Civics Polity · General Awareness

Constitutions and Law

2,792 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

By which Constitutional Amendment, Article 51-A (K) which provides for the eleventh duty of a citizen was added?

  1. The Constitution [Ninety—Third Amendment] Act

  2. The Constitution [Ninety-Third Amendment] Act

  3. The Constitution [Eighty sixth Amendment] Act

  4. The Constitution [Eighty Fourth Amendment] Act
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The 86th Constitutional Amendment Act (2002) added Article 51-A(k) as the eleventh fundamental duty. This duty imposes a responsibility on parents and guardians to provide education opportunities to their children aged 6-14 years. The amendment also made free and compulsory education a fundamental right under Article 21-A.

Multiple choice

In which of the following case the Supreme Court held that, 'if a body is an agency or instrumentality of Government it may be an authority under Article 12' 7

  1. Ujjambai Vs. State of Uttar Pradesh

  2. Ramana Dayaram Shetty Vs. The International Airport Authority of India

  3. Electricity Board, Rajasthan Vs. Mohanlal

  4. P.D. Shamdasaru Vs. Central Bank of India
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In Ramana Dayaram Shetty v. International Airport Authority of India, the Supreme Court held that bodies which are agencies or instrumentalities of government can be considered 'authorities' under Article 12 of the Constitution, making them subject to fundamental rights writ jurisdiction. This case established the test for determining when a body qualifies as a state instrumentality.

Multiple choice

In which of the following cases the Supreme Court heid that allowing medical examination of women to prove her virginity amounts to violation of her right to privacy guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution?

  1. Prabha Dutt Vs. Union of India

  2. Surjeet Singh Thind Vs. Kanwaljit Kaur

  3. Kamla Devi Vs. State of Punjab

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

In P. Nulla Thampi v. Union of India, the Supreme Court held that subjecting a woman to a virginity test to prove her character amounted to violation of her right to privacy under Article 21. The Court ruled that such tests are unconstitutional as they violate a woman's bodily integrity, privacy, and dignity. This case established important protections for women's rights against invasive medical procedures used for moral policing.

Multiple choice

“Constitution is both a matter of fact and a matter of law”. Who is the author of it?

  1. A.V. Dicey

  2. John Austin

  3. Salmund

  4. Hans Kelsen
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A.V. Dicey, the influential British constitutional theorist, articulated this dual character of constitutions in his work 'Introduction to the Study of the Law of the Constitution'. By 'matter of fact', Dicey meant the actual political practices and conventions that operate in practice, while 'matter of law' refers to the formal legal rules and judicially enforceable provisions. This distinction between 'constitutional conventions' (political facts) and 'constitutional law' (legal rules) is central to Dicey's framework.

Multiple choice

“Secularism as the basic structure of the constitution has been held to be so on the basis of more than 50 years' experience of the working of the constitution. The complete apathy for all kinds of religious teachings in institutions of the State have not helped in removing mutual misunderstanding and intolerance inter se between sections of the people of different religious faith and beliefs.” This was stated by the Supreme Court of India in:

  1. Aruna Roy Vs. Union of India

  2. Arunditi Roy Vs. Union of India

  3. P.A. Inamdar Vs. State of Maharashira

  4. Unni Krishnan Vs. State of A.P.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This statement about secularism as the basic structure of the Constitution was made by the Supreme Court of India in Aruna Roy Vs. Union of India (2002). In this case, the Court was examining the constitutional validity of the National Curriculum Framework for School Education. The Court observed that complete secularism requires the state to be neutral in matters of religion, and that the working experience of the Constitution for over 50 years demonstrated that secularism is indeed part of the basic structure. The reference to 'complete apathy for all kinds of religious teachings' reflects the Court's analysis of the secularism debate in educational institutions.

Multiple choice

Mere possibility of abuse or misuse of POTA cannot be a ground to declare it unconstitutiona. Need of POTA is a matter of policy of the government and it cannot be examined by the court. The supreme court of India SO held in

  1. People's union for Civil liberties Vs. Union of India

  2. Narendra Kumar Vs. Union of India

  3. K.S. Bhoir Vs. State of Maharashtra

  4. A.K. Sen Vs. Union of India
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In People's Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India (2004), the Supreme Court upheld POTA's constitutional validity, stating that mere possibility of abuse cannot invalidate a law and that preventive policy decisions are for the government, not courts. The Court rejected the challenge to POTA on these grounds.

Multiple choice

The Indian constitution opted for a federation and consequently the responsibilities and duties were divided among three levels of the government. Which of the following subjects come(s) in the Union List?

  1. Post and Telegraph
  2. Public Health
  3. Agriculture
  4. Police

  1. Only 1 and 2

  2. Only 1

  3. Only 1, 2 and 3

  4. Only 1 and 4
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Public Health, Agriculture and Police are the subjects that come under the State List. It should be noted that the Centre is only responsible for the recruitment of police (through UPSC), not for its maintenance.

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.