Constitutions and Law

Article 370 of the Indian Constitution granted special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir. It allowed J&K to have its own constitution and flag, and restricted Parliament's legislative power over the state. It was abrogated in August 2019. Nagaland, Bihar, and Orissa have/had different special provisions.

The ninety-second amendment of the Constitution of India, officially known as The Constitution (Ninety-second Amendment) Act, 2003, amended the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution so as to include Bodo, Dogri, Santhali and Maithali languages, thereby raising the total number of languages listed in the schedule to 22.

The Planning Commission was established by a government resolution in 1950, not by the Constitution. It was an extra-constitutional body and has been replaced by NITI Aayog. The other three (Election Commission, Finance Commission, UPSC) are explicitly established by the Constitution.

WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens: JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation; IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty sixth day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.

Correct Answer: Planning Commission Authority for creation of the Planning Commission was not derived from the Constitution of India or statute; it is an arm of the Central Government of India.

The Basic Structure doctrine was established by the Supreme Court in Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973). This landmark judgment held that while Parliament has wide powers to amend the Constitution, it cannot alter its basic features. Golak Nath (1967) earlier held that fundamental rights cannot be amended, but this was overruled by Kesavananda Bharati.

The Indian Constitution is republican because it provides for an elected President. Also it is a parliamentary form of government.

The preamble to India's Constitution declares that 'We the People of India' give unto themselves this Constitution, establishing the people as the chief source of political power.

The Indian Constitution followed the Canadian precedent in vesting residuary powers in the Union (Central government). Unlike the US Constitution where residuary powers remain with the states, India adopted the Canadian model where powers not specifically assigned to states belong to the Centre.

Articles 29 and 30 of the Constitution deal with cultural and educational rights. Article 29 protects minorities' language, script, and culture, while Article 30 gives minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions. The other options are incorrect pairings.

India borrowed the concept of federation from the Canadian Constitution. The Canadian federal model with a strong centre influenced India's constitutional framers. Australia, Ireland, and Germany contributed other provisions but not the federal structure.

Correct answer is (4). 

The Indian Constitution is organized into 22 parts covering different branches of governance and rights. Originally, it had 22 parts, but after reorganization, Parts IVA (Fundamental Duties) and XIV-A (Tribunals) were added while keeping the total at 22. These parts range from the Union and Territory (Part I) to Miscellaneous (Part XXII).

The Constitution describes India as a 'Union of States' and contains federal features like division of powers, independent judiciary, and bicameral legislature. However, it also has strong unitary features such as a single constitution, single citizenship, integrated judiciary, and the power to create a unitary system during emergencies. Dr. Ambedkar famously described it as 'federal in form but unitary in spirit.'