Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Political Science

Chapter

Constitution As A Living Document

Question:

Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion and the other is labelled as Reason:

Assertion: Indian Constitution rejects the necessity of modifications according to changing needs of the society.
Reason: Various factors have made the Indian Constitution a living document rather than a closed and static rulebook.

Options:

Both the Assertion and the Reason are correct and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.

Both the Assertion and the Reason are correct but the Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.

The Assertion is incorrect but the Reason is correct.

The Assertion is correct but the Reason is incorrect.

Correct Answer:

The Assertion is incorrect but the Reason is correct.

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option 3 - The Assertion is incorrect but the Reason is correct.

Assertion: Indian Constitution rejects the necessity of modifications according to changing needs of the society. (incorrect)
Reason: Various factors have made the Indian Constitution a living document rather than a closed and static rulebook. (correct)

 

The Assertion is False, and the Reason is True because the Indian Constitution does not reject the necessity of modifications. In fact, it has a well-defined process for amendments. Also, the Indian Constitution is considered a living document because it can be amended to adapt to changing social realities. The various provisions for amendment highlight this flexibility.
Therefore, the reason contradicts the assertion. The Constitution's ability to be amended makes it a living document, not a static one.

Correction in Assertion: Indian Constitution ACCEPTS the necessity of modifications according to changing needs of the society.
    

It is true that we Indians have inherited a very robust Constitution. The basic framework of the Constitution is very much suited to our country. It is also true that the Constitution makers were very farsighted and provided for many solutions for future situations. But no constitution can provide for all eventualities. No document can be such that it needs no change. Then how does the same Constitution continue to serve the country? One of the answers to such questions is that our Constitution accepts the necessity of modifications according to changing needs of the society. Secondly, in the actual working of the Constitution, there has been enough flexibility of interpretations. Both political practice and judicial rulings have shown maturity and flexibility in implementing the Constitution. These factors have made our Constitution a living document rather than a closed and static rulebook.