Q11. Identify the odd one out among the following leaders regarding membership in the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly:
Post-Independence: State Reorganisation and Nehruvian Institutions: RAS Prelims MCQs
22 RAS Prelims MCQs on post-independence nation-building cover the Partition Council, the Objectives Resolution, the adoption of the Constitution, Article 370, the mixed economy and the reorganisation of states. The Dhar and JVP committees, Potti Sriramulu’s fast and the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 are asked as facts and statements.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 11–20 of 22 questions
Q12. The following question consists of two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R). Examine these two statements carefully and select the correct answer:
Assertion (A): The Indian Constitution is described as federal in form but unitary in spirit.
Reason (R): The Constitution contains strong centralizing tendencies, such as single citizenship and the power of the Parliament to alter state boundaries.
Assertion (A): The Indian Constitution is described as federal in form but unitary in spirit.
Reason (R): The Constitution contains strong centralizing tendencies, such as single citizenship and the power of the Parliament to alter state boundaries.
Explanation
The Indian Constitution is characterized as federal in form because it establishes a dual polity with a clear division of powers. However, it remains unitary in spirit due to centralizing features like single citizenship, the appointment of governors, and Parliament’s authority over state boundaries. These elements ensure national integrity and stability, providing the central government with necessary powers during emergencies.
Q13. Which of the following constitutional features was explicitly added to the Preamble by the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976, though its philosophy was implicit since 1950?
Explanation
The 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 officially added the term ‘Secular’ to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. While the philosophy of secularism was already implicit through the Fundamental Rights protecting freedom of religion, this amendment made the state’s neutral stance toward all faiths explicit. This change reinforced India’s commitment to maintaining a pluralistic society without an official state religion.
Q14. What is the most appropriate interpretation of India being a ‘Republic’ as envisioned in the Constitution?
Explanation
In the Indian context, being a ‘Republic’ signifies that the head of the state is an elected official rather than a hereditary monarch. This status ensures that political sovereignty is vested in the people and that there is an absence of any privileged class. Any citizen is eligible to be elected to the highest public offices, reflecting democratic and egalitarian values.
Q15. Consider the following provisions of the Indian Constitution:
I. Appointment of State Governors by the Center
II. Division of powers through the Seventh Schedule
III. All India Services
Which of the above provisions do NOT denote the federal character of the Constitution?
I. Appointment of State Governors by the Center
II. Division of powers through the Seventh Schedule
III. All India Services
Which of the above provisions do NOT denote the federal character of the Constitution?
Explanation
Federalism typically involves a division of powers between the center and states, as seen in the Seventh Schedule. However, certain provisions in the Indian Constitution are unitary in nature, such as the appointment of State Governors by the Center and the existence of All India Services. These features allow the central government to maintain significant influence over provincial administration and policy.
Q16. Which of the following is an exception to the core features of Nehru’s vision that shaped the Indian Constitution?
Explanation
Jawaharlal Nehru’s vision for India was deeply rooted in secularism, democratic socialism, and a parliamentary form of government. He championed the universal adult franchise and a strong commitment to socio-economic justice for all citizens. Consequently, a theocratic state machinery, which bases governance on religious doctrines, is entirely contradictory to the modern, inclusive, and secular democratic framework Nehru helped to establish.
Q17. The economic framework adopted by India post-independence, reflecting Nehru’s vision of democratic socialism, is best described as:
Explanation
Post-independence, India adopted a mixed economic model, which was a central pillar of Nehru’s vision of democratic socialism. This framework allowed for the coexistence of a dominant public sector, responsible for heavy industries and infrastructure, alongside a regulated private sector. This approach aimed to achieve rapid industrialization while ensuring that the benefits of economic growth were distributed across society.
Q18. What was the direct political effect of the 56- day hunger strike and subsequent death of Potti Sriramulu in 1952?
Explanation
The 56-day hunger strike and subsequent death of Potti Sriramulu in 1952 caused massive public unrest in the Telugu-speaking regions of the Madras State. To contain the situation, the Indian government was forced to announce the creation of a separate Andhra State. Formed in 1953, it became the first state in India organized specifically on a linguistic basis.
Q19. Which committee rejected language as the basis for reorganization of states immediately following the Dhar Commission report, citing concerns over national unity?
Explanation
Following the Dhar Commission’s report, the JVP Committee was formed in 1948 to reconsider the issue of linguistic states. Comprising Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, and Pattabhi Sitaramayya, the committee formally rejected language as the primary basis for reorganizing states at that time.
Q20. The States Reorganisation Act of 1956 resulted in the creation of how many States and Union Territories?
Explanation
The States Reorganisation Act of 1956 created 14 States and 6 Union Territories.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 11 | (c) Rajendra Prasad |
| 12 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 13 | (b) Secular |
| 14 | (d) The head of the state is elected and there is an absence of any privileged class. |
| 15 | (a) I and III only |
| 16 | (c) Theocratic state machinery |
| 17 | (a) A mixed economy featuring both public and private sectors |
| 18 | (a) The creation of the first linguistic state of Andhra |
| 19 | (c) JVP Committee |
| 20 | (c) 14 States and 6 Union Territories |
Key facts from Post-Independence: State Reorganisation and Nehruvian Institutions
- The Partition Council was set up under Lord Mountbatten to oversee the division of assets.
- The Objectives Resolution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 22 January 1947; the Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949.
- Article 370 contained the temporary provisions for Jammu and Kashmir.
- Nehru’s economic framework was a mixed economy with public and private sectors.
- Potti Sriramulu’s 56-day fast and death led to the creation of Andhra, the first linguistic state; the JVP Committee rejected language as the basis for states.
- The States Reorganisation Act of 1956 created 14 States and 6 Union Territories; the 42nd Amendment added the word Secular to the Preamble.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Post-Independence: State Reorganisation and Nehruvian Institutions?
This page has 22 practice MCQs on Post-Independence: State Reorganisation and Nehruvian Institutions (Modern Indian History). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
How many states were created by the States Reorganisation Act 1956?
14 States and 6 Union Territories. The Seventh Amendment of 1956 ended the earlier Part A, B and C classification of states and gave the states a more uniform status.
What led to the creation of Andhra state?
The death of Potti Sriramulu after a 56-day hunger strike in 1952. The public outrage forced the government to create Andhra as the first linguistic state in 1953, which opened the way for a general reorganisation.
When was the Constitution of India adopted?
On 26 November 1949, by the Constituent Assembly. It came into force on 26 January 1950, which is why that day is celebrated every year as Republic Day, and the Constituent Assembly took nearly three years to frame it.