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 legal studies the state judiciary : the high courts high court judiciary of the state the high courts

Choose the correct answer form the alternatives given.
The special reservation of 4% in favour of Muslims was struck down as unconstitutional by _______________.

  1. High Court of Madras

  2. High Court of Andhra Pradesh

  3. High Court of Delhi

  4. High Court of Kerala
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Supreme Court restored the Andhra Pradesh law providing 4% exclusive quota in jobs and educational institutions for backward groups among Muslims. The interim order passed by SC revived the law which was struck down as unconstitutional by a seven-judge bench of the Andhra high court on the 9ground that it violated the constitutional provision forbidding faith-based quota. 

Multiple choice legal studies the state judiciary : the high courts high court judiciary of the state the high courts

Operations of the High Court comes under which Article of the Constitution of India?

  1. Article 212

  2. Article 213

  3. Article 214

  4. Article 215
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

According to the Article 214 every State has a High Court operating within its territorial jurisdiction. Parliament has the power to establish a common High Court for two or more States. For example, Punjab and Haryana have a common High Court.

Multiple choice legal studies the state judiciary : the high courts high court judiciary of the state the high courts

The Constitution gives the powers of superintendence over all subordinate courts to the High Courts under Article _____________.

  1. 226

  2. 227

  3. 228

  4. 229
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Under Article 227 it is specifically provided that the High Court has the power of superintendence over all the courts and tribunals throughout its jurisdictional territory, except military tribunals. 
This power of supervision is a very wide power as it extends to all courts as well as tribunals within the State, whether such court or tribunal is subject to the appellate jurisdiction of High Court or not.
Multiple choice legal studies the state judiciary : the high courts high court judiciary of the state the high courts

Pre-constitution __________ decisions are binding on the __________ unless overruled by the _________.

  1. Supreme Court; Privy Council; High Court

  2. High Court; Privy Council; Supreme Court

  3. Privy Council; High Court; Supreme Court

  4. High Court; Supreme Court; Privy Council
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Privy Council was the highest appellate authority of British India for matters arising out of the ordinary law. After the post-independence, the Privy Council was abolished. The Indian constituent assembly passed the abolition of Privy Council Jurisdiction Act 1949 to abolish the jurisdiction of Privy Council in respect of appeals from India and also to provide for pending appeals.  The Supreme court has inherited the jurisdiction of the Privy Council after its abolition. The jurisdiction of the Supreme court under the present constitution is much more extensive than that of the Federal Court and the Privy Council. The Supreme Court is a court of record and can review its own decision. Pre-Constitution Privy Council decisions are binding on the High Court unless it is overruled by the Supreme Court. Supreme Court has the power to overrule the Privy Council decisions and after overruling the decision and not binding.

Multiple choice social studies directive principles of state policy and fundamental duties directive principles and fundamental duties fundamental duties fundamental duties and directive principles

The total number of Fundamental Duties mentioned in the Constitution is __________.

  1. 9

  2. 10

  3. 11

  4. 12
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
Option C is the correct answer. The Fundamental Duties are defined as the moral obligations of all citizens to help promote a spirit of patriotism and to uphold the unity of India. These were incorporated in the constitution by the 42nd Amendment Act. Fundamental duties are not enforceable by courts. 
Eleven fundamental duties for citizens are:
1. To abide by and respect the constitution, the national flag, and national anthem.
2. To cherish and follow the noble ideas of the freedom struggle.
3. To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.
4. To defend the country and render national service when required.
5. To promote common brotherhood and establish dignity of women.
6. To preserve the rich heritage of nation's composite culture.
7. To protect and improve the natural environment.
8. To develop scientific temper, humanism, and spirit of inquiry.
9. To safeguard public property and abjure violence.
10. To strive for excellence in all sphere of individual and collective activity.
11. To provide opportunities for education to his child or ward between the age of six and fourteen years. (This duty was added by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002)
Multiple choice social studies directive principles of state policy and fundamental duties directive principles and fundamental duties fundamental duties fundamental duties and directive principles

Directive Principles of State Policy were incorporated in the Constitution _________________.

  1. To establish a socialistic welfare state

  2. To ensure freedom to the citizens from an excess of governance

  3. To make India a secular and democratic state

  4. To give directions to the citizens in performing their duties
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Directive Principles are the guidelines to be followed by the government in the governance of the country. These principles give directions and instructions to legislators and government authorities to keep them in mind while making or implementing policies. They are called Directive Principles because the government has to keep these in mind while making laws.

Multiple choice social studies directive principles of state policy and fundamental duties directive principles and fundamental duties fundamental duties fundamental duties and directive principles

In the Indian Constitution developing of the scientific temper and attitude of humanism forms part of the _____________.

  1. Preamble

  2. Fundamental Rights

  3. Directive principles of State Policy

  4. Fundamental Duties
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

"To develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform" is one of the fundamental duties of the people of the Republic of India, according to the Constitution of India.

Multiple choice social studies directive principles of state policy and fundamental duties directive principles and fundamental duties fundamental duties fundamental duties and directive principles

Which one is not a national duty?

  1. Respect the Constitution

  2. Respect the President

  3. Defend the country

  4. Protect natural environment
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Fundamental Duties or National Duties of citizens were added to the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, upon the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee that was constituted by the government earlier that year. It shall be the duty of every citizen of India :

  1. To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem.
  2. To cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom.
  3. To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.
  4. To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so.
  5. To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities and to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women.
  6. To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture and  to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures.
  7. To develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.
  8. To safeguard public property and to abjure violence.
  9. To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement.

Multiple choice social studies directive principles of state policy and fundamental duties directive principles and fundamental duties fundamental duties fundamental duties and directive principles

Fundamental Duties are _________.

  1. Not provided in our Constitution

  2. Passed by a separate law of the parliament

  3. Provided by the 42nd Constitution amendment Act October, 1976

  4. Left to the President of India to be proclaimed during an emergency
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Fundamental Duties of citizens were added to the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, upon the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee that was constituted by the Government of India earlier that year to study the question of amending the Constitution. The recommendations were passed in 1976 and came into effect on 3rd January,

  1. Originally ten in number, the Fundamental Duties were increased to eleven by the 86th Amendment in 2002.
Multiple choice social studies directive principles of state policy and fundamental duties directive principles and fundamental duties fundamental duties fundamental duties and directive principles

Which of the following Constitutional amendment Acts added Fundamental Duties to the Chapter of Fundamental Right ?

  1. Thirty eighth Amendment

  2. Forty first Amendment

  3. Forty second Amendment

  4. Forty fifth Amendment
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Fundamental Duties of citizens were added to the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, upon the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee that was constituted by the government earlier that year. Originally ten in number, the Fundamental Duties were increased to eleven by the 86th Amendment in 2002, which added a duty on every parent or guardian to ensure that their child or ward was provided opportunities for education between the ages of six and fourteen years.

Multiple choice social studies directive principles of state policy and fundamental duties directive principles and fundamental duties fundamental duties fundamental duties and directive principles

Which of the following has been borrowed from Ireland by the framers of the Indian constitution ?

  1. Preamble

  2. Nomination of the members of Rajya Sabha

  3. Directive principles of state policy

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

India borrowed the Directive Principles of State Policy from Irish Constitution of 1937 which itself had borrowed it from Spanish Constitution. Further, the Government of India Act had some instruments of Instructions which became the immediate source of Directive Principles of State Policy.

Directive Principles of State Policies are not enforceable in a court of law. They were made non-justifiable keeping in view that the state may not have resources to implement them.

Multiple choice social studies directive principles of state policy and fundamental duties directive principles and fundamental duties fundamental duties fundamental duties and directive principles

The Fundamental Duties of Indian citizens have been __________.

  1. Originally provided by the Constitution

  2. Included in the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment

  3. Inserted into the Constitution by a Judgment of Supreme Court

  4. None ofthe above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Fundamental Duties of Indian citizens have been included in the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment. The 42nd Amendment of the Constitution of India, officially known as the Constitution Act, 1976, was enacted during the Emergency by the Indian national Congress government headed by Indira Gandhi.

Multiple choice social studies directive principles of state policy and fundamental duties directive principles and fundamental duties fundamental duties fundamental duties and directive principles

Directive Principles of State Policy are enshrined in the Constitution of India in _________.

  1. Part I

  2. Part III

  3. Part IV

  4. Part IV 'A'
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Directive Principles of State Policy are the guidelines or principles given to the federal institutes governing the state of India, to be kept in citation while framing laws and policies. These provisions, contained in Part IV of the Constitution of India, are not enforceable by any court, but the principles laid down therein are considered irrefutable in the governance of the country, making it the duty of the State to apply these principles in making laws to establish a just society in the country.

Multiple choice social studies directive principles of state policy and fundamental duties directive principles and fundamental duties fundamental duties fundamental duties and directive principles

The Fundamental Duties are listed under _________.

  1. Part III, Article 32

  2. Part IV, Article 40

  3. Part IV, Article 51(A)

  4. Part V, Article 50
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Fundamental Duties were not originally present in the Indian Constitution. 10 of them were added by 42nd CAA and 1 more was added by the 86th CAA. they are moral obligations placed on the citizens but are non-justiciable in nature. They are listed under Part IV, Article 51(A) of the Indian Constitution.

Multiple choice social studies directive principles of state policy and fundamental duties directive principles and fundamental duties fundamental duties fundamental duties and directive principles

Which one of the following was originally not there in the Constitution?

  1. Fundamental Rights

  2. Fundamental Duties

  3. Directive Principles of State Policy

  4. Preamble
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Originally, the Constitution had Fundamental Rights (Part III) Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV). 10 fundamental duties were added by the 42nd Amendment act of 1976 and 1 more was added by the 86th CAA. These are moral obligations on the citizens of the country and are non-justiciable. As of now, there are 11 fundamental duties included in Part IV(A) of the Indian Constitution.