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

In view of the recent amendment, which of the following is/are no longer the ground(s) for voidable marriage?

  1. Schizophrenia

  2. Epilepsy

  3. Impotency

  4. Concealment of pre-marriage pregnancy

  5. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Epilepsy is a group of neurological diseases. The word “epilepsy” has been removed by the 2009 amendment for declaring the marriage void. So, now there exists no ground for declaring a marriage void that a party is suffering from recurrent attacks of insanity.

Multiple choice

Which of the following pairs of 'feature - its source' is wrongly matched?

  1. Judicial Review – British Constitution

  2. Concurrent List – Australian Constitution

  3. Directive Principles – Irish Constitution

  4. Fundamental Rights – US Constitution
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The question asks for the WRONGLY matched pair. Judicial Review was actually borrowed from the US Constitution (Marbury v. Madison case), not the British Constitution. The UK follows parliamentary sovereignty and lacks formal judicial review of constitutional validity. The other matches are correct: Concurrent List from Australian Constitution, Directive Principles from Irish Constitution, and Fundamental Rights from US Constitution.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct in relation to the Preamble?

  1. It is not enforceable in a court of law.

  2. The Supreme Court has ruled out that it is not a part of the Constitution.

  3. It has been amended twice.

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

The Preamble is non-justiciable and not enforceable in courts (Option A is correct). However, Option B is wrong - the Supreme Court has ruled that the Preamble IS part of the Constitution (Kesavananda Bharati case). Option C is also incorrect - the Preamble has been amended only once (42nd Amendment, 1976) to add 'socialist', 'secular', and 'integrity'. Option D 'All of these' cannot be correct when B and C are wrong.

Multiple choice

In which of the following cases did the Supreme Court give a ruling that the Preamble was not a part of the constitution?

  1. Golaknath Case

  2. Berubari Case

  3. Kesavananda Bharati Case

  4. Minerva Mills Case
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In the Berubari Union case (1960), the Supreme Court initially ruled that the Preamble was not part of the Constitution. This view was later overturned in the landmark Kesavananda Bharati case (1973), where the Court held that the Preamble is an integral part of the Constitution. Golaknath dealt with fundamental rights and amendment power, while Minerva Mills dealt with judicial review of constitutional amendments.

Multiple choice

Which of the following emerges clearly from the Preamble?

(A) When the Constitution was enacted (B) The ideals that were to be achieved (C) The system of Government (D) The source of authority

  1. Only (B), (C) and (D)

  2. Only (A) and (B)

  3. Only (A), (B) and (C)

  4. All of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Preamble reveals: (A) when enacted (November 26, 1949), (B) ideals to achieve (justice, liberty, equality, fraternity), (C) system of government (democratic, republic), and (D) source of authority (We the People of India). All four elements emerge clearly from the Preamble text. It is a comprehensive declaration of the Constitution's philosophy, source, and basic features.

Multiple choice

The basic aims and objectives of the Indian Constitution are discussed

  1. in the Preamble

  2. in part III of the Indian Constitution

  3. in part IV of the Indian Constitution

  4. nowhere specifically
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Preamble contains the basic aims and objectives of the Indian Constitution - justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity. It is the philosophy and soul of the Constitution. Part III contains Fundamental Rights (justiciable), Part IV contains Directive Principles (non-justiciable guidelines). The Preamble stands apart as the ideological foundation, explaining the Constitution's purpose.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a constitutional body?

  1. Election Commission

  2. Finance Commission

  3. Planning Commission

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

Constitutional bodies are established by the Constitution itself. The Planning Commission (now NITI Aayog) was created by an executive resolution and is NOT mentioned in the Constitution. Election Commission, Finance Commission, and UPSC are all explicitly established by constitutional provisions.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is incorrect in relation to the Finance Commission of India?

  1. The Finance Commission of India came into existence in 1950.

  2. It is established under Article 280 of the Indian Constitution.

  3. It is established by the President of India.

  4. As per the Constitution, the commission is appointed every five years and consists of a chairman and four other members.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Finance Commission of India came into existence in 1951.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is incorrect?

  1. The Directive Principles are non-justiciable in nature.

  2. They act as a check on the government.

  3. Article 31-C, inserted by the 25th Amendment Act of 1971, seeks to upgrade the Directive Principles.

  4. All of these statements are correct.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

All three statements about Directive Principles are correct: they are non-justiciable, they act as a check on government, and Article 31-C did seek to upgrade DPSPs (though this was partially struck down by the Supreme Court). Therefore, 'All of these statements are correct' is the right answer.

Multiple choice

What is the source of Fundamental Duties in the Indian Constitution?

  1. The US Constitution

  2. The Russian Constitution

  3. The Weimar Constitution of Germany

  4. The Constitution of Ireland
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Fundamental Duties were added to the Indian Constitution by the 42nd Amendment Act in 1976, drawing inspiration from the Russian Constitution (then USSR). They are enumerated in Article 51A. The US Constitution influenced the Fundamental Rights, not duties. The Weimar Constitution influenced emergency provisions, and Ireland influenced the Directive Principles.

Multiple choice

Amendments in Directive Principles require a

  1. simple majority

  2. absolute majority

  3. special majority

  4. special majority along with approval by one-third of the states
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Changes in Directive Principles require a Constitutional amendment, which has to be passed by a special majority of both houses of the Parliament. This means that an amendment requires the approval of two-thirds of the members present and voting.