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4. Constitution Basics & Preamble
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1. The term 'constitution' is derived from which Latin word?
2. Which political scientist defined the constitution as "that body of rules or laws which determine the organization of government, the distribution of powers to the various organs of government, and the general principles on which these powers are to be exercised"?
3. Who defined the constitution as "the fundamental principles that determine the form of a state"?
4. Which scholar described the constitution as describing "the whole system of government of a country, the collection of rules which establish and regulate or govern the government"?
5. Wade and Phillips defined a constitution as a document possessing which special characteristic?
6. Which constitutional scholar identified a comprehensive list of the functions (or purposes) of a constitution?
7. According to Elliot Bulmer, which of the following is NOT one of the functions of a constitution?
8. Which of the following is NOT among the functions of a constitution as identified by Elliot Bulmer?
9. As per Elliot Bulmer's list, a constitution can declare the state's official identity in relation to which domain?
10. Consider the following statements regarding how the constitution is described:
(I) It is described as the 'fundamental law of the land'
(II) It is described as the 'grundnorm of the country'
(III) It is described as the 'instrument of the judiciary'
Which of the above is/are correct?
11. Which of the following are recognized qualities of a good constitution?
12. Constitutions are classified into which two types on the basis of evolution?
13. An evolved constitution, formed through conventions, practices, and judicial decisions over time, is also known as a:
14. Which constitution is cited as a good example of an evolved constitution?
15. An enacted constitution, deliberately made by a constituent assembly or promulgated by a king or parliament, is also known as a:
16. Constitutions are classified into which two types on the basis of incorporation of provisions?
17. A written constitution, consciously formulated and adopted by a constituent assembly, is also known as a:
18. An unwritten constitution, found in the form of conventions, practices, charters, and judicial decisions, is also known as a:
19. Consider the following statements regarding written constitutions:
(I) The distinction between a written and unwritten constitution is more or less the same as between an evolved and enacted constitution
(II) The USA, Canada, Japan, France and India are examples of written constitutions
(III) The UK, New Zealand and Israel are examples of written constitutions
Which of the above is/are correct?
20. Who classified constitutions into rigid and flexible, based on the method of amendment?
21. A rigid constitution is one which:
22. A flexible constitution, which can be amended in the same manner as ordinary laws, is also known as a:
23. Which country is cited as an example of a rigid (inelastic) constitution?
24. With reference to the nature of the Indian Constitution regarding rigidity and flexibility, which of the following statements is/are correct?
(I) The Indian Constitution is purely rigid
(II) The Indian Constitution is purely flexible
(III) The Indian Constitution is a synthesis of both rigid and flexible elements
Which of the above is/are correct?
25. Constitutions are classified into which two types on the basis of Centre-region relations?
26. A federal constitution is one which:
27. In a unitary constitution, the regional governments operate as:
28. Which country is cited as an example of a federal constitution?
29. Which scholar described the Constitution of India as 'quasi-federal'?
30. Elliot Bulmer classified constitutions into which two broad archetypes?
31. A procedural constitution primarily defines:
32. A prescriptive constitution, in addition to describing how the government functions, attempts to impose:
33. With reference to the difference between constitution and constitutionalism, consider the following statements:
(I) A country may have a constitution but not constitutionalism, as in the case of a dictatorship
(II) Constitutionalism connotes limited government and is the antithesis of arbitrary powers
(III) Constitutionalism is achieved merely by having a written constitutional document, regardless of restraints on power
Which of the above is/are correct?
34. Constitutionalism is best described as:
35. Constitutional government, as a concept, necessarily requires the government to be:
36. The real justification of a constitution, as per the concept of constitutionalism, lies in requiring those who govern to:
37. Which scholar defined constitutionalism as providing "a system of effective restraints upon governmental action... rendering the government responsible"?
38. Which scholar defined constitutionalism as "essentially limited government" and "the antithesis of government by the unrestrained will of rulers"?
39. Which scholar stated that "constitutional government means something more than a government according to the terms of a constitution," distinguishing it from government limited only by the desires and capacities of rulers?
40. Which scholar defined constitutional government as one where "the rulers are subject to a body of rules and principles, which limit the exercise of their power," describing it as the antithesis of arbitrary rule?
41. With reference to definitions of constitutionalism, consider the following pairs:
(I) Friedrich – System of effective restraints upon governmental action
(II) Roucek – Essentially limited government
(III) Ybema – Antithesis of arbitrary rule
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
42. Which scholar identified eight elements (features or principles) of constitutionalism?
43. Consider the following statements regarding elements of constitutionalism identified by Louis Henkin:
(I) Popular sovereignty
(II) Separation of powers (checks and balances)
(III) Centralised control of the police by the executive without judicial oversight
Which of the above is/are correct?
44. Which of the following is NOT among Louis Henkin's eight elements of constitutionalism?
45. Under Louis Henkin's elements of constitutionalism, control over the military should rest with:
46. With reference to Louis Henkin's eight elements of constitutionalism, which of the following is/are correctly included?
(I) Democratic government (responsible and accountable government)
(II) Respect for individual rights
(III) An independent judiciary
Which of the above is/are correct?
47. Which amendment is popularly known as the 'Mini-Constitution'?
48. In which landmark case did the Supreme Court rule that the constituent power of Parliament under Article 368 does not enable it to alter the 'basic structure' of the Constitution?
49. Consider the following statements regarding amendments that have substantially changed the original Constitution:
(I) The 7th Amendment substantially altered original features
(II) The 97th Amendment substantially altered original features
(III) The 101st Amendment substantially altered original features
Which of the above is/are correct?
50. On the basis of length, the Constitution of India is classified as which type?
51. As originally adopted in 1949, how many Articles and Parts did the Constitution contain?
52. As originally adopted in 1949, how many Schedules did the Constitution contain?
53. Presently, the Constitution of India has about how many Articles and Parts?
54. Presently, how many Schedules does the Constitution have?
55. Which Part of the Constitution has been completely deleted through amendments since 1951?
56. Which of the following is among the four factors identified for the elephantine size of the Indian Constitution?
57. Till 2019, J&K's special status was under which Article of the Constitution?
58. J&K's special status was abolished in 2019 through a presidential order officially known as:
59. The J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019 bifurcated J&K into which two Union territories?
60. Who acclaimed that the Constitution was framed after 'ransacking all the known Constitutions of the World'?
61. With reference to the sources of different parts of the Indian Constitution, consider the following pairs:
(I) Structural part – Government of India Act of 1935
(II) Philosophical part – American and Irish Constitutions respectively
(III) Political part – British Constitution
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
62. Which source is the most profound influence and material source of the Indian Constitution?
63. Constitutions are classified into rigid and flexible on the basis of which criterion?
64. Which country is cited as an example of a rigid constitution requiring a special amendment procedure?
65. As per Article 368, some provisions of the Indian Constitution can be amended by a special majority of Parliament along with which additional requirement?
66. Which type of Constitutional amendment under Article 368 requires a two-third majority of members present and voting, along with a majority of the total membership of each House?
67. The Constitution of India establishes which system of government based on the relationship between the national and regional governments?
68. Consider the following statements regarding the usual features of a federation present in the Indian Constitution:
(I) Two governments (Centre and states)
(II) Division of powers between Centre and states
(III) Single citizenship for all persons
Which of the above is/are correct?
69. Which of the following is a unitary (non-federal) feature found in the Indian Constitution?
70. Which Article uses the term 'Union of States' instead of 'Federation' for India?
71. Article 1 of the Constitution describes India as a:
72. With reference to the implications of describing India as a 'Union of States' under Article 1, consider the following statements:
(I) The Indian Federation is not the result of an agreement by the states
(II) No state has the right to secede from the federation
(III) States retain the right to secede through a two-third majority resolution
Which of the above is/are correct?
73. Which scholar described the Constitution of India as 'quasi-federal'?
74. Which scholar described the Indian Constitution as embodying 'bargaining federalism'?
75. With reference to scholarly descriptions of the nature of the Indian Constitution, consider the following pairs:
(I) Granville Austin – Co-operative federalism
(II) Ivor Jennings – Federation with a centralising tendency
(III) K.C. Wheare – Bargaining federalism
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
76. India adopted the British Parliamentary System rather than which alternative system?
77. The parliamentary system is based on which principle governing legislature-executive relations?
78. The parliamentary system of government is also known by which name?
79. Consider the following statements regarding the features of parliamentary government in India:
(I) Presence of nominal and real executives
(II) Membership of ministers in the legislature
(III) Fixed tenure of the lower House with no provision for dissolution
Which of the above is/are correct?
80. Which of the following is a fundamental difference between the Indian and British parliamentary systems?
81. With reference to differences between the Indian and British states, which of the following is correct regarding their heads of state?
82. In a parliamentary system, whether in India or Britain, the significant and crucial role of which office has led political scientists to call it a 'Prime Ministerial Government'?
83. The doctrine of sovereignty of Parliament is associated with which country's Parliament?
84. The principle of judicial supremacy is associated with which body?
85. The scope of judicial review power of the Supreme Court in India is narrower than that in the US mainly because of the difference between which two constitutional standards?
86. 'Procedure established by law' is contained in which Article?
87. The framers of the Indian Constitution preferred a synthesis between which two principles?
88. Under the synthesis of parliamentary sovereignty and judicial supremacy in India, which power allows the Supreme Court to declare parliamentary laws unconstitutional?
89. The Indian judicial system is best described as:
90. Unlike in the USA, where separate federal and state judiciaries enforce central and state laws respectively, the Indian judicial system enforces both central and state laws through:
91. Consider the following statements regarding provisions ensuring the independence of the Supreme Court:
(I) Security of tenure of the judges
(II) All expenses of the Supreme Court charged on the Consolidated Fund of India
(III) Unrestricted power of the legislature to discuss the conduct of judges
Which of the above is/are correct?
92. Part III of the Constitution presently guarantees how many fundamental rights?
93. Which Articles deal with the Right to Equality?
94. Which Articles deal with the Right to Freedom?
95. Which Articles deal with the Right against Exploitation?
96. Which Articles deal with the Right to Freedom of Religion?
97. Which Article deals with the Right to Constitutional Remedies?
98. Originally, the Constitution provided for how many Fundamental Rights?
99. Which Fundamental Right was deleted by the 44th Amendment Act of 1978?
100. After deletion from Part III, the Right to Property became a legal right under which Article?
101. Consider the following statements regarding the nature of Fundamental Rights:
(I) They are justiciable, that is, enforceable by the courts for their violation
(II) They are absolute and admit of no restrictions whatsoever
(III) They can be curtailed or repealed by Parliament through a Constitutional Amendment Act
Which of the above is/are correct?
102. During the operation of a National Emergency, Fundamental Rights can be suspended except those guaranteed under which Articles?
103. An aggrieved person whose fundamental rights are violated can directly approach the Supreme Court, which can issue writs for the restoration of rights. Which of the following is NOT one of these writs?
104. According to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the Directive Principles of State Policy represent which kind of feature of the Indian Constitution?
105. The Directive Principles of State Policy are enumerated in which Part of the Constitution?
106. The Directive Principles of State Policy can be classified into three broad categories. Which of the following is NOT one of them?
107. Unlike the Fundamental Rights, the Directive Principles of State Policy are:
108. In which landmark case did the Supreme Court hold that 'the Indian Constitution is founded on the bedrock of the balance between the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles'?
109. The original Constitution of India, as adopted, did not provide for which of the following?
110. Fundamental Duties were added by which Amendment Act?
111. Like the Directive Principles of State Policy, the Fundamental Duties are:
112. The term 'secular' was added to the Preamble by which Amendment Act?
113. With reference to constitutional provisions revealing the secular character of the Indian State, consider the following pairs:
(I) Article 15 – State shall not discriminate against any citizen on the ground of religion
(II) Article 27 – No person shall be compelled to pay taxes for the promotion of a particular religion
(III) Article 44 – State shall endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
114. The Indian Constitution embodies which concept of secularism, as distinguished from the Western concept of a complete separation between religion and state?
115. The Constitution has abolished the old system of communal representation, which refers to:
116. Despite abolishing communal representation, the Constitution provides for the temporary reservation of seats for which groups to ensure adequate representation?
117. Universal adult franchise is the basis for elections to which bodies?
118. Under universal adult franchise, what is the minimum voting age?
119. The voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 by which Amendment Act?
120. Though the Indian Constitution is federal and envisages a dual polity, it provides for:
121. Unlike India, in countries like the USA, a person is a citizen of:
122. Which independent body ensures free and fair elections to Parliament, state legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice-President?
123. Which independent body audits Central and state government accounts?
124. Which independent body conducts examinations for All-India and higher Central services and advises the President on disciplinary matters?
125. How many types of emergencies does the Indian Constitution envisage?
126. National Emergency is dealt with under which Article?
127. State Emergency (President's Rule) for failure of constitutional machinery is dealt with under which Article?
128. Financial Emergency is dealt with under which Article?
129. President's Rule for failure to comply with Central directions can be imposed under which Article?
130. During the operation of an emergency, the political system of India undergoes a transformation from federal to which form, without any formal constitutional amendment?
131. Which Constitutional Amendment Acts added a third tier of local government to the Indian Constitution?
132. The 73rd Amendment Act of 1992 added which new Part and Schedule to the Constitution?
133. The 74th Amendment Act of 1992 added which new Part and Schedule to the Constitution?
134. Consider the following statements regarding the three-tier system of panchayati raj introduced by the 73rd Amendment Act:
(I) Panchayats exist at the village level
(II) Panchayats exist at the intermediate level
(III) Panchayats exist at the state level
Which of the above is/are correct?
135. Which type of urban local body, as introduced by the 74th Amendment Act, is meant for a transitional area?
136. Which Amendment Act gave constitutional status to co-operative societies?
137. Critics who argue that the Indian Constitution contains nothing new or original have described it using terms such as a 'bag of borrowings' or a:
138. Who chaired the Drafting Committee that answered the 'borrowed Constitution' criticism in the Assembly?
139. Critics who argued that the framers included a large number of provisions from the Government of India Act of 1935 described the Constitution as a:
140. Which British Constitutionalist observed that the Constitution "derives directly from the Government of India Act of 1935" and that many of its provisions are "copied almost textually"?
141. Which member of the Constituent Assembly commented that "the Constitution is essentially the Government of India Act of 1935 with only adult franchise added"?
142. Critics who argued that the Indian Constitution does not reflect the political traditions and spirit of India described it as:
143. Which member of the Constituent Assembly remarked, "We wanted the music of Veena or Sitar, but here we have the music of an English band"?
144. Which member of the Constituent Assembly criticized the Constitution as a "slavish imitation of the west, much more, a slavish surrender to the west"?
145. Critics who argued that the Constitution does not contain the philosophy and ideals of Mahatma Gandhi described it as:
146. Which member of the Constituent Assembly attributed the Constitution's lapse of Gandhian ideals to Dr. Ambedkar's non-participation in the Gandhian movement?
147. Critics who argued that the Constitution is too bulky, too detailed, and contains unnecessary elements described this criticism as one of:
148. Which member of the Constituent Assembly remarked that "the emblem and the crest that we have selected for our assembly is an elephant... our constitution too is the bulkiest that the world has produced"?
149. Critics who argued that the legal language and phraseology of the Constitution makes it a complex document, prone to encouraging litigation, described it as a:
150. Which British Constitutionalist, who also criticized the Constitution's elephantine size, called the Indian Constitution a "lawyer's paradise"?
151. Which member of the Constituent Assembly observed that the draft Constitution "tends to make people more litigious, more inclined to go to law courts" and called it "a lawyer's paradise"?
152. With reference to the grounds on which the Indian Constitution has been criticized, consider the following pairs:
(I) A Borrowed Constitution – contains nothing new or original
(II) Elephantine Size – too bulky and too detailed
(III) Paradise of the Lawyers – does not reflect Indian political traditions
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
153. Which country's Constitution was the first to begin with a Preamble?
154. Who called the Preamble the 'identity card of the Constitution'?
155. The Preamble to the Indian Constitution is based on which document?
156. Who drafted and moved the Objectives Resolution in the Constituent Assembly?
157. Which Amendment Act added three new words to the Preamble?
158. Consider the following statements regarding the three words added to the Preamble by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act:
(I) Socialist
(II) Secular
(III) Republic
Which of the above is/are correct?
159. As per the Preamble, on which date was the Constitution adopted, enacted and given to the people?
160. The Preamble reveals how many ingredients?
161. As per the ingredients of the Preamble, the Constitution derives its authority from which source?
162. Which of the following ingredients of the Preamble specifies justice, liberty, equality and fraternity?
163. The word 'sovereign' in the Preamble implies that India is:
164. India's continuation of full membership of the Commonwealth of Nations and acceptance of the British Crown as its head, declared in 1949, is best described as:
165. Being a sovereign state, India has the constitutional capacity to:
166. Even before the term 'socialist' was formally added to the Preamble, the Constitution already carried socialist content in the form of which provisions?
167. In which year and at which session did the Congress party adopt a resolution to establish a 'socialistic pattern of society'?
168. Consider the following statements regarding the nature of Indian socialism:
(I) It represents 'democratic socialism' rather than 'communistic socialism'
(II) It involves the nationalisation of all means of production and abolition of private property
(III) It holds faith in a 'mixed economy' where public and private sectors co-exist
Which of the above is/are correct?
169. Which 1991 economic policy is noted to have diluted the socialist credentials of the Indian State?
170. The term 'secular' was added to the Preamble by which Amendment Act?
171. In 1974, the Supreme Court observed that although the words 'secular state' were not expressly mentioned in the Constitution, the intent to establish such a state was reflected through which Articles?
172. The Indian Constitution embodies which concept of secularism, under which all religions in the country have the same status and support from the state?
173. On the basis of the state's attitude towards religion, a state that is anti-religion and condemns all religions is classified as:
174. A state that declares one particular religion as the state religion is classified as:
175. The term 'democratic' in the Preamble is based on which doctrine?
176. In which type of democracy do the people exercise their supreme power directly, as is the case in Switzerland?
177. Which of the following is NOT one of the four devices of direct democracy?
178. Which device of direct democracy refers to a procedure whereby a proposed legislation is referred to the electorate for settlement by their direct votes?
179. Which device of direct democracy allows people to propose a bill to the legislature for enactment?
180. Which device of direct democracy allows voters to remove a representative or officer before the expiry of their term for failing to discharge duties properly?
181. Which device of direct democracy is generally used to obtain the opinion of people on an issue of public importance, especially to solve territorial disputes?
182. Indirect democracy is also known as:
183. Representative democracy is of two kinds. Which of the following correctly identifies them?
184. Who stressed the dimension of social democracy in his concluding speech in the Constituent Assembly on November 25, 1949, stating that "political democracy cannot last unless there lies at the base of it social democracy"?
185. In a monarchy, the head of the state comes to office through which method, as exemplified by Britain?
186. The term 'republic' in the Preamble indicates that the President is:
187. The President of India is elected indirectly for a fixed term of how many years?
188. Consider the following statements regarding the implications of the term 'republic' in the Preamble:
(I) It vests political sovereignty in the people, not in a single individual like a king
(II) It implies the absence of any privileged class, with public offices open to every citizen
(III) It requires the head of state to always be elected directly by the people
Which of the above is/are correct?
189. The term 'justice' in the Preamble embraces how many distinct forms?
190. Which form of justice denotes the equal treatment of all citizens without any social distinction based on caste, colour, race, religion or sex?
191. Which form of justice involves the elimination of glaring inequalities in wealth, income and property?
192. A combination of social justice and economic justice is together known as:
193. Which form of justice implies that all citizens should have equal political rights, equal access to political offices and equal voice in government?
194. The ideal of justice in the Preamble has been taken from which historical event?
195. The term 'liberty' in the Preamble means:
196. The ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity in the Preamble have been taken from which historical event?
197. As elaborated in the Preamble, is the liberty conceived by the Preamble or the fundamental rights absolute or qualified?
198. The term 'equality' in the Preamble embraces how many dimensions?
199. Which of the following correctly identifies the three dimensions of equality embraced by the Preamble?
200. Consider the following statements regarding provisions of the Fundamental Rights chapter that ensure civic equality:
(I) Equality before the law under Article 14
(II) Abolition of untouchability under Article 17
(III) Equal pay for equal work under Article 39
Which of the above is/are correct?
201. Which Article bars exclusion from electoral rolls on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex?
202. Which Article provides for Lok Sabha and state assembly elections on adult suffrage?
203. Which DPSP Article secures equal right to livelihood and equal pay for equal work?
204. The Constitution promotes the feeling of fraternity primarily through which system?
205. The Preamble declares that fraternity has to assure which two things?
206. The word 'integrity' was added to the Preamble by which Amendment Act?
207. According to K.M. Munshi, the phrase 'dignity of the individual' signifies that the Constitution recognises that:
208. Article 1 of the Constitution describes India as a 'Union of States' in order to make clear that:
209. Who said, "The Preamble to our Constitution expresses what we had thought or dreamt so long"?
210. According to K.M. Munshi, the Preamble is the:
211. Which member of the Constituent Assembly described the Preamble as "the most precious part of the Constitution... the soul of the Constitution... a key to the Constitution... a jewel set in the Constitution"?
212. Which distinguished English political scientist described the Preamble as the 'key-note' to the Constitution and quoted it at the opening of his book "Principles of Social and Political Theory"?
213. Which former Chief Justice of India observed that the Preamble "resembles the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America, but is more than a declaration... It contains a solemn resolve, which nothing but a revolution can alter"?
214. In which case did the Supreme Court first hold that the Preamble is not part of the Constitution?
215. In the Berubari Union case (1960), the Supreme Court held that where the terms used in any article are ambiguous or capable of more than one meaning, assistance at interpretation may be taken from:
216. In which case did the Supreme Court hold that the Preamble is part of the Constitution?
217. Besides Kesavananda Bharati, in which other case did the Court hold the Preamble is an integral part of the Constitution?
218. Consider the following statements regarding the enactment and status of the Preamble:
(I) The Preamble was enacted by the Constituent Assembly after the rest of the Constitution was already enacted
(II) The reason for inserting the Preamble at the end was to ensure conformity with the Constitution as adopted
(III) The President of the Constituent Assembly stated that the Preamble does not stand as part of the Constitution
Which of the above is/are correct?
219. Regarding the Preamble's legal standing, which of the following is correct?
220. The Preamble is non-justiciable, which means:
221. The question of whether the Preamble can be amended under Article 368 arose for the first time in which case?
222. In the Kesavananda Bharati case, the Supreme Court held that the Preamble can be amended subject to which condition?
223. As of now, how many times has the Preamble been amended?