Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
The Preamble of the Constitution of India sets out the guiding values and philosophy of the entire document. It describes India as a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic and lists objectives such as justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. This question tests whether you know the historical origin of the Preamble in the form of the Objectives Resolution and who moved that resolution in the Constituent Assembly, which is an important part of Indian polity and constitutional history.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The Objectives Resolution was moved in the Constituent Assembly on 13 December 1946. It outlined the aims and principles that the Constitution should pursue, such as sovereignty of the people, a democratic set up and safeguards for minorities. Although B. R. Ambedkar is often called the chief architect of the Constitution and B. N. Rau served as the constitutional advisor, the political leader who actually presented the Objectives Resolution was Jawaharlal Nehru. This resolution later guided the drafting of the Preamble almost word for word in many parts.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Constituent Assembly began its work in December 1946.
Step 2: On 13 December 1946, a key document called the Objectives Resolution was introduced.
Step 3: The Objectives Resolution stated that India would be an independent sovereign republic and laid down principles of democracy, social, economic and political justice.
Step 4: Jawaharlal Nehru, who later became the first Prime Minister of independent India, moved this resolution in the Assembly.
Step 5: The Preamble that we see today in the Constitution is largely based on the language and spirit of that Objectives Resolution, confirming that Nehru was the proposer.
Verification / Alternative check:
A quick verification method is to link names with their main roles. B. R. Ambedkar was chairman of the Drafting Committee, responsible for giving final legal shape to the Constitution. B. N. Rau was the constitutional advisor who prepared initial drafts and notes. Mahatma Gandhi was not formally a member of the Constituent Assembly. Jawaharlal Nehru, on the other hand, was a central political leader in the Assembly and is directly associated with the Objectives Resolution. This alignment of roles confirms that Nehru must be the correct answer.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
B. R. Ambedkar: He chaired the Drafting Committee and played a crucial role in structuring the constitutional provisions, but he did not move the Objectives Resolution that formed the base of the Preamble.
B. N. Rau: As constitutional advisor, he prepared drafts and comparative notes, but he did not present the Objectives Resolution in the Assembly.
Mahatma Gandhi: Gandhi provided moral guidance to the freedom struggle, but he was not a member of the Constituent Assembly and therefore did not move any resolution there.
Common Pitfalls:
Many students wrongly assume that because Ambedkar is known as the main architect of the Constitution, he must be involved in every important step. This leads to confusion between the drafting of detailed articles and the political act of moving a broad resolution of principles. To avoid this, it is useful to remember a simple association: Nehru is linked with the Objectives Resolution and the Preamble, Ambedkar with the Drafting Committee and legal structure, and Gandhi with the underlying philosophy of non violence and mass mobilisation, even though Gandhi did not sit in the Assembly.
Final Answer:
The Objectives Resolution that later formed the basis of the Preamble was proposed by Jawaharlal Nehru in the Constituent Assembly.
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