UPSC Prelims 2004 · General Studies

Question 5: Polity and Governance

Which one of the following statements is correct?

aThe Constitution Assembly of India was elected by the Provincial Assemblies in the year 1946.

bJawaharlal Nehru, M.A. Jinnah and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel were members of the Constituent Assembly of India.

cThe First Session of the Constituent Assembly of India was held in January, 1947.

dThe Constitution of India was adopted on 26th January, 1950.

AnswerThe answer is (a).

The Constituent Assembly was not elected by the people directly: its members were chosen in 1946 by the provincial legislative assemblies, with the princely states' representatives nominated. The other options contain errors: Jinnah was not a member, because the Muslim League boycotted it; the first session was on 9 December 1946; and the Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949, coming into force on 26 January 1950.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Correct: members were elected by the provincial assemblies in 1946.
(b) Jinnah was not a member of the Constituent Assembly; the Muslim League stayed away.
(c) The first session was held in December 1946, not January 1947.
(d) The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949; 26 January 1950 is when it came into force.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2004, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.