Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements and choose the correct answer by using the codes given below:
Assertion [A]: India is a democratic country.
Reason [R]: India has a constitution of its own.
Codes:
Both [A] and [R] are true and [R] is the correct explanation of [A].
Both [A] and [R] are true but [R] is not the correct explanation of [A].
[A] is true but [R] is false.
Both [A] and [R] are false.
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
Assertion (A) is correct. The Preamble to the Constitution expressly declares India to be a “Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic.” Thus, the democratic character of India is explicitly established in the Constitution itself.
The constitutional basis of Indian democracy is not confined merely to the existence of a Constitution. Representative Government, elected Parliament and State Legislatures, and adult suffrage under Article 326 provide the institutional framework of democratic government. The Constitution also defines citizens' rights and limits on governmental power.
Reason (R) is also correct, because India has its own Constitution. It was adopted, enacted and given to the people by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949, while most of its provisions came into force on 26 January 1950.
However, merely having a Constitution does not by itself establish that a country is democratic. A Constitution lays down the basic rules of governance; democracy depends upon whether the constitutional system provides features such as popular political participation, representation, elections, rights and accountable government. NCERT similarly explains a Constitution as the set of fundamental rules governing citizens and government.