Basic Structure of Constitution and Amendments FAQs

1. Which case first ruled that Fundamental Rights can be amended by Parliament under Article 368?

2. Under Article 13, the term 'law' was held not to include which of the following?

3. Which case re-affirmed that a constitutional amendment act is not a law within Article 13?

4. The Golak Nath case (1967) challenged the validity of which Amendment Act?

5. Which Amendment Act was Parliament's response to the Golak Nath judgement?

6. The Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) overruled the Supreme Court's earlier judgement in which case?

7. The doctrine of basic structure was first reaffirmed in which subsequent case?

8. Which Amendment Act declared that no constitutional amendment can be questioned in any court?

9. The Minerva Mills case invalidated a provision of the 42nd Amendment Act for excluding which basic feature?

10. The Waman Rao case clarified that the basic structure doctrine applies to amendments enacted after which date?

11. Consider the following statements: (I) The Golak Nath case reversed the Supreme Court's earlier stand taken in the Shankari Prasad and Sajjan Singh cases (II) The Golak Nath case held that a constitutional amendment act is a law within the meaning of Article 13 (III) The Golak Nath case upheld the validity of the 24th Amendment Act Which of the above is/are correct?

12. With reference to the following pairs, consider: (I) Golak Nath case – 1967 (II) Kesavananda Bharati case – 1973 (III) Minerva Mills case – 1976 Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

13. Powers of the Supreme Court under which Articles have been recognised as part of the basic structure?

14. Powers of the High Courts under which Articles have been recognised as part of the basic structure?

15. Consider the following statements: (I) Federal character of the Constitution is a recognised basic feature (II) Secular character of the Constitution is a recognised basic feature (III) Single citizenship is a recognised basic feature Which of the above is/are correct?

16. Which of the following is NOT an element of the basic structure?

17. "Harmony and balance between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles" is an element of which doctrine?

18. Which case first declared "effective access to justice" as an element of the basic structure?

19. With reference to the following pairs, consider: (I) L. Chandra Kumar case (1997) – Powers of the High Courts under Articles 226 and 227 (II) Ram Jethmalani case (2011) – Powers of the Supreme Court under Article 32 (III) Namit Sharma case (2012) – Judicial review Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

20. Which Article of the Constitution deals with the powers of Parliament to amend the Constitution?

21. Article 368 falls under which Part of the Constitution?

22. The rule that Parliament cannot amend the 'basic structure' of the Constitution was laid down in which case?

23. An amendment bill under Article 368 can be initiated in which of the following?

24. An amendment bill under Article 368 can be introduced by whom?

25. Passage of a constitutional amendment bill in each House requires which kind of majority?

26. Consider the following statements regarding the special majority required under Article 368: (I) It means a majority of the total membership of the House (II) It means a majority of two-thirds of members present and voting (III) 'Total membership' excludes vacant seats from the count Which of the above is/are correct?

27. In case of a disagreement between the two Houses over a constitutional amendment bill, which of the following applies?

28. Ratification by state legislatures is required only when a bill seeks to amend which kind of provisions?

29. Ratification of a constitutional amendment bill by state legislatures requires which kind of majority?

30. The Constitution of India can be amended in how many ways?

31. Amendments made by a simple majority of Parliament outside the scope of Article 368 are treated as amendments of the Constitution for the purposes of Article 368?

32. Consider the following provisions of the Constitution: (I) Formation of new states and alteration of boundaries of existing states (II) Quorum in Parliament (III) Election of the President and its manner Which of the above can be amended by a simple majority of Parliament outside Article 368?

33. Which of the following is amendable by a simple majority of Parliament outside Article 368?

34. The Fifth Schedule, dealing with administration of scheduled areas and scheduled tribes, can be amended by which kind of majority?

35. Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy can be amended by which kind of majority?

36. Consider the following provisions: (I) Distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the states (II) Representation of states in Parliament (III) Article 368 itself Which of the above require a special majority of Parliament along with ratification by half of the state legislatures?

37. The provision relating to the Goods and Services Tax Council was added to the list of federal provisions requiring state ratification by which Amendment Act?

38. If a bill amending federal provisions is ratified by half of the states, what happens if the remaining states take no action?

39. Unlike in the USA, Indian state legislatures generally cannot initiate a constitutional amendment bill, except for passing a resolution requesting which of the following?

40. As per critics of the amendment procedure, ratification of federal provisions in India requires the consent of how many states, compared to three-fourths in the USA?

41. Which of the following is a criticism of the Indian Constitution's amendment procedure?

42. Which political scientist observed that the Indian Constitution's amending process 'strikes a good balance between flexibility and rigidity'?

9. Basic Structure of Constitution and Amendments