NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Political Science Chapter 1: Constitution: Why and How? (NCERT 2026–27)
These Class 11 Political Science Chapter 1 solutions cover Constitution: Why and How?, the opening chapter of Indian Constitution at Work. The chapter explains why a society needs a constitution, the four key functions a constitution performs, what gives a constitution its authority and effectiveness, and how the Indian Constitution was made by the Constituent Assembly. Below you will find every NCERT exercise question reproduced verbatim and answered in exam-ready style, along with key concepts, extra practice questions, MCQs, Assertion–Reason questions and FAQs — updated for the 2026–27 session.
Class: 11Subject: Political ScienceBook: Indian Constitution at WorkChapter: 1Chapter Name: Constitution: Why and How?Session: 2026–27
Chapter 1, Constitution: Why and How?, lays the foundation for the whole book. A constitution is the body of fundamental principles according to which a state is constituted or governed. The chapter argues that any diverse group of people who must live together needs a constitution and identifies its four functions: (1) to provide a set of basic rules that allow minimal coordination among members of society; (2) to specify who has the power to make decisions and how the government is constituted; (3) to set limitations on the powers of government (chiefly through fundamental rights); and (4) to enable the government to fulfil the aspirations of society and create conditions for a just society. A constitution also expresses the fundamental identity of a people. The second half explains the authority of a constitution — depending on its mode of promulgation, its substantive provisions and a balanced institutional design — and traces how the Indian Constitution was made by the Constituent Assembly (1946–1949) through deliberation, public reason and the inheritance of the nationalist movement.
Key Concepts & Terms
Constitution: a body of fundamental principles according to which a state is constituted or governed; the document (or set of documents) that allocates power, limits government and expresses a people’s identity.
The four functions of a constitution: (1) provide basic rules for minimal coordination and assurance; (2) specify who has the power to make decisions and how government is constituted; (3) place limitations on what government can do to citizens (mainly through fundamental rights); (4) enable the government to fulfil society’s aspirations and create a just society.
Allocation of power: a constitution decides “who gets to decide” — in a monarchy the monarch, in a one-party state a single party, in a democracy the people (usually through elected representatives).
Fundamental rights: the most common way a constitution limits government — basic rights (freedom of speech, conscience, association, protection from arbitrary arrest, etc.) that government may never violate.
Authority / effectiveness of a constitution: what makes a constitution actually work, resting on three factors — its mode of promulgation, its substantive provisions, and a balanced institutional design.
Mode of promulgation: how a constitution comes into being — constitutions crafted by credible leaders backed by a popular movement (India, South Africa, USA) succeed, while those imposed by unpopular or military leaders often remain defunct.
Balanced institutional design / checks and balances: a well-crafted constitution fragments power across institutions (Legislature, Executive, Judiciary, Election Commission) so that no single group can subvert it, while remaining flexible enough to adapt — a ‘living document’.
Constituent Assembly: the body that framed the Indian Constitution. Elected indirectly by Provincial Legislative Assemblies under the Cabinet Mission plan; first sat on 9 December 1946; membership reduced to 299 after Partition.
Public reason & the principle of deliberation: Assembly members gave principled reasons to one another rather than advancing narrow self-interest; each clause was debated, with universal suffrage being the one provision passed with virtually no debate.
Objectives Resolution: moved by Nehru in 1946; it defined the aims of the Assembly and summed up the values — equality, liberty, democracy, sovereignty and a cosmopolitan identity — inherited from the nationalist movement.
Key dates: first sitting 9 December 1946; reassembled for divided India 14 August 1947; Constitution adopted 26 November 1949; came into force 26 January 1950. The Assembly met for 166 days over two years and eleven months.
NCERT Exercise — Full Solutions
All questions below are reproduced verbatim from the NCERT textbook’s end-of-chapter Exercises. Answers are original, written in exam-ready style.
1. Which of these is not a function of the constitution?
a. It gives a guarantee of the rights of the citizen.b. It marks out different spheres of power for different branches of government.c. It ensures that good people come to power.d. It gives expression to some shared values.
ANSWER(c) It ensures that good people come to power.A constitution guarantees citizens’ rights (a), demarcates powers among the branches of government (b) and gives expression to shared values and aspirations (d). However, it cannot guarantee that good or honest people will come to power — that depends on voters and the political process, not on the constitution. Hence (c) is not a function of the constitution.
2. Which of the following is a good reason to conclude that the authority of the constitution is higher than that of the parliament?
a. The constitution was framed before the parliament came into being.b. The constitution makers were more eminent leaders than the members of the parliament.c. The constitution specifies how parliament is to be formed and what are its powers.d. The constitution cannot be amended by the parliament.
ANSWER(c) The constitution specifies how parliament is to be formed and what are its powers.Parliament exists and derives its authority only because the constitution creates it and bestows powers upon it; the very authority to make laws is given to Parliament by the constitution. This makes the constitution higher in authority. Option (a) is only a fact about timing, (b) is a value judgement, and (d) is incorrect because Parliament can in fact amend the constitution.
3. State whether the following statements about a constitution are True or False.
a. Constitutions are written documents about formation and power of the government.b. Constitutions exist and are required only in democratic countries.c. Constitution is a legal document that does not deal with ideals and values.d. A constitution gives its citizens a new identity.
ANSWERa. False. Most constitutions are written documents about the formation and powers of government, but not always — the United Kingdom does not have a single written document; its constitution is a series of documents and decisions taken collectively.b. False. Constitutions are not required only in democracies. Monarchies and one-party states also have constitutions (for example, the old Soviet Union); a constitution simply allocates power, and that need exists under every form of government.c. False. A constitution is much more than a dry legal document. Modern constitutions, especially the Indian Constitution, express ideals and values and enshrine the aspirations and goals of society.d. True. By agreeing to a basic set of norms about how and by whom they will be governed, a people form a collective political and moral identity. A constitution thus gives its citizens a new, shared identity.
4. State whether the following inferences about the making of the Indian Constitution are Correct or Incorrect. Give reasons to support your answer.
a. The Constituent Assembly did not represent the Indian people since it was not elected by all citizens.b. Constitution making did not involve any major decision since there was a general consensus among the leaders at that time about its basic framework.c. There was little originality in the Constitution, for much of it was borrowed from other countries.
ANSWERa. Incorrect. Though the Assembly was not elected by universal adult suffrage, a serious effort was made to make it representative. Members of all religions and communities were represented, twenty-eight members came from the Scheduled Castes, and the diverse Congress (which held about 82% of the seats) accommodated almost every shade of opinion. So the Assembly was broadly, even if not perfectly, representative of the Indian people.b. Incorrect. Constitution making involved many serious decisions and legitimate differences of principle — whether India should be centralised or decentralised, the powers of the judiciary, Centre–State relations, the protection of property rights, and so on. Almost every issue was debated with great sophistication. There was a background consensus on core values, but that did not remove the need for major decisions.c. Incorrect. Although the framers freely borrowed provisions from other constitutions (Britain, USA, Ireland, France, Canada), this was not slavish imitation. Each borrowed provision had to be defended as suited to Indian problems and aspirations, and was adapted to remove faults and meet the needs of the country. Taking the best available everywhere and making it one’s own is itself a mark of wisdom, not a lack of originality.
5. Give two examples each to support the following conclusions about the Indian Constitution:
a. The Constitution was made by credible leaders who commanded peoples’ respect.b. The Constitution has distributed power in such a way as to make it difficult to subvert it.c. The Constitution is the locus of people’s hopes and aspirations.
ANSWERa. Credible leaders: (i) The Constitution was drawn up by leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Patel and B.R. Ambedkar, who enjoyed immense public credibility through the nationalist movement. (ii) Ambedkar — a bitter critic of the Congress — was made Chairman of the Drafting Committee, showing that leaders rose above personal differences and commanded wide respect.b. Difficult to subvert: (i) Power is horizontally fragmented across the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary, so that if one institution tries to subvert the Constitution, the others can check it. (ii) Independent statutory bodies like the Election Commission further distribute power, ensuring no single group gains a monopoly.c. Locus of hopes and aspirations: (i) The Constitution provides an enabling framework — through the Preamble, Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy — for the government to take positive welfare measures and overcome inequalities. (ii) It enshrines the goal that every individual should have minimum material well-being, education and a life of dignity and self-respect, reflecting the people’s aspirations.
6. Why is it necessary for a country to have a clear demarcation of powers and responsibilities in the constitution? What would happen in the absence of such a demarcation?
ANSWERA clear demarcation of powers is necessary because the second function of a constitution is to specify who has the power to make decisions and how the government is to be constituted. Before we can identify what the law in a society is, we must know which authority has the power to enact it — for example, in India the Constitution specifies that Parliament gets to make most laws and how Parliament is to be organised.Demarcation also fragments power across the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary so that no single institution acquires a monopoly, creating a system of checks and balances that prevents any group from subverting the constitution.In the absence of such demarcation: there would be confusion and conflict over who has the authority to decide; laws would lack legitimacy because no one could be sure they were enacted by a competent authority. Power might get concentrated in one institution or group, who could then misuse it, oppress others and undermine the constitution itself. The result would be insecurity, disputes and a breakdown of orderly government.
7. Why is it necessary for a constitution to place limitations on the rulers? Can there be a constitution that gives no power at all to the citizens?
ANSWERWhy limitations are necessary: Merely deciding who has the authority to make decisions is not enough, because that authority might pass laws that are patently unfair — prohibiting a religion, arbitrarily arresting people, or discriminating on grounds of caste or skin colour. The third function of a constitution is therefore to set limits on what a government can impose on its citizens. These limits are fundamental, meaning the government may never trespass them. The most common limitation is a set of fundamental rights (freedom of speech, conscience, association, protection from arbitrary arrest) that no government can violate. Such limits protect citizens from the misuse and tyranny of state power.A constitution that gives no power at all to citizens: In theory a constitution could be written that gives citizens no power, but it would not be a successful or democratic one. A constitution succeeds only when it gives everyone some reason to go along with its provisions and preserves the freedom and equality of all members. A constitution that empowered only rulers and ignored citizens would fail to command voluntary allegiance and would soon lose its authority. So while such a constitution may exist on paper, it cannot work effectively.
8. The Japanese Constitution was made when the US occupation army was still in control of Japan after its defeat in the Second World War. The Japanese constitution could not have had any provision that the US government did not like. Do you see any problem in this way of making the constitution? In which way was the Indian experience different from this?
ANSWERThe problem: Yes, there is a serious problem. A constitution is effective largely because of its mode of promulgation — who crafted it and how much authority they had. A constitution made under the control of a foreign occupying army cannot fully reflect the free will and aspirations of the people; it may be seen as imposed from outside rather than as the people’s own. This weakens its legitimacy and the voluntary allegiance citizens give it.How India was different: The Indian Constitution was framed by a Constituent Assembly of Indians themselves, drawing on a long and popular nationalist movement that could take diverse sections of society along together. It was drawn up by leaders who enjoyed immense public credibility and were not acting under any foreign power. Though it was never put to a referendum, the people adopted it as their own by abiding by its provisions. Thus the Indian Constitution carried genuine public authority, whereas the Japanese Constitution was made under foreign supervision.
9. Rajat asked his teacher this question: “The constitution is a fifty year old and therefore outdated book. No one took my consent for implementing it. It is written in such tough language that I cannot understand it. Tell me why should I obey this document?” If you were the teacher, how would you answer Rajat?
ANSWERAs the teacher I would explain to Rajat that the Constitution is not an outdated book but a living document. It strikes a balance between preserving core values and allowing changes, so it can be amended and adapted to changing needs and circumstances; it is therefore never out of date.On consent: it is true no one asked Rajat personally, but the Constitution was made by a Constituent Assembly of credible leaders who represented the people, and the people of India have adopted it as their own by abiding by its provisions for generations. By living in this society and enjoying its rights and protections, we give our continuing consent to it.On obeying it: the Constitution gives us our fundamental rights, protects us from the misuse of government power, allocates power so that no one can dominate us, and expresses our shared values and identity as a people. We obey it because it provides the framework for justice, freedom and equality — and because the language may be technical, simpler guides and study help (like this one) exist to explain it. So obeying the Constitution is in our own interest and the interest of all.
10. In a discussion on the experience of the working of our Constitution, three speakers took three different positions:
a. Harbans: The Indian Constitution has succeeded in giving us a framework of democratic government.b. Neha: The Constitution made solemn promises of ensuring liberty, equality and fraternity. Since this has not happened, the Constitution has failed.c. Nazima: The Constitution has not failed us. We have failed the Constitution.Do you agree with any of these positions? If yes, why? If not, what is your own position?
ANSWERI largely agree with Harbans and Nazima, and partly disagree with Neha.Harbans is correct that the Constitution has succeeded in giving India a durable framework of democratic government — regular elections, a free press, an independent judiciary and the survival of the Constitution for over seven decades, when many other constitutions perished, prove this.Neha is right that the promises of liberty, equality and fraternity have not been fully realised, but she is wrong to conclude that the Constitution has therefore failed. A constitution only provides the enabling framework; achieving these goals depends on how citizens and governments use it. No constitution by itself achieves perfect justice.Nazima’s view comes closest to my own position: where promises remain unfulfilled, the fault often lies with us — with the way we have implemented and lived up to the Constitution — rather than with the document. My own position is that the Indian Constitution has broadly succeeded; the unfinished tasks are a reminder that we must work harder to fulfil its ideals, not abandon it.
Extra Practice Questions
Short Answer Type Questions
Q1. What is a constitution?
ANSWERA constitution is a body of fundamental principles according to which a state is constituted or governed. It is the document, or set of documents, that lays down the basic rules of society, specifies how the state is to be constituted, allocates power, limits government and expresses the values of a people.
Q2. Why does any group of people need certain basic rules?
ANSWERA diverse group that has to live together needs publicly known, enforceable basic rules to achieve a minimal degree of coordination. Without them, every individual would be insecure, not knowing what others might do or who could claim rights over what. Legally enforceable rules give everyone the assurance that others will also follow them.
Q3. Name the four functions of a constitution.
ANSWER(1) To provide basic rules for minimal coordination and assurance among members of society; (2) to specify who has the power to make decisions and how government is constituted; (3) to set limitations on the powers of government; and (4) to enable the government to fulfil society’s aspirations and create a just society.
Q4. What was the Objectives Resolution?
ANSWERThe Objectives Resolution was the resolution moved by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1946 that defined the aims of the Constituent Assembly. It summed up the aspirations and values behind the Constitution — an independent, sovereign republic guaranteeing justice, equality and fundamental freedoms to all, with safeguards for minorities and the backward classes.
Q5. From which countries did the makers of the Indian Constitution borrow important provisions?
ANSWERThe framers borrowed and adapted provisions from several constitutions: the parliamentary form, rule of law and law-making procedure from Britain; fundamental rights and judicial review from the USA; Directive Principles from Ireland; the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity from France; and a quasi-federal form with residual powers from Canada — each adapted to Indian needs.
Long Answer Type Questions
Q1. Explain the four functions that a constitution performs in a society.
ANSWERA constitution performs four interlinked functions. First, it provides a set of basic rules that allow minimal coordination among members of a diverse society; these rules are publicly known and legally enforceable, giving everyone the assurance that others will also obey them. Second, it specifies who has the power to make decisions and how the government will be constituted — for instance, the Indian Constitution lays down that Parliament makes most laws and how Parliament is organised. Third, it sets limits on the power of government so that the rulers cannot impose unjust laws on citizens; the chief device is a set of fundamental rights that government may never violate. Fourth, it enables the government to fulfil the aspirations of society and create conditions for a just society — through the Preamble, Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles the Indian Constitution empowers the state to take positive welfare measures and overcome inequality. Together these functions explain why most societies have a constitution.
Q2. What makes a constitution effective? Discuss the three factors with reference to the Indian Constitution.
ANSWERA constitution is effective only when it has a real impact on people’s lives; three factors determine this. Mode of promulgation: how the constitution came into being and how much authority its makers had. The Indian Constitution was framed by a Constituent Assembly of credible leaders backed by a popular nationalist movement, so it carried enormous public authority even without a referendum. Substantive provisions: a successful constitution gives everyone some reason to go along with it by preserving the freedom and equality of all members; the Indian Constitution broadly does this, which is why it commands allegiance. Balanced institutional design: well-crafted constitutions fragment power so that no single group can subvert them. The Indian Constitution horizontally distributes power across the Legislature, Executive, Judiciary and independent bodies like the Election Commission, and balances rigidity with flexibility as a ‘living document’. Together these factors explain the success and survival of the Indian Constitution.
Q3. Describe how the Indian Constitution was made by the Constituent Assembly.
ANSWERThe Indian Constitution was made by the Constituent Assembly, elected indirectly by the Provincial Legislative Assemblies under the Cabinet Mission plan; seats were allotted to provinces and princely states roughly in proportion to population. The Assembly first met on 9 December 1946 and reassembled for divided India on 14 August 1947; after Partition its membership was reduced to 299. The Assembly worked through eight major committees, usually chaired by Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, Patel or Ambedkar, with Ambedkar heading the Drafting Committee. Its authority came not only from being broadly representative — including all religions, twenty-eight Scheduled Caste members and a diverse Congress — but also from the principle of deliberation and public reason: each clause was debated with principled arguments, and only universal suffrage was passed without debate. The Assembly inherited the values of the nationalist movement, summed up in the Objectives Resolution, and freely adapted ideas from other constitutions. The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950, after the Assembly had met for 166 days over nearly three years.
MCQs & Assertion–Reason
1. A constitution can best be described as:
(a) a list of all the laws of a country (b) a body of fundamental principles by which a state is governed (c) a manifesto of the ruling party (d) a treaty between two nations
2. Which of the following is the most common way a constitution limits the power of government?
(a) by abolishing elections (b) by specifying fundamental rights (c) by appointing a monarch (d) by banning political parties
3. Which country does NOT have a single written constitutional document?
(a) India (b) United States (c) United Kingdom (d) South Africa
4. The Indian Constituent Assembly held its first sitting on:
(a) 26 November 1949 (b) 9 December 1946 (c) 14 August 1947 (d) 26 January 1950
5. The Indian Constitution came into force on:
(a) 26 November 1949 (b) 15 August 1947 (c) 26 January 1950 (d) 9 December 1946
6. The Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly was:
For each Assertion–Reason question, choose: (A) Both true and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion; (B) Both true but the Reason is not the correct explanation; (C) Assertion true, Reason false; (D) Assertion false, Reason true.
A-R 1. Assertion: The authority of the constitution is higher than that of Parliament.
Reason: The constitution specifies how Parliament is to be formed and what its powers are.
A-R 2. Assertion: A constitution is required only in a democracy.
Reason: A constitution allocates power in a society, a need that exists under every form of government.
A-R 3. Assertion: The mode of promulgation affects how effective a constitution is.
Reason: Constitutions crafted by credible leaders backed by a popular movement command greater public authority.
A-R 4. Assertion: The Indian Constitution fragments power across different institutions.
Reason: Fragmenting power ensures that no single group can easily subvert the constitution.
A-R 5. Assertion: The Indian Constitution shows little originality because it borrowed from other countries.
Reason: Every borrowed provision was adapted and defended as suited to Indian problems and aspirations.
Answer key: 1-(A), 2-(D), 3-(A), 4-(A), 5-(D).
Exam Tips & Common Mistakes
How to score full marks in this chapter
Memorise the four functions of a constitution and the three factors that make a constitution effective (mode of promulgation, substantive provisions, balanced institutional design) — these are the most frequently asked points. Keep the key dates ready: first sitting 9 December 1946, adopted 26 November 1949, in force 26 January 1950, membership reduced to 299 after Partition, 166 days over nearly three years. Be able to name the borrowed provisions and their source countries. For value-based and case questions (like Rajat’s question or the Harbans–Neha–Nazima debate), give a balanced, reasoned answer rather than a one-word verdict.
Common mistakes to avoid
Thinking a constitution “ensures good people come to power” — that is NOT a function of a constitution.
Believing constitutions exist only in democracies — monarchies and one-party states also have them.
Confusing the dates of adoption (26 Nov 1949) and commencement (26 Jan 1950).
Saying the Constitution was “merely borrowed” — every provision was adapted to Indian needs.
Forgetting that universal adult suffrage was the one provision passed without debate.
Writing one-sided answers to value-based questions instead of weighing all positions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chapter 1 of Class 11 Political Science (Indian Constitution at Work) about?
Chapter 1, Constitution: Why and How?, explains why a society needs a constitution, the four functions a constitution performs, what gives a constitution its authority and effectiveness, and how the Indian Constitution was made by the Constituent Assembly between 1946 and 1949.
What are the four functions of a constitution?
A constitution provides basic rules for minimal coordination among members of society; specifies who has the power to make decisions and how government is constituted; places limitations on the powers of government (mainly through fundamental rights); and enables the government to fulfil the aspirations of society and create a just society.
When was the Indian Constitution adopted and when did it come into force?
The Indian Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950, which is celebrated as Republic Day.
