Looking for an exam-oriented collection of extra questions and answers for SEBA Class 10 Social Science Political Science Chapter 1 (Indian Democracy / ভাৰতীয় গণতন্ত্ৰ) for the 2026–27 academic session? Access thoroughly solved Short Answer Questions (2–3 marks), Long Analytical Questions (4–5 marks), comparative tables, and constitutional summaries. Master high-yield board topics covering the political victory of the British Labour Party (1945); the appointment, objectives, and members of the Cabinet Mission (March 1946); the composition and historic meetings of the Constituent Assembly; Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha as temporary chairman and Dr. Rajendra Prasad as permanent president; Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Drafting Committee members (including Assam’s Sir Syed Muhammad Saadulla); the Government of India Act 1935 as the governing framework from 15 August 1947 to 26 January 1950; Nehru’s Objective Resolutions; the significance of the Preamble as the soul and key to the Constitution; constitutional definitions of Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, and Republic; the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976; the Latin root of federation (“Foedus”); comparison of Indian federalism with the USA (“Homeland of Federation”) and Canadian models; unitary bias and single citizenship vs. federal attributes; differences between Indian and British parliamentary systems; and structured model answers designed strictly according to the Assam Board (SEBA) HSLC curriculum.
1. When did India gain independence?
Answer: 1947
2. Who was the temporary president of the first sitting of the Constituent Assembly?
Answer: Sinha
3. Who was elected as the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly?
Answer: Prasad
4. Who was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee?
Answer: Ambedkar
5. When was the Constitution of India enforced?
Answer: 1950
6. Which historical Act governed India between 1947 and 1950?
Answer: 1935
7. What is regarded as the soul and conscience of the Indian constitution?
Answer: Preamble
8. Which amendment added ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ to the Preamble?
Answer: 42nd
9. In which year was the 42nd Amendment passed?
Answer: 1976
10. What type of state has an elected Head of State instead of a king?
Answer: Republic
11. Which country’s model of federation did India follow?
Answer: Canada
12. What term is used under Article 1 for India instead of federation?
Answer: Union
13. What type of citizenship does India have?
Answer: Single
14. Who acts as the central government’s representative in the states?
Answer: Governor
15. Which commission was set up in 1983 for Centre-State relations?
Answer: Sarkaria
SEBA Class 10 Political Science Chapter 1 Extra Questions
16. Who put forward the Objective Resolutions?
Answer: Nehru
17. From which language is the word ‘Foedus’ derived?
Answer: Latin
18. What type of democracy did India adopt from England?
Answer: Parliamentary
19. Who is the nominal Head of State in India?
Answer: President
20. Which is the supreme law of the land in India?
Answer: Constitution
2. Extra Short Questions and Answers
1. How long was India under British rule?
Answer: India was under British subjugation for nearly two centuries, from 1757 to 1947.
2. When did the Constituent Assembly hold its first sitting?
Answer: The first sitting of the Constituent Assembly was held on 9 December 1946.
3. When was the Drafting Committee constituted and how many members did it have?
Answer: It was constituted on 29 August 1947 with seven specialist members.
4. When was the final draft of the constitution handed over to Dr. Rajendra Prasad?
Answer: It was handed over on 26 November 1949 after three years of rigorous labor.
5. Why is the Preamble called the soul of the constitution?
Answer: Because every word in it bears the ideals, philosophy, and basic objectives of the constitution.
6. What does the phrase “We the people of India” mean in the Preamble?
Answer: It indicates that the actual authority of the constitution belongs solely to the Indian people.
7. What does the term “Sovereign” mean?
Answer: It means India has supreme power, being neither dependent on any foreign power nor directed by any external force.
8. What does a “Secular” state mean?
Answer: It means the state has no official religion and treats all religions equally without discrimination.
9. What is the literal meaning of the Latin word “Foedus”?
Answer: It means agreement or treaty, from which the word ‘Federation’ is derived.
10. Why did India choose a looser federation like Canada instead of a strict one like the USA?
Answer: To prevent national integrity from being endangered and to keep the country united.
Assam Board HSLC Class 10 Political Science Chapter 1 Solved Extra Questions PDF
11. Can constituent states secede from the Indian Union?
Answer: No, constituent states do not have the right to secede from the Indian Union.
12. What do political analysts call the Indian federal system due to its unitary features?
Answer: They call it “Quasi-federal” or “Federal in form but unitary in spirit”.
13. What are the three organs that make up the Indian Parliament?
Answer: The Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha, and the President.
14. Mention one major difference between the Indian and British Parliaments.
Answer: The British Parliament is supreme and all-powerful, whereas the Indian Parliament functions within the written bounds of a supreme Constitution.
15. Who heads the state in England compared to India?
Answer: England has a hereditary monarch (King or Queen), whereas India has an elected President.
Indian Democracy Important Questions and Answers 2026-27
Long (3 Mark) Questions and Answers
1. Explain the significance of the Preamble as the “soul” of the Indian Constitution.
Answer:
- Core Ideals: The Preamble is regarded as the soul, conscience, and key of the constitution because it holds its core philosophy.
- People’s Authority: The phrase “We the people of India” shows that the ultimate power rests with the citizens.
- Key Objectives: It outlines vital goals like Justice, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity to ensure the welfare of all citizens.
2. What are the core meanings of the terms Sovereign, Socialist, and Secular in the Preamble?
Answer:
- Sovereign: India is completely independent internally and externally, free from foreign control.
- Socialist: It aims to reduce income gaps and inequalities through equal distribution of wealth and a mixed economy.
- Secular: The government has no official religion and treats all religious communities with equal respect and neutrality.
3. Why is the Indian political system often described as “Quasi-federal” or “Federal in form but unitary in spirit”?
Answer:
- Unitary Controls: Although it has a federal structure, powers are heavily centralized with a single constitution.
- Single Citizenship: Unlike strict federations (like the USA), India has single citizenship for all states.
- Central Power: The central government appoints Governors in states, making the system lean heavily toward a strong center.
4. Describe the role and importance of the Constituent Assembly in framing the Indian Constitution.
Answer:
- Formation: It was formed following the initiative of the Cabinet Mission, holding its first meeting on 9 December 1946.
- Leadership: It was guided by leaders like Dr. Rajendra Prasad and had a dedicated Drafting Committee chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
- Completion: After three years of hard work, it successfully prepared and handed over the constitution on 26 November 1949.
5. What was the purpose of setting up the Sarkaria Commission in 1983?
Answer:
- Centre-State Relations: It was established specifically to examine and review the working of Centre-State relations in India.
- Resolving Conflicts: Its aim was to recommend changes and solutions to ease tensions and political conflicts between the central government and state governments.
- Strengthening Federalism: It helped maintain national unity while ensuring cooperative federalism functioned smoothly.
Class 10 Social Science Political Science Chapter 1 Extra Q&A SEBA
6. How does the Indian Parliamentary system differ from the British Parliamentary system regarding supremacy? Answer:
- British Parliament: In England, Parliament is supreme and sovereign, meaning it can make or change any law without constitutional limits.
- Indian Parliament: In India, Parliament is not supreme; it must function strictly within the limits set by a written, supreme Constitution.
- Judicial Review: Indian laws passed by Parliament can be reviewed and checked by the judiciary to ensure they align with the constitution.
7. What are the key features of Democratic and Republican ideals mentioned in the Preamble?
Answer:
- Democratic Administration: Government is run by elected representatives who remain directly answerable and responsible to the people.
- Republican Head: The highest office in the nation (the President) is elected by the people.
- No Hereditary Rule: Unlike a monarchy, the position of the Head of State is neither hereditary nor chosen arbitrarily.
8. Write a short note on the adoption and enforcement timeline of the Indian Constitution.
Answer:
- Interim Period: Between 15 August 1947 and 26 January 1950, free India was governed according to the older Government of India Act, 1935.
- Drafting Period: The draft was completed after three years of rigorous work and handed over on 26 November 1949.
- Enforcement: The final Constitution officially came into force on 26 January 1950, marking the birth of the Republic of India.
⚖️ HSLC Class 10 Social Science Exam Preparation Notice: This page features curated SEBA Class 10 Social Science (Political Science Section) Chapter 1: Indian Democracy Extra Questions, Answers & Solutions updated for the 2026–27 academic session. Tailored strictly to target high-frequency questions in pre-board and final HSLC examinations, this revision guide explores beyond standard textbook exercises—providing structured, point-wise evaluations of constitutional evolution, Drafting Committee proceedings, Preamble philosophical pillars, quasi-federal power allocations, and parliamentary checks and balances—to guarantee full marks in your 2-mark, 3-mark, and 5-mark board exam questions.
💡 Master SEBA Class 10 Political Science Chapter Extra Questions:
- Having difficulty structuring a comprehensive 5-mark answer explaining why Indian federalism is characterized as “Federal in form, but Unitary in spirit”, detailing the significance of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s Objective Resolutions, or comparing the constitutional roles of the President of India and the British Monarch? Leave your query in the comments section below!
- Bookmark this page for quick revision of constitutional amendments, drafting committee facts, federal attributes, and democratic governance concepts before your unit evaluations, pre-board exams, and the upcoming HSLC examinations.
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