Previous Year Question
For the Karachi Session of Indian National Congress in 1931 presided over by Sardar Patel, who drafted the Resolution on Fundamental Rights and Economic Programme?
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
Option (b) is correct.
The original draft of the Resolution on Fundamental Rights and the National Economic Programme for the 1931 Karachi Session was prepared by Jawaharlal Nehru.
Mahatma Gandhi made certain changes to Nehru’s draft. Therefore, Nehru was its drafter, although Gandhi also contributed to the final form of the Resolution.
The Resolution was adopted by the Congress on 31 March 1931.
The Session was presided over by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Central idea of the Resolution:
The Resolution declared that political freedom alone would not be sufficient; freedom must also include real economic freedom for the starving and exploited millions.
Important fundamental rights:
Freedom of association and peaceful assembly.
Freedom of speech and the press.
Freedom of conscience and the profession and practice of religion.
Prohibition of civic discrimination based on religion, caste, creed or sex.
Equal access to public roads, wells and other places of public resort.
Adult suffrage and free primary education.
Important elements of the economic programme:
A living wage and limited working hours for industrial workers.
Protection against old age, sickness and unemployment.
Maternity leave for women workers and prohibition of factory employment for children of school-going age.
The right of workers to form trade unions.
Substantial reduction of land revenue and rent.
Progressive taxation of agricultural income and a graduated inheritance tax.
State control over key industries and mineral resources.
Abolition of the salt tax and protection of indigenous cloth.