Question 1

Article 51A of the Indian Constitution, which lists Fundamental Duties, was added through which Constitutional Amendment?

Accepted Answer

Article 51A, which enumerates the Fundamental Duties of Indian citizens, was added to the Constitution through the 42nd Amendment in 1976. It includes duties such as respecting the Constitution, protecting sovereignty, and promoting harmony among citizens.

Question 2

Which Constitutional Amendment is known as the 'Mini Constitution' because it made the most extensive changes to the Indian Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976) is referred to as the 'Mini Constitution' because it introduced the most comprehensive and far-reaching changes to the Constitution. It added 59 new articles, amended 55 existing articles, and introduced significant changes including the addition of 'Socialist' and 'Secular' to the Preamble, reduction of fundamental rights, and strengthening of Directive Principles of State Policy.

Question 3

Which Constitutional Amendment removed the Right to Property from the list of Fundamental Rights and made it a Legal Right?

Accepted Answer

The 44th Constitutional Amendment (1978) removed the Right to Property from Part III (Fundamental Rights) and placed it under Article 300A as a Constitutional Right (Legal Right). Previously, it was Article 19(1)(f) and Article 31 under Fundamental Rights.

Question 4

Which article of the Indian Constitution guarantees the Right to Life and Personal Liberty?

Accepted Answer

Article 21 of the Indian Constitution states: 'No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law.' This is a fundamental right under Part III of the Constitution.

Question 5

According to Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, the State shall not deny to any person equality before the law. This article is part of which group of rights?

Accepted Answer

Article 14 is part of the Fundamental Rights listed in Part III (Articles 12–35) of the Indian Constitution. It guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the laws to all persons within the territory of India.

Question 6

The 42nd Constitutional Amendment, passed in 1976, is often called the 'Mini Constitution' because it made how many amendments to the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The 42nd Amendment (1976) made 59 amendments to the Constitution during the Emergency period. It is the most extensive amendment in Indian constitutional history, introducing significant changes including the addition of Fundamental Duties (Article 51A) and changing 'Sovereign Democratic Republic' to 'Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic'.

Question 7

The 101st Constitutional Amendment (2016) introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Which article was inserted to provide constitutional validity to GST?

Accepted Answer

The 101st Amendment inserted Article 246A, which grants concurrent power to both the Union and States to make laws on GST. It also inserted Article 269A to provide for the collection and distribution of GST revenue. This amendment fundamentally restructured the taxation framework.

Question 8

Article 15 of the Indian Constitution prohibits discrimination on certain grounds. Which of the following is NOT a ground mentioned in Article 15(1)?

Accepted Answer

Article 15(1) prohibits discrimination by the State on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. 'Economic status' or 'disability' are not explicitly mentioned in Article 15(1), though Article 15(4) allows affirmative action for socially and educationally backward classes.

Question 9

The 44th Constitutional Amendment (1978) made a significant change to Fundamental Rights by removing which right from Part III of the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The 44th Amendment removed the Right to Property (Article 31) from the list of Fundamental Rights and made it a Constitutional Right under Article 300A. This was a major shift in the constitutional framework, reducing the justiciability of property rights.

Question 10

Article 32 of the Indian Constitution provides the right to constitutional remedies. Which of the following is NOT a writ that can be issued under Article 32?

Accepted Answer

Article 32 guarantees the right to move the Supreme Court for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights through writs: Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Certiorari, and Quo Warranto. 'Injunction' is a civil remedy under the Code of Civil Procedure, not a constitutional writ under Article 32.

Question 11

Which Constitutional Amendment introduced the concept of 'Fundamental Duties' as a new chapter in the Indian Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The 42nd Constitutional Amendment, passed in 1976 during the Emergency, added Part IVA to the Constitution, introducing Fundamental Duties (Articles 51A–51K). These duties are enforceable by law and include duties to the Constitution, nation, and society.

Question 12

The 101st Constitutional Amendment (2016) introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) by modifying which article to insert a new clause allowing Parliament to make laws regarding GST?

Accepted Answer

The 101st Constitutional Amendment (2016) was a landmark amendment that introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime in India. It inserted Article 246A into the Constitution, which grants Parliament the power to make laws with respect to GST. Additionally, it modified Article 269A to provide for the levy and collection of GST. The amendment also inserted the Ninth Schedule entry regarding GST to protect GST laws from judicial scrutiny under Article 31C. This amendment was crucial for implementing the unified indirect tax system in India, which came into effect on July 1, 2017.

Question 13

Which Constitutional Amendment introduced the concept of 'Reasonable Restrictions' on Fundamental Rights and also added 'Socialist' and 'Secular' to the Preamble?

Accepted Answer

The 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976), also known as the 'Mini Constitution', fundamentally altered the character of the Indian Constitution. It added the words 'Socialist' and 'Secular' to the Preamble, introduced the concept of 'Reasonable Restrictions' on fundamental rights, reduced the term of Lok Sabha from 5 to 4 years (later reverted by 44th Amendment), and made the Constitution more amendable. This amendment was passed during the Emergency declared by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed on the advice of PM Indira Gandhi.

Question 14

Article 51A of the Indian Constitution, which enumerates Fundamental Duties, was added by which Constitutional Amendment?

Accepted Answer

Article 51A, which lists the Fundamental Duties of every citizen of India, was added to the Constitution by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment in 1976. This was a significant addition because the original Constitution (1950) did not explicitly mention Fundamental Duties. The 42nd Amendment introduced 10 Fundamental Duties, which were later expanded to 11 by the 86th Amendment (2002), which added the duty to provide education to children aged 6–14 years. These duties include respecting the Constitution, cherishing secular values, defending the country, promoting harmony, and protecting the environment.

Question 15

Article 368 of the Indian Constitution defines the amendment procedure. Which of the following requires a special majority (2/3 of members present and voting in both Houses) but NOT ratification by state legislatures?

Accepted Answer

Article 368 prescribes the amendment procedure in the Indian Constitution. Amendments can be made by simple majority (for most matters), special majority (2/3 of members present and voting in both Houses), or special majority plus ratification by half of state legislatures (for matters affecting federal structure, representation in Parliament, etc.). The 42nd Amendment expanded the scope of amendments requiring only special majority, reducing the need for state ratification. Most amendments affecting Fundamental Rights, DPSP, and Fundamental Duties require special majority but NOT state ratification.

SSC MTS Constitutional Amendments

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Constitutional Amendments — Practice Questions

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