Constitution of India - Multiple Choice Questions

Constitution is the Fundamental Law of any country which sets out the framework and the principal functions of various organs of the government. At present, the Constitution of India contains 448 Articles in 25 Parts and 12 Schedules. However, there are multiple features of the Constitution, namely Secular State, Federalism, Parliamentary Government, Fundamental Rights and many more.

1. Which of the following is called 'Mini Constitution'?

(A) Government of India Act, 1935

(B) 42nd Constitutional Amendment

(C) 44th constitutional amendment

(D) Government of India Act, 1919

Ans. B

2. Which of the following statements is false?

(A) Most of the structure of the Indian Constitution has been taken from the Government of India Act, 1935.

(B) The original constitution had 10 schedules

(C) The political part of the Indian Constitution is taken from the British Constitution

(D) Article 368 is related to the constitutional amendment

Ans. B

3. Which of the following is not a feature of Indian parliamentary system?

(A) majority party power

(B) Presence of Actual Executive and Nominal Executive

(C) Appointment of Executive to the Legislature

(D) All of the above

Ans. D

4. Which of the following is not matched correctly?

(A) Right to Equality: Article 14-18

(B) Rights against exploitation: Article 20-22

(C) Right to Religious Freedom: Article 25-28

(D) Right to Cultural and Education freedom: Article 29-30

Ans. B

5. Which of the following is not matched correctly?

(A) Part I: Union and its Territories

(B) Part II: Citizenship

(C) Part III: Directive Principle and State Policy

(D) Part VI: State Governments

Ans. C

6. Which of the following is not matched correctly?

(A) Article 312: The functions of Public Service Commissions

(B) Article 110: Definition of Money Bill

(C) Article 112: Budget

(D) Article 51A: Fundamental Duties

Ans. A

7. The idea of 'concurrent list' in the Indian constitution is taken from the Constitution of ............?

(A) Ireland

(B) Canada

(C) Australia

(D) Japan

Ans. C

8. Seventh Schedule is concerned with ............?

(A) From languages

(B) Partition of powers between center and states

(C) From the judicial areas of the states

(D) From Panchayati Raj

Ans. B

9. What is not taken from British Constitution in the Constitution of India?

(A) Parliamentary rule

(B) Single citizenship

(C) Fundamental Rights

(D) Cabinet System

Ans. C

10. Which of the following articles cannot be null during the National Emergency?

(A) Article 14 to 18

(B) Article 19

(C) Article 20,21

(D) Article 29,30

Ans. C

11. Which country has the lengthiest Constitution in the world?

a) United States

b) France

c) India

d) Japan

ANSWER: c) India

Explanation: At around 444 Articles that are divided in 22 parts, and 12 Schedules, India's Constitution stands considerably larger than most other Constitutions. United States Constitution is the shortest written constitution with just 7 articles.

12. What is the date of adoption of the Constitution?

a) 26th November, 1949

b) 26th January, 1950

c) 15th August, 1947

d) 30th January, 1960

ANSWER: a) 26th November, 1949

13. Which of the 3 words were added LATER to the Preamble?

a) Justice, Liberty, Equality

b) Socialist, Republic, Justice

c) Sovereign, Fraternity, Political

d) Secular, Socialist, Integrity

ANSWER: d) Secular, Socialist, Integrity

Explanation: These words were added through the 42nd amendment Act in 1976.

14. Which Article in the Constitution provides guidelines for amending the Preamble?

a) Article 30

b) Article 200

c) Article 368

d) Article 256

ANSWER: c) Article 368

Explanation: There is a procedure for amending the Constitution, and since the Preamble is also regarded as a part of the Constitution, it can be amended. It was indeed amended in 1976 by the 42nd Amendment Act.

15. Which famous case involved the term “basic structure” of the Constitution?

a) Kesavananda Bharti vs State of Kerala (1973)

b) Maneka Gandhi vs Union of India (1978)

c) Vishakha vs State of Rajasthan (1997)

d) Indra Sawhney vs Union of India (1992)

ANSWER: a) Kesavananda Bharti vs State of Kerala (1973)

Explanation: In this famous case the court gave us the famous doctrine of “basic structure” that dictated that the Constitution can't be changed beyond a certain limit.

16. Which Articles in the Constitutions grants us the Right to Equality?

a) Article 14-18

b) Article 23-24

c) Article 32

d) Article 368

ANSWER: a) Article 14-18

Explanation: This includes: Equality Before Law, Social Equality and Equal Access to Public Areas, Equality in Matters of Public Employment, Abolition of Untouchability, Abolition of Titles

17. Which Articles in the Constitution grants us the Right to Freedom?

a) Article 14-18

b) Article 19-22

c) Article 32

d) Article 368

ANSWER: b) Article 19-22

Explanation: This includes: Freedom of speech and expression, Freedom to assemble peacefully, Freedom to form associations or unions, Freedom to move freely throughout the territory of India, Freedom to live and settle in any part of the territory of India, Freedom to practice any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade or business

18. Which Articles in the Constitution grants us the Right against Exploitation?

a) Article 14-18

b) Article 23-24

c) Article 32

d) Article 368

ANSWER: b) Article 23-24

Explanation: This includes: eradication of human trafficking and forced labor (beggar), abolition of employment of children below the age of 14 years in dangerous jobs like factories and mines etc

19. Which Articles in the Constitution grants us the Right to Freedom of Religion?

a) Article 14-18

b) Article 23-24

c) Article 25-28

d) Article 368

ANSWER: c) Article 25-28

Explanation: This includes: Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion, Freedom to run religious affairs, no compulsion to pay any tax for the promotion or maintenance of any religion, freedom as to attendance at religious instruction or religious worship in certain educational institutions

20. Which Articles in the Constitution grants us the Right to Constitutional Remedies?

a) Article 14-18

b) Article 23-24

c) Article 32

d) Article 368

ANSWER: c) Article 32

Explanation: Different writs in the Constitution aim at protecting the Fundamental Rights of citizens: habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto and certiorari.

Habeas corpus means that the arrested person must be brought before the court, that holds the right to set the person free if the grounds of arrest are found to be faulty.

Mandamus is issued when an office holder is found to misuse his dutiesProhibition is issued by higher courts when they find that lower courts have made judgments beyond their powers of jurisdiction

Quo warranto is issued when the court finds that the office holder is illegally holding that position

Certiorari is issued when a court wants to order a lower court or similar authority to transfer some matter pending before it to other courts or other authorities

21. What is the date of adoption of the Constitution?

a) 26th November, 1949

b) 26th January, 1950

c) 15th August, 1947

d) 30th January, 1960

ANSWER: a) 26th November, 1949

Explanation: on 26 November 1949, the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India. The Constitution was drafted by a committee headed by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, The Constitution came into effect from 26th January, 1950

22. The feature of 'Concurrent List' in our Constitution is borrowed from which country's Constitution?

a) Japan

b) Ireland

c) United States

d) Australia

ANSWER: d) Australia

23. Which Constitutional Amendment added the part of Fundamental Duties to the Constitution?

a) 42nd Constitutional Amendment

b) 62nd Constitutional Amendment

c) 78th Constitutional Amendment

d) 34th Constitutional Amendment

ANSWER: a) 42nd Constitutional Amendment

Explanation: The Fundamental Duties were added to the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, upon the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee

24. The 'Westminster' model of government followed by India is borrowed from?

a) British form of government

b) United States

c) Japanese form of government

d) Australian form of government

ANSWER: a) British form of government

Explanation: The UK also has an unwritten Constitution, because it doesn't have any single document that codifies all of their principles and laws.

25. The parliamentary form of government is borrowed from:

a) British form of government

b) United States

c) Japanese form of government

d) Australian form of government

ANSWER: a) British form of government

26. The idea of Fundamental Rights and Judicial Review is borrowed from:

a) British form of government

b) United States

c) Japanese form of government

d) Australian form of government

ANSWER: b) United States

27. The idea of 'Directive Principles of State Policy is borrowed from:

a) Ireland

b) United States

c) British

d) Canada

ANSWER: a) Ireland

Explanation: The idea of Directive Principles of State Policy was adopted from the Irish Constitution. Although the DPSP cannot be enforced in a court of law, they are the governing principles based on which a state is supposed to act. A Constitutional Amendment bill is necessary to bring about a change in the Directive Principles.

28. The concept of suspension of Fundamental Rights during Emergency is taken from:

a) Weimar Constitution of Germany

b) United States

c) Japan

d) Australia

ANSWER: a) Weimar Constitution of Germany

Explanation: There have been 3 incidences when the Emergency was declared in India: Indo-China war, Indo-Pak war, and when India Gandhi declared threat to national security due to 'internal disturbances'.

29. The ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity are taken from:

a) United States

b) Spain

c) Greece

d) France

ANSWER: d) France

Explanation: 'Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity' is also the national motto of France and Republic of Haiti. The motto was first used in the French Revolution.

30. Which Schedule contains the provisions relating to the administration and control of scheduled areas and scheduled tribes?

a) Fourth Schedule

b) Fifth Schedule

c) Sixth Schedule

d) Seventh Schedule

ANSWER: b) Fifth Schedule

Explanation: As per Article 244 (1), “The provisions of the Fifth Schedule shall apply to the administration and control of the Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in any State other than the States of Assam Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram”

31. Which Schedule in the Indian Constitution specifies the powers, authority, and responsibilities of Panchayats?

a) Fourth Schedule

b) Sixth Schedule

c) Seventh Schedule

d) Eleventh Schedule

ANSWER: d) Eleventh Schedule

32. By which Constitutional amendment was the voting age brought down from 21 to 18?

a) 37st Constitutional Amendment of 1985

b) 61st Constitutional Amendment of 1988

c) 56st Constitutional Amendment of 1993

d) 46st Constitutional Amendment of 1985

ANSWER: b) 61st Constitutional Amendment of 1988

Explanation: This change was brought about by amending Article 326 of the Constitution, and the bill for this purpose was introduced by B. Shankaranand, the then Minister of Water Resources

33. What can be rightly said about the Indian Constitution?

a) It is fully rigid

b) It is fully flexible

c) Partly rigid, partly flexible

d) Neither rigid, nor flexible

ANSWER: c) Partly rigid, partly flexible

Explanation: To achieve the balance of challenging modernity without losing sight of our most fundamental ideals, our Constitution contains rigidity and flexibility at the same time. For some provisions, there needs to be a special majority for the Amendment to be passed whereas for other parts one can introduce an Amendment with just a simple majority.

34. In which case was it declared that the Preamble is a part of the Constitution?

a) Kesavananda Bharti vs State of Kerala (1973)

b) Maneka Gandhi vs Union of India (1978)

c) Vishakha vs State of Rajasthan (1997)

d) Indra Sawhney vs Union of India (1992)

ANSWER: a) Kesavananda Bharti vs State of Kerala (1973)

Explanation: This is probably the most landmark case in Indian judicial history, and the length of the judgment delivered is also a record: it was around 800 pages long and had more than 4,20,000 words. The doctrine of 'basic structure' came into being after this case.

35. What form of government does India follow?

a) Presidential system with President as most important authority

b) Fully Federal structure

c) Federal system of government but showing a unitary bias.

d) None of the above

ANSWER: c) Federal system of government but showing a unitary bias.

Explanation: This part is borrowed from the Canadian form of government that also shows strong bias towards the Center. Other features of this form of government include: appointment of state governor by the Center, vesting residual powers with the Center, etc.

36. What does the word “Sovereign” mean?

a) absolutely independent

b) system of political economy that ensures equitable distribution of wealth and protects from exploitation

c) having no official state religion and granting every citizen the right to freely follow any religion of his or her choice

d) having a democratic form of government that grants equal voting rights to every single citizen

ANSWER: a) absolutely independent

37. What does the word “Socialist” mean?

a) absolutely independent,

b) system of political economy that ensures equitable distribution of wealth and protects from exploitation

c) having no official state religion and granting every citizen the right to freely follow any religion of his or her choice

d) having a democratic form of government that grants equal voting rights to every single citizen

ANSWER: b) system of political economy that ensures equitable distribution of wealth and protects from exploitation

38. What does the word “Republic” mean?

a) absolutely independent,

b) head of the state is elected by the citizens and is not hereditary.

c) having no official state religion and granting every citizen the right to freely follow any religion of his or her choice

d) having a democratic form of government that grants equal voting rights to every single citizen

ANSWER: b) head of the state is elected by the citizens and is not hereditary.

39. What does the word “Secular” mean?

a) absolutely independent,

b) system of political economy that ensures equitable distribution of wealth and protects from exploitation

c) having no official state religion and granting every citizen the right to freely follow any religion of his or her choice

d) granting equal voting rights to every single citizen of the nation

ANSWER: c) having no official state religion and granting every citizen the right to freely follow any religion of his or her choice

40. What does the word “Democratic” mean?

a) absolutely independent,

b) system of political economy that ensures equitable distribution of wealth and protects from exploitation

c) having no official state religion and granting every citizen the right to freely follow any religion of his or her choice

d) granting equal voting rights to every single citizen of the nation

ANSWER: d) granting equal voting rights to every single citizen of the nation

41. What is NOT true about the Directive Principles of State Policy?

a) They are borrowed from the Irish constitution

b) They are meant for promoting social and economic democracy

c) They can be enforced in court of law

d) They are classified into – Gandhian, Socialistic, and liberal-intellectual

ANSWER: c) They can be enforced in court of law

Explanation: The idea of Directive Principles of State Policy was adopted from the Irish Constitution. Although the DPSP cannot be enforced in a court of law, they are the governing principles based on which a state is supposed to act. A Constitutional Amendment bill is necessary to bring about a change in the Directive Principles.

42. What stands at the apex of the judicial system?

a) Defense Ministry

b) Supreme Court

c) Prime Minister

d) Parliament

ANSWER: b) Supreme Court

Explanation: India has a system of courts at all levels- from district and lower courts, high courts, till Supreme Court that stands at the apex of the judicial system. Extreme care has been taken to make sure that the courts remain independent from the influence of Executive and maintain their integrity. Supreme Court is granted the power to declare parliamentary laws at unconstitutional if it finds them so. This is balanced by granting the powers of amendment of Constitution (major portions of it) to the Parliament

43. Fundamental Duties were added in the Constitution after the recommendation of which committee?

a) Kalelkar committee

b) Ketkar committee

c) Chavan committee

d) Swaran Singh committee

ANSWER: d) Swaran Singh committee

Explanation: They were added by the 42nd Amendment in 1976-77 during the time of Emergency.. The committee suggested several changes to the Constitution, along with adding three words in the Preamble. Swaran Singh was the chairperson of the committee, and he was awarded Padma Vibhushan award in 1992

44. Who is regarded as the head of the Indian state?

a) Prime Minister

b) President

c) Chief Justice of India

d) None of the above

ANSWER: b) President

Explanation: The President of India is the first citizen of India and he is the head of the Indian State. The President is the supposed to act as the symbol of the unity, integrity, and solidarity of the nation.

45.Which article of the Constitution empowers the President to promulgate ordinances?

a) Article 123

b) Article 52

c) Article 25

d) Article 78

ANSWER: a) Article 123

Explanation: An ordinance can be deemed as a temporary law that have the same power as that of a Bill. The President is given the power to issue ordinances and this could be said to his most important power. The President is granted the power to issue ordinances according to the Article 123 of our Constitution. The issuing of an ordinance is subject to various limitations and conditions.

Some of these limitations are:

a) Ordinance can be issued only when both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are not in session or only one of them is in session.

b) The President's decision to promulgate an ordinance is subject to judicial action in case it is found to be malafide

c) The President can issue ordinances subject to the advice of Prime Minister and his council of Ministers

d) The scope of the ordinance is limited to the subjects on which the Parliament itself is allowed to make laws

e) An ordinance is not superior to the Constitution has must follow it too. For example, an ordinance cannot breach Fundamental Rights.

46. Which is the highest judicial authority in India whose decisions are binding on all courts?

a) Supreme Court

b) Parliament

c) Law Minister

d) Lok Sabha

ANSWER: a) Supreme CourtThe decisions of the Supreme Court are binding on all courts, because it is at the apex of our judicial system.

47.Consider the following 4 statements. Which among them are true?

1) Prime Minister of India must only be a member of Lok Sabha

2) Prime Minister of India can be a member of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

3) British Prime Minister must only be a member of the Lower House

4) British Prime Minister can be a member of the Lower House as well as Upper House

a) Only 1 and 3

b) Only 1 and 4

c) Only 2 and 3

d) Only 2 and 4

ANSWER: c) Only 2 and 3

Explanation: 3 Prime Ministers of India have been members of the Rajya Sabha: Indira Gandhi (1966), Deve Gowda (1996), Manmohan Singh (2004). But in UK, the Prime Minister must necessarily be a member of the Lower House (also called as House of Commons) alone

48. Which among the following statements is/are true?

1. Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha both follow the method of Proportional Representation for electing members

2. Rajya Sabha members are elected by the elected members of the state legislative assemblies

3. Maximum strength of Lok Sabha is fixed at 552

4. The voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 by the 61st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1988.

a) Only 1 and 3

b) Only 2 and 3

c) Only 1,3, and 4

d) Only 2,3, and 4

ANSWER: d) Only 2,3, and 4

Explanation: Rajya Sabha follows the method of Proportional Representation. But owing the vastness of India's territory and its population, for Lok Sabha elections we follow the method of territorial representation