: August Offer as first concession of Indian constitutional responsibility

★ JOVIK Exam Insight: The question asks who was ‘first’: not who was most consequential. These are different. August Offer (1940):  first concession. Cripps Proposals (1942):  specified machinery. Cabinet Mission (1946):  actually, formed the Constituent Assembly. Students often credit the Cabinet Mission because it was most consequential. But ‘most consequential’ is not ‘first.’

 NDA 2017-II

Q. 2. The Cabinet Mission Plan for India envisaged a

(a)  Federation

(b)  Confederation

(c)  Unitary form of Government

(d)  Union of States

Answer: (d)  Union of States

Explanation: The Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 envisaged a Union of States for India. This was deliberately different from a federation. A federation implies a strong central government with powers divided between Centre and States. The Cabinet Mission’s Union of States kept the Centre limited to only three subjects: defence, foreign affairs, and communications. This design was intended to accommodate both British Indian provinces and the Princely States under a loose central structure. It was not a confederation either, as states did not retain full sovereignty. Concept Tested: Cabinet Mission Plan 1946: structural concept: Union of States versus federation and confederation

★ JOVIK Exam Insight: The common error is choosing ‘Federation’: the most familiar term. The Cabinet Mission’s concept was deliberately weaker at the Centre. Union of States:  Centre limited to defence, foreign affairs, and communications only. Not a federation. Not a confederation.

 NDA 2014-II

Q. 3. Who among the following was not a member of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution of India?

(a)  B. R. Ambedkar

(b)  K. M. Munshi

(c)  Krishnaswamy Iyer

(d)  M. K. Gandhi

Answer: (d)  M. K. Gandhi

Explanation: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee. K.M. Munshi was a confirmed member. M.K. Gandhi had no institutional role in the Constituent Assembly or the Drafting Committee. He was neither elected to the Assembly nor appointed to any of its committees. Note: Option (c) ‘Krishnaswamy Iyer’ does not correspond to any verified Drafting Committee member. The actual member is Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar: a different name. However, M.K. Gandhi is the clearest non-member in the list. Gandhi’s influence on the Constitution was philosophical and moral, not formal or institutional. Concept Tested: Drafting Committee membership: M.K. Gandhi had no institutional role in constitution-making

★ JOVIK Exam Insight: Two options are technically non-members: ‘Krishnaswamy Iyer’ (a distractor name) and M.K. Gandhi. Gandhi is the answer because he had absolutely no institutional role: he was not elected to the Assembly at all. ‘Krishnaswamy Iyer’ exploits confusion with Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar, an actual member. Know the correct full name.

 NDA 2011-II

Q. 4. Which of the following statements relating to the Government of India Act of 1935 are correct?

1.  It introduced provincial autonomy.

2.  It proposed a federation of India.

3.  It proposed for the establishment of a Federal Court.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a)  1, 2 and 3

(b)  1 and 2 only

(c)  2 and 3 only

(d)  1 and 3 only

Answer: (a)  1, 2 and 3

Explanation: All three statements are correct as descriptions of what the Government of India Act 1935 contained. Statement 1: The Act introduced provincial autonomy, which was operationalised from 1937. Statement 2: The Act proposed an All-India Federation uniting British Indian provinces and Princely States. This federation was never established: the Princely States did not accede to it. Statement 3: The Act proposed the establishment of a Federal Court, which was established and became the precursor to the Supreme Court of India in 1950. All three provisions were in the Act. The question asks which statements are correct: not which provisions were fully implemented. Concept Tested: Government of India Act 1935: three key provisions: provincial autonomy, proposed federation, Federal Court

★ JOVIK Exam Insight: All three features were in the Act, so the answer is (a). The federation was proposed but never came into force: the Princely States did not accede. Provincial autonomy was implemented from 1937. The Federal Court was established. Both ‘proposed’ and ‘introduced’ are accurate descriptions of what the Act contained.

 NDA 2009-I

Q. 5. Who among the following was the advisor to the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly?

(a)  B. Shiva Rao

(b)  Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

(c)  Sachidananda Sinha

(d)  B.N. Rau

Answer: (d)  B.N. Rau

Explanation: Sir Benegal Narsing Rau (B.N. Rau) served as the Constitutional Adviser to the Constituent Assembly. He was not a member of the Drafting Committee. His role was to provide expert technical assistance. He studied constitutions from around the world and produced the initial constitutional draft that the Drafting Committee used as its working document. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee: a different role entirely. Sachidananda Sinha was the temporary chairman of the first session of the Constituent Assembly. Concept Tested: Role of B.N. Rau as Constitutional Adviser: distinct from Drafting Committee membership

★ JOVIK Exam Insight: The question asks for the adviser to the Committee, not the chairman or a member. B.N. Rau :  Constitutional Adviser. B.R. Ambedkar :  Chairman. Sachidananda Sinha :  temporary first-session chairman of the Constituent Assembly. Three different people; three different roles.

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