Hinglish

What Is a Constitution, and Why Do We Need One?

Class 7 Social Science · Chapter 10: The Constitution of India — An Introduction · NCERT Exploring Society: India and Beyond section 10.1

Learn

On a cold 26 January morning, Meher and Kabir's family watches the Republic Day parade on television: marching bands, colourful tableaux and the tricolour unfurled at Kartavya Path. The day marks the Constitution coming into effect on 26 January 1950. The original book is kept in a helium-filled glass case in Parliament, since helium does not react with paper or ink. The President takes an oath to preserve, protect and defend it; ministers and judges promise to follow it.

At the school kabaddi final, a dispute breaks out: was a raider out? The referee pulls out the official rulebook, the captains check it together, and everyone accepts the result. Without an agreed rulebook, the match could have ended in chaos. A constitution is a country's rulebook. It sets out the three organs of government and their roles, checks and balances among them, citizens' rights and duties, and the nation's long-term goals.

India's Constitution is the world's largest written constitution, now with 25 parts and 12 schedules (it began with 22 parts and 8 schedules). It also states the values the country is committed to, such as equality, justice, freedom, fraternity and pluralism, and these values form the basis of its laws.

Explore: what does a constitution contain?

  1. Sort each item.

Remember

  • A constitution sets out a nation's government, checks and balances, rights, duties and goals.
  • India's came into effect on 26 January 1950; it is the world's largest written constitution.

Quick check

Why does a country need a constitution?

  1. to set agreed rules for government, rights and duties, and settle disputes fairly
  2. to decorate Parliament
  3. to replace all laws
  4. for the parade only
Answer

to set agreed rules for government, rights and duties, and settle disputes fairly. Like a game's rulebook, everyone agrees to follow it.

Think about it

What problems would arise if a country had no agreed constitution?

One answer

No one would know who has power or how it is limited, rights would be unprotected, disputes would have no fair way to be settled, and the strongest could do as they liked.

Practice

Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.