General Knowledge · Class 10 · History and people
The Constitution and democracy
In India's first election in 1951, a farm worker's vote counted exactly as much as a maharaja's. Why was that so remarkable?
Small test at the end: scroll down to the end of this page for five short questions that check what you have learnt. Tap an answer, then press Check answer. Go to the questions ↓
Jump to: Read first · Try it away from the screen · Check it yourself · Check yourself · For teachers
Read first
5 facts. The questions below make you use them, not just remember them.
- India's Constitution was written by the Constituent Assembly between 1946 and 1949. Dr B. R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee. Dr Rajendra Prasad of Bihar was the Assembly's President and became India's first President.
- It was adopted on 26 November 1949, now Constitution Day, and came into force on 26 January 1950, Republic Day. It is the longest written national constitution in the world.
- From the very first elections, every adult could vote, whatever their wealth, caste, religion, education or gender. In 1989 the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18.
- Fundamental Rights include equality before the law, freedom of speech and the right to go to court to protect these rights. Since 2010, education is a right for every child aged 6 to 14.
- Power is shared between the legislature (which makes laws), the executive (which carries them out) and the judiciary (which interprets them), so that no one part has all the power.
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Try it away from the screen
Hold a class or family vote on something real, like a game or a meal. Decide the rules first: who votes, how votes are counted, and what counts as winning. Did everyone accept the result?
Make it on paper. Keep it with you. Nothing to upload.
Check it yourself
Messages often misquote the Constitution. Read the actual article on the official India Code website (indiacode.nic.in) or in a printed copy.
Check yourself
Five questions about what this page teaches. Choose an answer and press Check answer, or open "See the answer and why". Nothing is saved or sent: your choices stay on this screen and disappear when you leave or reload the page.
How do you want to answer? You choose, and you can change at any time.
See the answer and why
- A. Dr Rajendra Prasad Not this one. He was President of the Constituent Assembly, not chair of the Drafting Committee.
- B. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Not this one. Patel led the joining of the princely states.
- C. Dr B. R. Ambedkar Correct. Yes. He is called the chief architect of the Constitution.
- D. Jawaharlal Nehru Not this one. Nehru was the first Prime Minister and a member of the Assembly.
See the answer and why
- A. India became a republic Not this one. India became a republic on 26 January 1950.
- B. The first general election was held Not this one. The first election began in October 1951.
- C. The Constitution was adopted Correct. Yes. It came into force two months later, on 26 January 1950.
- D. India became independent of British rule Not this one. Independence came on 15 August 1947.
See the answer and why
- A. 543 Not this one. That is every seat. A majority needs only more than half.
- B. 300 Not this one. That is a majority, but not the smallest one.
- C. 271 Not this one. Half of 543 is 271.5, so 271 is less than half.
- D. 272 Correct. Yes. Half of 543 is 271.5, so the smallest whole number above it is 272.
See the answer and why
- A. 16 years Not this one. Some countries let 16-year-olds vote, but India's age is 18.
- B. 18 years Correct. Yes. It was lowered from 21 in 1989.
- C. 25 years Not this one. That is the minimum age to stand for the Lok Sabha, not to vote.
- D. 21 years Not this one. That was the voting age until 1989.
See the answer and why
- A. So that no one part can hold all the power Correct. Yes. Each can check the others.
- B. Because the British asked for it before they left in 1947 Not this one. It was the Constituent Assembly's own choice.
- C. Because there were too many politicians for one building Not this one. The reason is balance of power, not space.
- D. So that laws can be made faster Not this one. Sharing power often makes law-making slower and more careful.
For teachers and grown-upsWhere the facts come from, and how to use this round.
Sources and notes
- Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009, in force 1 April 2010 (Article 21A). 61st Amendment lowered voting age to 18 (in force 1989).
- The 543-seat question leads to: why must a majority be "more than half", and what happens with coalitions?