Which country is known for having the world’s shortest written national constitution?

Introduction / Context:
This question examines your comparative knowledge of world constitutions. Different countries have written constitutions of varying length and complexity. Some, like India, are very detailed and long, while others are relatively brief. Being aware of which country has the shortest written constitution helps you understand constitutional diversity and is often asked in general knowledge or polity sections of competitive exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are comparing the length of written national constitutions across countries.
• The question asks which country has the world’s shortest written constitution.
• Options include the United States of America, Monaco, Vatican City, and India.
• We assume “shortest” refers to the overall length and number of provisions, not the age or language.

Concept / Approach:
India’s Constitution is well known as one of the lengthiest written constitutions in the world. The United States Constitution is relatively short but not the shortest. Vatican City has fundamental laws, but the context of common GK questions usually highlights Monaco as the country with the shortest written constitution. Accordingly, Monaco’s constitution is widely cited in exam preparation materials as being the shortest among modern nation-state constitutions.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Eliminate India because it is famous for having one of the longest constitutions in the world. Step 2: Consider the United States. Although its constitution is short, it is typically not quoted as the absolute shortest in GK references. Step 3: Vatican City is a unique religious state with fundamental governing laws, but competitive exam material generally mentions Monaco in this specific context. Step 4: Recall that standard GK books and notes often state that Monaco has the shortest written constitution. Step 5: Select Monaco as the correct answer.
Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can think of how these facts are listed in comparative tables: India is marked as longest, while Monaco frequently appears as an example of the shortest written constitution. The United States is discussed for its age and influence, not its extreme brevity in the same sense as Monaco's document. Cross-referencing with multiple GK sources during preparation often confirms this point.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• United States of America: Its constitution is relatively concise but is not generally cited as the absolute shortest.
• Vatican City: While small and unique, Vatican City’s legal framework is considered differently from standard national written constitutions in many exam sources.
• India: Famous for having a very long and detailed written constitution, so it clearly cannot be the shortest.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent error is to guess the United States because students remember hearing that its constitution is short and simple compared to India's. However, the question asks for the world’s shortest written constitution, a superlative that is typically associated with Monaco in exam-oriented GK. Another pitfall is overthinking Vatican City's status without recalling how mainstream GK sources treat this comparison.

Final Answer:
The country generally recognised as having the world’s shortest written constitution is Monaco.