RAS question
Which country's Constitution inspired the concept of Fundamental Rights in the Indian Constitution?
Correct answer: (B) United States of America.
The concept of Fundamental Rights in the Indian Constitution was inspired by the Bill of Rights tradition associated with the Constitution of the United States of America.
Explanation
Fundamental Rights in India trace their main inspiration to the United States of America. The U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights is the model for this feature, and the National Institute of Open Schooling, Introduction to Law, Lesson 19: Fundamental Rights and Duties notes that the United States was the first country to incorporate such rights in its Constitution. This matters because Fundamental Rights are not ordinary legal benefits: they are placed in Part III of the Indian Constitution, specially protected, and meant to bind the State. The same borrowing pattern explains why other constitutional features came from different sources, such as DPSP from Ireland, a strong-centre federation from Canada, emergency provisions from Germany, and the parliamentary system from the United Kingdom.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Russia is linked to Fundamental Duties, not to India's Fundamental Rights.
- (C) France contributed the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity, but the question asks specifically about the model for Fundamental Rights.
- (D) The United Kingdom influenced India's parliamentary system, while Fundamental Rights came from the U.S. Bill of Rights.
Concept
This tests the RAS polity theme of borrowed features of the Indian Constitution. It recurs because exam questions often ask candidates to match constitutional provisions with their source countries precisely.