Indian Polity & Constitution MCQs
Rajeev
1. New All India services can be initiated in India only if the following makes a recommendation?
[A] President
[B] Rajya sabha
[C] Lok sabha
[D] Council of ministers
As per the Constitution of India, a new All India service can be instituted with only on the initiative of Rajya Sabha. Article 312 of the constitution says
“Notwithstanding anything in [Chapter VI of Part VI or Part XI], if the Council of States has declared by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting that it is necessary or expedient in the national interest so to do, Parliament may by law provide for the creation of one or more all India services [(including an all-India judicial service)] common to the Union and the States, and, subject to the other provisions of this Chapter, regulate the recruitment, and the conditions of service of persons appointed, to any such service.”
2. Who can remove the Chief Justice of Supreme Court?
[A] Parliament by resolution
[B] Judges of supreme court by Majority
[C] President on a resolution by parliament
[D] President on his/ her own discretion
A Judge of the Supreme Court (and also High Court) can be removed from his position by President only on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity. The power for investigation and proof of such misbehaviour or incapacity is vested in the parliament. Each house, in order to remove the judge, will have to pass a resolution which is supported by 2/3rd of members present and voting and majority of the total membership of the house {absolute + special majority}
3. What is the upper limit of election expense in a parliamentary constituency?
[A] 10 lakhs
[B] 25 lakhs
[C] 70 lakhs
[D] 1 cr
As per the current norms, the maximum limit of election expenses per candidate is as follows:
Lok Sabha Constituencies
- 70 Lakh for all States except Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Sikkim.
- 54 Lakh for Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Sikkim = 54.00 Lakhs
- 70 Lakh for NCT of Delhi
- 54 Lakh for other Union Territories.
Assembly Constituencies
- 28 Lakh for bigger states and NCT of Delhi
- 20 Lakh for smaller states and UTs.
4. The first session of constituent assembly took place on which of the following dates?
[A] 9-23 December 1946
[B] 9-23 December 1947
[C] 20-25 January 1947
[D] 20-25 January 1950
The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly of India took place in Constitutional Hall, New Delhi, on 9th December 1946. Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha was the first president of the Constituent Assembly. In the first meeting, the assembly adopted an ‘Objective Resolution’ which later became the preamble of the constitution. It appointed various committees. The report of the committees formed the basis on which the first draft of the constitution was prepared. It reassembled on 14 August 1947 as Constituent Assembly for independent India.
After partition, Dr. Rajendra Prasad became the president of Constituent Assembly of Independent India. Professor Harendra Coomar Mookerjee was Vice President of the Constituent Assembly. While Dr. Rajendra Prasad later became President of India, Prof. HC Mookerjee became first Governor of West Bengal.
5. The right to constitutional remedies in India is available to __?
[A] Only Citizens of India
[B] All persons incase of infringement of any fundamental righ
[C] any person for enforcing any of the fundamental rights conferred on all persons
[D] none of the above
Article 32 of the Indian Constitution describes the provisions whereby individuals may seek redressal for the violation of their fundamental rights. It is available to any person for enforcing any of the fundamental rights conferred on all persons.
6. Which among the following is NOT a fundamental duty of a citizen?
[A] Respect for the constitution
[B] Respect for the National Flag
[C] Respect for the National Anthem
[D] Respect for the government
Respect for the government of the day is not a fundamental duty as such.
7. Who can be appointed as ad hoc judges of Supreme Court?
[A] Only Retired Judges of Supreme Court
[B] Only those qualified for appointed as judge of Supreme Court
[C] Only Retired Judges of High Courts
[D] District judges
If there is a lack of quorum of the permanent judges to hold or continue any session of the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice of India can appoint a judge of a High Court as an ad hoc judge after consultation with the chief justice of the High Court concerned and with the previous consent of the president.
8. The first no-confidence motion was moved in the Lok Sabha in which of the following years?
[A] 1960
[B] 1963
[C] 1965
[D] 1969
The first no-confidence motion was moved in Lok Sabha by Acharya Kripalani in August 1963, immediately after the disastrous India–China War.
9. Through which of the following a Federal Court was established?
[A] Indian Councils Act, 1909
[B] Indian Councils Act, 1892
[C] Government of India Act, 1919
[D] Government of India Act, 1935
Federal Court of India was established in 1937 under Government of India Act 1935. This court had original, appellate and advisory jurisdiction but appeals could be taken from that court to Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London. It worked until 1950 when Supreme Court of India was established.
10. As per the Nehru Report, the composition of India’s parliament was as follows:
[A] President, Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha
[B] Crown, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha
[C] Crown, House of People, House of States
[D] Crown, Senate, House of Representatives
The Nehru Report was published on 10 August 1928. As per the report, the legislative power of the Commonwealth shall be looked after by Parliament, consisting of a King, a Senate and a House of Representatives.
11. For the exercise of the powers of his office, President as been made answerable to __?
[A] Only Supreme Court
[B] Only Chief Justice of India
[C] Either Supreme Court or High Court
[D] None of the above
- Protection of President and Governors and Rajpramukhs
(1) The President, or the Governor or Rajpramukh of a State, shall not be answerable to any court for the exercise and performance of the powers and duties of his office or for any act done or purporting to be done by him in the exercise and performance of those powers and duties: Provided that the conduct of the President may be brought under review by any court, tribunal or body appointed or designated by either House of Parliament for the investigation of a charge under Article 61: Provided further that nothing in this clause shall be construed as restricting the right of any person to bring appropriate proceedings against the Governor of India or the Government of a State.
12. Which of the following provision needs a special majority in Parliament?
[A] Creation of New States
[B] Abolition of Legislative Councils in State
[C] Rules and Procedures in Parliament
[D] Change in Fundamental Rights
The Fundamental rights can be amended by Parliament of India under Article 368. It requires special majority of both the houses of Parliament (loksabha and rajyasabha) that means majority of total membership of the house and majority of not less than two-third of members present and voting.
13. Which of the following is contained in the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution?
[A] States and Union Territories
[B] Salaries of the President, Governors of States, Judges of Supreme Court, etc.
[C] Union List, State’ List and Concurrent List
[D] Allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha
The Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India defines and specifies allocation of powers and functions between Union & States. It contains three lists; i.e. 1) Union List, 2) State List and 3) Concurrent List.
14. Which of the following States are not covered by the Panchayati Raj?
[A] Tripura and Sikkim
[B] Manipur and Assam
[C] Meghalaya and Nagaland
[D] Assam and West Bengal
The Panchayat Raj system exists in all the states except Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram and in all the Union territories except Delhi.
15. Governor of which State has been entrusted with the special powers for the administration of tribal areas?
[A] Bihar
[B] Madhya Pradesh
[C] Assam
[D] Arunachal Pradesh
The Constitution of India makes special provisions for the administration of the tribal dominated areas in four states viz. Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
16. Which of the following is/are among the functions of the Election Commission of India?
II. Conduct of election to the Corporations and Municipalities.
III. Deciding on all doubts and disputes arising out of the elections.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below.
Codes:
17. Under which act, the legislative council was given the power of discussing the budget in the British Indian Parliament?
[A] Indian Councils Act, 1861
[B] Government of India Act, 1858
[C] Indian Councils Act, 1892
[D] Government of India Act, 1909
The Indian Councils Act, 1892 increased the number of additional members in the central and provincial legislative councils, but maintained the official majority in them. The act increased the functions of legislative councils and gave them the power of discussing the budget and addressing questions to the executive.
18. Which act discontinued the appointment to civil services and reservation of posts by the Secretary of State?
[A] Independence of India Act, 1947
[B] Government of India Act, 1935
[C] Government of India Act, 1919
[D] None of the Above
The Indian Independence Act, 1947 had the provision for discontinuation of civil services and reservation of posts by Secretary of State. However, the members of the civil services appointed before August 15, 1947 were to enjoy all the benefits that they were entitled till that time.
19. Which of the following features of the Indian Constitution is not borrowed from Canadian Constitution?
[A] Federation with a strong Centre
[B] Residuary powers with the Centre
[C] Advisory Jurisdiction of Supreme Court
[D] Impeachment of the President
The features of the Canadian Constitution incorporated in Indian Constitution are- federation with a strong Centre, vesting of residuary powers in the Centre, appointment of State governors by the Centre and advisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Process of impeachment of the President is borrowed from US Constitution.
20. What was the Constitutional status of India when the Constitution of India came into force on 26th January, 1950?
[A] A Secular Republic
[B] A Socialist Secular Democratic Republic
[C] A Sovereign Democratic Republic
[D] A Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic
The Constitution of India came into force on 26th January 1950 and the exact constitutional status of India on 26th January 1950 was ‘A Sovereign Democratic Republic’.
21. Which act provided for separate representation of presidency corporations, chambers of commerce, universities and zamindars?
[A] Indian Councils Act, 1909
[B] Government of India Act, 1919
[C] Government of India Act, 1935
[D] None of the above
The Indian Councils Act of 1909 provided for the separate representation of the presidency corporations, chambers of commerce, universities and zamindars. It also provided for the separate electorate for Muslims.
22. Which of the following is not a correct feature of the parliamentary system of government in India?
[A] Presence of nominal and real executive
[B] Majority party rule
[C] Individual responsibility of members of executive to the legislature
[D] Dissolution of the lower house
The constitution has established parliamentary system of government not only at the central level but also in the states. Statement C is incorrect as the constitution mentions collective responsibility of the executive to the legislature.
23. Who described India as a “quasi federal state”?
[A] Lord Bryee
[B] K.C. Wheare
[C] Harold Laski
[D] G. Austin
The federal system in the constitution was adopted due to two main reasons: the large size of the country and its socio-cultural diversity. K.C. Wheare described India as a quasi-federal state.
24. Which of the following are included in the basic structure of the constitution of India?
2. Judicial Review
3. Principle of equality
4. Free and fair elections
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
25. In which case the Supreme Court characterised federalism as its ‘basic feature’ of the Constitution of India?
[A] Keshvananda Bharti case
[B] Bommai case
[C] LIC of India case
[D] Minerva Mills case
In the S.R. Bommai case of the year 1994, the Supreme Court of India laid down that the Indian Constitution is federal and characterised federalism as its ‘basic feature’. It recognized that the states have an independent constitutional existence.
26. Which of the following method is used for election of President in India?
[A] Open Ballot System
[B] Single Transferable Vote System
[C] Direct Election
[D] None of the above
The President’s election in India is held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. Voting is held by secret ballot. This system ensures that the successful candidate wins by the absolute majority of votes.
27. Which amendment empowered the president to send back once, the advice of cabinet for reconsideration?
[A] 42nd
[B] 44th
[C] 46th
[D] 48th
Forty-Fourth Amendment Act, 1978 which was enacted by the Janta government empowered the president to send back once, the advice of cabinet for reconsideration. But, the reconsidered advice is to be binding on the president of India.
28. On which grounds, the constitutional validity of a legislation can be challenged in the Supreme Court?
[A] Infringement of the Fundamental Rights
[B] It is repugnant to the constitutional provisions
[C] The authority that framed it is not competent to do so
[D] All of the above
The constitutional validity of a legislative enactment can be challenged both in the Supreme Court or the High Courts on the grounds of the infringement of the Fundamental Rights provided in the Constitution, the legislation being outside the competence of the authority that framed it, and for the reason that the legislation is repugnant to the constitutional provisions.
29. What are the limitations on the sovereignty of parliament in India?
[A] Written Constitution
[B] Federalism
[C] Judicial review
[D] All of the above
A written Constitution, federalism with division of powers between the Centre and the States, the Fundamental Rights and the judicial review are the limitation on the sovereignty of Parliament in India.
30. When was the Indian Forest Service (IFS) created?
[A] 1965
[B] 1966
[C] 1967
[D] 1968
The Indian Forest Service (IFS) was created as the third All-India Service in 1966. The Indian Forest Service is one of the All Indian services of the Government of India- IAS, IPS and IFS.
