A historian reading the Constituent Assembly debates should be aware…

The correct answer is Option (3) → re-worked according to what seemed appropriate within a context

Option (1) applied according to principles fixed by the Congress before the debates began — Incorrect. Members argued over three years, and some changed their ideas as the debate unfolded. Ideals open to change in this way were still being settled during the debates.

Option (2) interpreted according to the original writings of Western liberal thinkers — Incorrect. Members did draw on Western liberal ideals. They shaped these ideals to Indian needs of the time as the debates went on.

Option (3) re-worked according to what seemed appropriate within a context — Correct. The ideals the members called upon were re-worked to suit the context. So a historian must read each ideal against the situation in which it was used.

Option (4) followed according to the provisions of the Government of India Act of 1935 — Incorrect. The 1935 Act was a starting text for some provisions. The ideals in the debates, though, were reshaped by context as members argued.