Indian Polity & Constitution MCQs

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The Constitution of India initially recognised 7 fundamental rights: Right to equality, Right to freedom, Right against exploitation, Right to freedom of religion, Cultural and Educational rights, Right to constitutional remedies and Right to property. Under the 44th Amendment Act, right to property ceased to be a Fundamental right.

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In democratic government, government has to explain its action and defends its decision to the people. A system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives.

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In a unitary system of government, all powers are vested in Centre while in a federal system; the powers are divided between the centre and the states by the constitution. Some of the unitary features in Indian constitution are: strong centre, states not indestructible, single constitution, no equality in state representation, emergency provisions, single citizenship, integrated judiciary, All-India Services, etc.

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Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are nominated by the President of India for their contributions to art, literature, science, and social services. The remainder of the body is elected by the state and territorial legislatures.

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The Chief Election Commissioner heads the Election Commission of India, a body constitutionally empowered to conduct free and fair elections to the national and state legislatures and of President and Vice-President. Sukumar Sen was an Indian civil servant who was the first Chief Election Commissioner of India, serving from 1950 to 1958.

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National emergency under article 352 of the Indian Constitution is caused by war, external aggression or armed rebellion in the whole of India or a part of its territory. In such an emergency, Fundamental Rights of Indian citizens can be suspended. The six freedoms under Right to Freedom are automatically suspended. In case of emergency imposed due to war or external aggression. However, the Right to Life and Personal Liberty cannot be suspended according to the original Constitution. It modifies the federal system of government to a unitary one.

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Money Bills are defined in Article 110 of the Indian Constitution. According to this article, a bill is deemed to be a Money Bill if it contains only provisions dealing with all or any of certain matters listed by it. It adds that if any question arises whether a Bill is a Money Bill or not, the decision of the Speaker of the House of the People shall be final.

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The 65th constitutional amendment was enacted on12 March 1990 for the formation of National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (NCSCST) and conferring statutory powers on it. Amendments were made in Article 338 for the constitution of the body. However, 89th amendment of the constitution in 2003 bifurcated the NCSCST into two bodies for SCs and STs.

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Article 217 of the Indian Constitution states that the Judge of a High Court shall be appointed by the President consultation with the Chief Justice of India, the Governor of the State, and, in the case of appointment of a Judge other than the Chief Justice, the Chief Justice of the High Court.

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On 5 August 2019, the Government of India revoked the special status, or limited autonomy, granted under Article 370 and Article 35(A) of the Indian Constitution to Jammu and Kashmir. Some provisions of the Article 370 have been diluted over time. In contrast, the Article 35A till now had remained unchanged. The Article 370 — which comes under Part XXI of the Constitution, which deals with “Temporary, Transitional and Special provisions” — grants J&K a special autonomous status. Constitutional provisions that are applicable to other Indian states are not applicable to J&K. Article 35A allows the state legislature to define the Jammu and Kashmir’s permanent residents. The article had been inserted via the Constitution (Application to J&K) Order, 1954. It was issued by the then President Rajendra Prasad under Article 370 on PM Nehru’s advice.