Civics Polity · General Awareness

Constitutions and Law

2,587 Questions

Constitutions and Law questions cover fundamental rights, the preamble, critical articles, and amendments from the Indian and United States constitutions. This topic is indispensable for UPSC, state PSC, and SSC exams. Practicing these questions ensures a solid understanding of political frameworks and legal provisions.

Indian Constitution articlesFundamental rights and dutiesConstitutional amendmentsPreamble featuresUS Constitution principles

Constitutions and Law Questions

Multiple choice

'Economic Justice' as one of the objectives of the Indian constitution has been provided in the

  1. Preamble and Fundamental Rights

  2. Preamble and Directive Principles

  3. Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles

  4. Preamble, Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Preamble to the Indian constitution aims to provide social, economic and political justice to all the citizens. Apart from this, Articles 39, 42, etc. of Chapter IV (DPSPs) also provide for socio-economic justice.

Multiple choice

Despite establishing a federal system of government, the Indian Constitution contains a large number of unitary or non-federal features. Which of the following belong to the list of unitary features?

  1. Appointment of State Governor by the Centre
  2. All-India Services
  3. Supremacy of the Constitution
  4. Emergency provisions
  5. Rigidity of the Constitution

  1. Only 3 and 5

  2. Only 2, 3 and 5

  3. Only 1, 2 and 4

  4. Only 1, 2, 4 and 5
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Indian Constitution contains a large number of unitary or non-federal features, which are as follows:

  1. A strong Centre
  2. Single Constitution
  3. Single citizenship
  4. Flexibility of the Constitution
  5. Integrated judiciary
  6. Appointment of State Governor by the Centre
  7. All-India Services
  8. Emergency provisions
Multiple choice

The Indian Constitution has rightly been said ‘a borrowed Constitution’ as most of its provisions have been borrowed from different sources. Which of the provisions and their sources are correctly matched?

  1. Fundamental Duties - Japanese Constitution
  2. Nomination of the members of the Rajya Sabha by the President - Irish Constitution
  3. Vice-President as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha - American Constitution
  4. The Concurrent List - Australian Constitution

  1. Only 1 and 3

  2. Only 1, 2 and 3

  3. Only 2, 3 and 4

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Fundamental Duties are borrowed from erstwhile USSR.

Multiple choice

The Constitution of India stands for a secular state. Which of the following Articles uphold the secular character of the Indian state?

  1. Article 29
  2. Article 44
  3. Article 14
  4. Article 17

  1. Only 3 and 4

  2. Only 1 and 3

  3. Only 1, 3 and 4

  4. Only 1, 2 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

It should be noted that the term 'secular' deals with the religious view of a state. Article 17 deals with 'untouchability', which is a caste based concept and has nothing to do with religion. Article 29 gives all the right to conserve their distinct language, script or culture. Article 14 directs the state not to deny any person equality before law or equal protection of laws. Article 44 of the Indian Constitution asks the state to secure for all the citizens a Uniform Civil Code.

Multiple choice

The Indian Constitution is often called a 'borrowed Constitution'. Which of the provisions and their sources are correctly matched?

  1. Public Service Commission - British Constitution
  2. Procedure for amendment to the Constitution - American Constitution
  3. Method of election of the President - Irish Constitution
  4. Joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament - South African Constitution

  1. Only 3

  2. Only 1 and 3

  3. Only 1, 2 and 3

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The correct list of provisions of the Indian Constitution and their sources is:

  1. Public Service Commission   -  Government of India Act 1935
  2. Procedure for amendment to the Constitution  -  South African Constitution
  3. Method of election of the President  -  Irish Constitution
  4. Joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament  -  Australian Constitution
Multiple choice

Which of the following Articles of the constitution of India provide for circumstances under which parliament has power to make a law on any subject enumerated in the state list?

  1. 249, 250, 252 and 253

  2. 248, 249, 250 and 252

  3. 249, 250, 251 and 252

  4. 245, 246, 248 and 249
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Article 249 empowers Parliament to legislate on State matters in national interest (Rajya Sabha resolution). Article 252 allows Parliament to legislate on State subjects with State consent. Article 253 covers international agreements. Article 248 (Residuary powers) gives Parliament authority over matters not in State/Union lists. Together with Articles 245-246 (territorial extent and subject distribution), these create Parliament's power to enter State domain under specific circumstances.

Multiple choice

In which of the following case the Supreme Court held that allowing medical examination of a woman to prove her virginity, amounts to violation of her right to privacy, guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution?

  1. Surjeet Singh Thind Vs. Kanwaijit Kaur

  2. Phillipa Anne Vs. State of Tamil Nadu State

  3. Hameeda Sarfaraj Vs. M.S. Kashekar

  4. Kavita Vs. State of Maharashtra
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In Surjeet Singh Thind v. Kanwaijit Kaur (2019), the Supreme Court held that subjecting a woman to a virginity test without consent violates her right to privacy under Article 21 and right to dignity under Article 14. The court ruled such tests are unconstitutional and invasive, reinforcing that a woman's virtue cannot be tested through medical examination. This judgment strengthened protection of women's bodily autonomy and privacy rights.

Multiple choice

The Supreme Court ot India gave direction to the fact that the marriages of all persons. citizen ot India, belonging to various religions should be made compulsorily registerable in those respective States where marriage is solemnized. These directions were issued in which of the following cases?

  1. R.D. Upadhyay Vs. State of A.P.

  2. Shastri Vs. Muldas

  3. Seema Vs. Ashwani kumar

  4. Kailash Sarkar Vs. Maya Devi
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

In Seema v. Ashwini Kumar (2006), the Supreme Court directed that all marriages (regardless of religion) must be made compulsorily registerable in the states where they are solemnized. This was a landmark directive to create a uniform marriage registration system across India.

Multiple choice

Reservation for the promotion of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are valid as it is provided in:

  1. The Constitution [Seventy-Seventh Amendment] Act

  2. The Constitution [Eighty-First Amendment] Act

  3. The constitution [Eighty-Fifth Amendment] Act

  4. The Constitution [Eighty-Seventh Amendment] Act
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The 81st Constitutional Amendment (2000) introduced Article 16(4A), which allows reservation in promotions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. This amendment validated reservations in promotions that had been challenged in court. The 77th, 85th, and 87th Amendments dealt with other matters (like reservation for economically weaker sections or other constitutional provisions).

Multiple choice

The Supreme Court of India for the first time struck down the 'Carry forward Rule' as unconstitutional in the following case

  1. Balaji Vs. State of Mysore

  2. Rangachari Vs. General Manager, Southern Railway

  3. Ashok Kumar Thakur Vs. State of Bihar

  4. Devadasan Vs. Union of India
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Devadasan v. Union of India (1994) is the landmark case where the Supreme Court struck down the 'carry forward rule' as unconstitutional, holding that it violated Article 16(4) of the Constitution by treating backward classes more favorably than Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The Court ruled that carry forward of reserved vacancies beyond 50% would be unconstitutional. Balaji v. State of Mysore earlier affirmed caste-based classification but did not address carry forward. Ashok Kumar Thakur dealt with the creamy layer concept in OBC reservations.

Multiple choice

Justice J.S. Verm&s Committee Report relates to:

  1. Effectuation of fundamental duties

  2. Duty to vote in election

  3. Freedom of religion

  4. National Judicial Commission
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Justice J.S. Verma Committee Report (1999) was constituted to operationalize Fundamental Duties in Part IVA of the Constitution. The committee recommended various measures including making citizens aware of their duties, incorporating fundamental duties in educational curriculum, and ensuring their enforcement. It did not relate to duty to vote, freedom of religion, or National Judicial Commission. The committee's work specifically focused on effectuation of the ten fundamental duties added by the 42nd Amendment.

Multiple choice

Which one of the following is the correct statement? Full Faith and Credit' clause of the constitution does not apply to:

  1. Public records

  2. Judicial proceedings

  3. Acts of Corporation

  4. Public acts
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Option C is correct. The Full Faith and Credit clause (Article 261 in India) applies to public acts, judicial proceedings, and public records. It requires states to give recognition to these from other states. 'Acts of Corporation' refers to acts of private corporate bodies, which are not covered by this constitutional provision meant for inter-governmental comity.

Multiple choice

Which one of the following is the correct statement? 'Full Faith and Credit' clause of the constitution does not apply to:

  1. Public records

  2. Judicial proceedings

  3. Acts of Corporation

  4. Public acts
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Full Faith and Credit Clause applies to public acts, public records, and judicial proceedings but does not apply to acts of corporations or private entities. This constitutional provision ensures that states recognize and enforce the official acts, records, and court decisions of other states. Corporate acts fall outside this interstate comity requirement.