There was substantial agreement among the leaders on one central feature of the Constitution. It was __________.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Granting vote to every adult Indian
The Constitution came out of intense debate, and many provisions were a middle ground between opposed positions. But on one central feature there was substantial agreement: the granting of the vote to every adult Indian, an unprecedented act of faith.
Option (1) To grant franchise only to youth — Incorrect. The vote went to every adult, not to one age group.
Option (2) Granting vote to every adult Indian — Correct. Universal adult franchise was the point on which the leaders agreed.
Option (3) To deny voting rights to women — Incorrect. In other democracies women won the vote only after an even longer struggle; India gave it to women and men together.
Option (4) To slowly grant voting rights to only men — Incorrect. This was the path of the United States and the United Kingdom, where the vote was granted slowly and in stages, first to men of property and education. India did not follow it.
NCERT (2025-26): “5.2 The fear of domination … However, on one central feature of the Constitution there was substantial agreement. This was on the granting of the vote to every adult Indian. This was an unprecedented act of faith, for in other democracies the vote had been granted slowly, and in stages. In countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, only men of property were first granted the vote; then, men with education were also allowed into the charmed circle. After a long and bitter struggle, men of working-class or peasant background were also given the right to vote. An even longer struggle was required to grant this right to women.…” |