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Indian Polity & Constitution Notes

The document provides a comprehensive overview of the Indian Polity and Constitution, detailing its historical background, the making of the Constitution, its key features, and the structure of the government. It includes sections on Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State Policy, and important amendments, along with objective questions for assessment. The Preamble is highlighted as a foundational element, describing India as a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
24 views16 pages

Indian Polity & Constitution Notes

The document provides a comprehensive overview of the Indian Polity and Constitution, detailing its historical background, the making of the Constitution, its key features, and the structure of the government. It includes sections on Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State Policy, and important amendments, along with objective questions for assessment. The Preamble is highlighted as a foundational element, describing India as a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic.

Uploaded by

Tashi Bhutia
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© All Rights Reserved
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🏛️ Indian Polity & Constitution of India – Important Notes

🔹 1. Historical Background

• Regulating Act, 1773 – First step towards constitutional development.


• Charter Acts (1833, 1853) – Centralized administration; first time Indian legislative
council was created.
• Indian Councils Act, 1861 & 1892 – Introduced Indians in legislation.
• Government of India Act, 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms) – Dyarchy in
provinces.
• Government of India Act, 1935 – Federal structure, Provincial autonomy. Blueprint
of Indian Constitution.

🔹 2. Making of the Constitution

• Constituent Assembly formed: 1946


• Chairman: Dr. Rajendra Prasad
• Drafting Committee Head: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
• Adopted on: 26 November 1949
• Came into force on: 26 January 1950 (celebrated as Republic Day)

🔹 3. Features of the Constitution

• Lengthiest written constitution


• Blend of rigidity & flexibility
• Federal system with unitary bias
• Parliamentary form of Government
• Fundamental Rights & Duties
• Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)
• Single Citizenship
• Independent Judiciary
• Universal Adult Franchise
🔹 4. Fundamental Rights (Part III, Articles 12–35)

• Right to Equality (Art. 14–18)


• Right to Freedom (Art. 19–22)
• Right against Exploitation (Art. 23–24)
• Right to Freedom of Religion (Art. 25–28)
• Cultural & Educational Rights (Art. 29–30)
• Right to Constitutional Remedies (Art. 32) – "Heart & soul of the Constitution" – Dr.
Ambedkar

🔹 5. Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV, Art. 36–51)

• Inspired by Irish Constitution.


• Not enforceable in court but fundamental in governance.
• Aims: Welfare State, economic & social democracy.

🔹 6. Fundamental Duties (Part IVA, Art. 51A)

• Added by 42nd Amendment, 1976


• Inspired by USSR Constitution.
• Total: 11 duties

🔹 7. Union Executive

• President (Art. 52–62) – Head of State


• Vice President (Art. 63–70)
• Prime Minister & Council of Ministers (Art. 74–75) – Real executive authority
• Attorney General (Art. 76) – Legal advisor to Govt.
🔹 8. Parliament (Art. 79–122)

• Lok Sabha (Lower House) – 545 members


• Rajya Sabha (Upper House) – 245 members
• Money Bill – Introduced only in Lok Sabha

🔹 9. Judiciary

• Supreme Court (Art. 124–147) – Guardian of Constitution


• High Courts (Art. 214–231)
• Judicial Review & Activism

🔹 10. Important Amendments

• 1st (1951) – Added 9th Schedule


• 42nd (1976) – Mini Constitution: Preamble amended
• 44th (1978) – Removed Right to Property from FRs
• 73rd & 74th (1992) – Panchayati Raj & Urban Local Bodies
• 86th (2002) – Right to Education

🔹 11. Schedules in Constitution

• Total: 12 Schedules
o 1st: Union & State Territories
o 3rd: Oaths and Affirmations
o 7th: Union, State & Concurrent Lists
o 9th: Laws immune from judicial review
o 10th: Anti-defection
o 12th: Municipalities (added by 74th Amendment)
🔹 12. Preamble of India

"We, the people of India..."

• Describes India as: Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic

📘 Indian Polity – 50 Objective Questions

🔹 1–10: Basics & Preamble

1. Who is considered the architect of the Indian Constitution?


a) Jawaharlal Nehru
b) B.R. Ambedkar
c) Rajendra Prasad
d) Sardar Patel
Ans: b
2. The Preamble declares India to be a:
a) Federal Republic
b) Union of States
c) Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic
d) None of the above
Ans: c
3. The idea of the Preamble was borrowed from:
a) UK
b) USA
c) Australia
d) Russia
Ans: b
4. Which term was added by the 42nd Amendment?
a) Sovereign
b) Socialist
c) Democratic
d) Republic
Ans: b
5. The words ‘We the People’ signifies:
a) Political leadership
b) Popular sovereignty
c) Bureaucracy
d) Constitution makers
Ans: b
6. Which part of the Constitution deals with the Preamble?
a) Part I
b) Part V
c) Not a part
d) Part IV
Ans: c
7. The Preamble is:
a) Enforceable
b) Justiciable
c) Non-justiciable
d) A legal document
Ans: c
8. Who gave the concept of a ‘Preamble’?
a) K.M. Munshi
b) Pandit Nehru
c) B.R. Ambedkar
d) Rajendra Prasad
Ans: b
9. "Secular" in the Constitution means:
a) Anti-religious
b) No official religion
c) One religion for all
d) Religion-based state
Ans: b
10. The Preamble was amended in:
a) 1951
b) 1976
c) 1992
d) 2002
Ans: b
🔹 11–20: Fundamental Rights & Duties

11. Article 14 guarantees:


a) Right to Freedom
b) Equality before law
c) Right to Education
d) Freedom of Religion
Ans: b
12. How many Fundamental Rights are there currently?
a) 6
b) 7
c) 8
d) 9
Ans: a
13. Right to Property was removed from Fundamental Rights by:
a) 42nd Amendment
b) 44th Amendment
c) 52nd Amendment
d) 86th Amendment
Ans: b
14. Which article is known as the 'Heart and Soul' of the Constitution?
a) Article 14
b) Article 32
c) Article 19
d) Article 21
Ans: b
15. Who can enforce Fundamental Rights?
a) Parliament
b) President
c) Supreme Court
d) Prime Minister
Ans: c
16. How many Fundamental Duties are there?
a) 10
b) 11
c) 12
d) 9
Ans: b
17. Fundamental Duties were added by:
a) 44th Amendment
b) 52nd Amendment
c) 42nd Amendment
d) 86th Amendment
Ans: c
18. Which Article guarantees Freedom of Speech?
a) 21
b) 19
c) 15
d) 25
Ans: b
19. Right to Education (RTE) is under which article?
a) 21
b) 21A
c) 45
d) 41
Ans: b
20. Cultural and Educational Rights are in:
a) Articles 25–28
b) Articles 29–30
c) Articles 32–35
d) Articles 19–22
Ans: b

🔹 21–30: Directive Principles & State Policy

21. DPSPs are:


a) Enforceable by courts
b) Not enforceable
c) Part of Fundamental Rights
d) Optional
Ans: b
22. DPSPs are borrowed from:
a) USA
b) UK
c) Ireland
d) Germany
Ans: c
23. Which part of the Constitution deals with DPSPs?
a) Part III
b) Part IV
c) Part V
d) Part II
Ans: b
24. Which Article directs the state to secure equal justice?
a) 38
b) 39
c) 41
d) 44
Ans: a
25. Uniform Civil Code is mentioned in:
a) Article 44
b) Article 45
c) Article 46
d) Article 47
Ans: a
26. Which article promotes international peace?
a) Article 49
b) Article 50
c) Article 51
d) Article 52
Ans: c
27. Which is not a DPSP?
a) Free Legal Aid
b) Equal Pay
c) Right to Work
d) Right to Property
Ans: d
28. DPSPs aim to establish:
a) Rule of Law
b) Democratic State
c) Welfare State
d) Judicial Supremacy
Ans: c
29. Which amendment added Fundamental Duties?
a) 44th
b) 42nd
c) 86th
d) 74th
Ans: b
30. DPSPs are inspired by which ideology?
a) Capitalism
b) Communism
c) Socialism
d) Federalism
Ans: c

🔹 31–40: Union & Central Government

31. The President of India is elected by:


a) Direct Election
b) Electoral College
c) Rajya Sabha
d) Lok Sabha
Ans: b
32. Who is the real executive in India?
a) President
b) Prime Minister
c) Chief Justice
d) Speaker
Ans: b
33. The minimum age to become President is:
a) 25
b) 30
c) 35
d) 40
Ans: c
34. The Prime Minister is appointed by:
a) Lok Sabha
b) Rajya Sabha
c) President
d) Chief Justice
Ans: c
35. Who can dissolve the Lok Sabha?
a) Prime Minister
b) Vice President
c) President
d) Speaker
Ans: c
36. Rajya Sabha is:
a) Permanent
b) Temporary
c) Can be dissolved
d) Elected by people
Ans: a
37. Term of Lok Sabha is:
a) 4 years
b) 5 years
c) 6 years
d) 7 years
Ans: b
38. First woman President of India:
a) Indira Gandhi
b) Meira Kumar
c) Pratibha Patil
d) Sushma Swaraj
Ans: c
39. Attorney General of India is:
a) Chief Justice
b) PM
c) Chief Legal Advisor
d) Finance Minister
Ans: c
40. Total members in Lok Sabha:
a) 545
b) 550
c) 530
d) 552
Ans: a

🔹 41–50: Miscellaneous

41. India has how many Schedules in the Constitution?


a) 10
b) 11
c) 12
d) 9
Ans: c
42. Which article deals with Emergency provisions?
a) Article 360
b) Article 352
c) Article 356
d) All of the above
Ans: d
43. Anti-defection law is in which Schedule?
a) 8th
b) 9th
c) 10th
d) 11th
Ans: c
44. Panchayati Raj was introduced by which Amendment?
a) 42nd
b) 44th
c) 73rd
d) 86th
Ans: c
45. Right to Information Act came into force in:
a) 2004
b) 2005
c) 2006
d) 2008
Ans: b
46. Indian Constitution was influenced most by:
a) US
b) UK
c) Ireland
d) France
Ans: b
47. Which schedule contains languages?
a) 8th
b) 7th
c) 10th
d) 12th
Ans: a
48. Which language is not in the 8th Schedule?
a) Sanskrit
b) English
c) Urdu
d) Tamil
Ans: b
49. Who appoints the Governor of a state?
a) Prime Minister
b) Chief Minister
c) President
d) Parliament
Ans: c
50. Minimum age for Rajya Sabha membership:
a) 25
b) 30
c) 35
d) 21
Ans: b

🔹 51–70: Advanced Level Questions

51. Which part of the Constitution deals with Emergency provisions?


a) Part XVII
b) Part XVIII
c) Part XIX
d) Part XX
Ans: b
52. The 'Doctrine of Basic Structure' was propounded in:
a) Golaknath Case
b) Minerva Mills Case
c) Kesavananda Bharati Case
d) Maneka Gandhi Case
Ans: c
53. Which article allows the President to impose Financial Emergency?
a) Article 352
b) Article 356
c) Article 360
d) Article 365
Ans: c
54. The concept of Judicial Review in India is borrowed from:
a) USA
b) UK
c) Canada
d) Australia
Ans: a
55. Right to Privacy was declared a Fundamental Right in which case?
a) Golaknath Case
b) Kesavananda Bharati Case
c) Puttaswamy Case
d) Minerva Mills Case
Ans: c
56. Which Article deals with Abolition of Untouchability?
a) Article 15
b) Article 16
c) Article 17
d) Article 18
Ans: c
57. The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is:
a) Speaker of Lok Sabha
b) Chief Justice of India
c) Prime Minister
d) Vice President
Ans: d
58. Which schedule lists the Union, State, and Concurrent Lists?
a) 6th
b) 7th
c) 8th
d) 10th
Ans: b
59. Which amendment is called the Mini Constitution?
a) 24th
b) 42nd
c) 44th
d) 52nd
Ans: b
60. Which constitutional body advises the President on distribution of revenues?
a) Planning Commission
b) Finance Commission
c) NITI Aayog
d) Election Commission
Ans: b
61. The Election Commission is established under:
a) Article 320
b) Article 324
c) Article 325
d) Article 326
Ans: b
62. Which article provides for Administrative Tribunals?
a) Article 312
b) Article 320
c) Article 323A
d) Article 326
Ans: c
63. Which article deals with the official language of the Union?
a) Article 343
b) Article 348
c) Article 351
d) Article 348A
Ans: a
64. Which language was added to the 8th Schedule by the 92nd Amendment?
a) Santhali
b) Maithili
c) Bodo
d) All of the above
Ans: d
65. Money Bills can be introduced only in:
a) Rajya Sabha
b) Lok Sabha
c) Either House
d) President
Ans: b
66. Who certifies a bill as a Money Bill?
a) Finance Minister
b) President
c) Speaker of Lok Sabha
d) Prime Minister
Ans: c
67. The Right to Constitutional Remedies allows citizens to:
a) Vote
b) Form associations
c) Approach courts
d) Criticize the government
Ans: c
68. Which writ is issued by a court to free a person who is unlawfully detained?
a) Mandamus
b) Habeas Corpus
c) Certiorari
d) Quo Warranto
Ans: b
69. Separation of powers is a principle most closely related to:
a) Parliamentary Government
b) Presidential Government
c) Federal Government
d) Unitary Government
Ans: b
70. India became a Republic on:
a) 15th August 1947
b) 26th January 1950
c) 26th November 1949
d) 30th January 1948
Ans: b

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