Making of the Indian Constitution (Constituent Assembly)

Correct answer: A. Because representation, debate, and consensus also strengthen legitimacy.

Explanation: Direct answer: A is correct. The Constituent Assembly was not chosen through a direct election by all adult citizens, so direct electoral representation is one relevant question, but it is not the only measure of legitimacy. Its legitimacy also depended on the representatives included, the diversity of views, the public importance of the issues discussed, the detailed debates, and the effort to reach agreement on constitutional principles. Option A captures this broader process-based understanding. B is false because elections are important democratic mechanisms, even though they are not the sole test in every historical situation. C is false because the Assembly was an Indian body formed in the context of India’s freedom and constitution-making. D is false because the Assembly discussed major public and political issues. Memory cue: legitimacy can come from representation and a transparent, reasoned process, not only from the method of selection.

Correct answer: B. Turning independence into democratic institutions.

Explanation: Direct answer: B is correct. Constitution-making was part of the larger task of building an independent democratic nation. After colonial rule, India needed institutions that would define authority, protect rights, organise elections and government, and provide a framework for resolving disagreements peacefully. The Constituent Assembly helped convert the achievement of independence into a constitutional system with democratic rules and institutions. A is wrong because the purpose was not to preserve British rule but to establish self-government. C is wrong because the process was not about creating a monarchy. D is wrong because the work went far beyond drawing administrative boundaries; it addressed citizenship, rights, power, representation, and governance. Memory cue: independence gives freedom from colonial rule; a Constitution gives that freedom an organised democratic form.