"Fundamental Rights, Duties & DPSPs" — Practice

Question 1

How many categories of Fundamental Rights currently exist in the Indian Constitution?
(a) Six (b) Seven (c) Five (d) Eight

Accepted Answer

(a) Six.

The Right to Property (originally the seventh category) was removed from Part III by the 44th Amendment, 1978, and downgraded to a legal right under Article 300A, leaving six current categories.

Question 2

Which case expanded Article 21's 'procedure established by law' to mean a procedure that must be fair, just and reasonable?
(a) Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India, 1978 (b) A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras, 1950 (c) Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, 1973 (d) Minerva Mills v. Union of India, 1980

Accepted Answer

(a) Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India, 1978.

This case overturned the narrow 1950 Gopalan interpretation, reading fairness and reasonableness into Article 21's procedure requirement — effectively importing elements of the American 'due process' standard.

Question 3

The Right to Privacy was held to be a Fundamental Right under Article 21 by a 9-judge Supreme Court bench in which case?
(a) K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India, 2017 (b) Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India, 1978 (c) Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, 1973 (d) Minerva Mills v. Union of India, 1980

Accepted Answer

(a) K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India, 2017.

A nine-judge bench unanimously held that the Right to Privacy is intrinsic to the Right to Life and Personal Liberty under Article 21, settling a long-running debate.

Question 4

Which writ is used to challenge the legal authority of a person holding a public office?
(a) Quo Warranto (b) Habeas Corpus (c) Mandamus (d) Certiorari

Accepted Answer

(a) Quo Warranto.

Literally meaning 'by what authority,' this writ is used specifically to question whether a person is legally entitled to hold a particular public office.

Question 5

Compared to the Supreme Court's writ jurisdiction under Article 32, the High Court's writ jurisdiction under Article 226 is:
(a) wider, since it covers Fundamental Rights and any other legal right (b) narrower, limited only to Fundamental Rights (c) identical in scope (d) restricted to criminal matters only

Accepted Answer

(a) wider, since it covers Fundamental Rights and any other legal right.

Article 226 allows High Courts to issue writs for enforcement of Fundamental Rights AND for 'any other purpose,' i.e., ordinary legal rights — broader than the Supreme Court's Article 32 jurisdiction, which is limited to Fundamental Rights.

Question 6

Which of the following Fundamental Rights CANNOT be suspended even during a National Emergency?
(a) Articles 20 and 21 (b) Article 19 (c) Article 32 (d) Article 25

Accepted Answer

(a) Articles 20 and 21.

The 44th Amendment (1978) specifically protected Articles 20 (protection in respect of conviction) and 21 (life and personal liberty) from suspension even during a National Emergency, as a safeguard after the 1975-77 Emergency's excesses.

Question 7

Fundamental Duties were added to the Constitution by which amendment, on the recommendation of which committee?
(a) 42nd Amendment, 1976 — Swaran Singh Committee (b) 44th Amendment, 1978 — Sarkaria Commission (c) 73rd Amendment, 1992 — Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (d) 86th Amendment, 2002 — Kothari Commission

Accepted Answer

(a) 42nd Amendment, 1976 — Swaran Singh Committee.

The Swaran Singh Committee recommended adding Fundamental Duties, which were inserted as Part IVA, Article 51A, by the 42nd Amendment. An 11th duty was later added by the 86th Amendment, 2002.

Question 8

Fundamental Duties under Article 51A are applicable to:
(a) citizens of India only (b) all persons within India, including foreign nationals (c) only government employees (d) only members of Parliament

Accepted Answer

(a) citizens of India only.

Unlike most Fundamental Rights (which extend to all 'persons'), Fundamental Duties apply exclusively to citizens.

Question 9

Which case struck down the 42nd Amendment's attempt to give Directive Principles unconditional primacy over Fundamental Rights under Articles 14, 19 and 31?
(a) Minerva Mills v. Union of India, 1980 (b) Champakam Dorairajan v. State of Madras, 1951 (c) Golaknath v. State of Punjab, 1967 (d) I.R. Coelho v. State of Tamil Nadu, 2007

Accepted Answer

(a) Minerva Mills v. Union of India, 1980.

The Supreme Court held that the balance between Fundamental Rights and DPSPs is itself part of the basic structure, so neither can be given absolute, unconditional primacy over the other.

Question 10

The Directive Principle calling for a Uniform Civil Code is contained in:
(a) Article 44 (b) Article 39 (c) Article 48 (d) Article 51

Accepted Answer

(a) Article 44.

Article 44 directs the state to secure a Uniform Civil Code for citizens throughout India; it falls under the Liberal-Intellectual category of DPSPs, alongside Articles 45, 48, 48A and 50.

Question 11

Directive Principles of State Policy, as per Article 37, are:
(a) not enforceable by any court but fundamental in governance (b) fully enforceable like Fundamental Rights (c) enforceable only during a state of emergency (d) applicable only to Union Territories

Accepted Answer

(a) not enforceable by any court but fundamental in governance.

Article 37 explicitly states DPSPs are non-justiciable but remain fundamental in the governance of the country, and it is the state's duty to apply them in making laws.

Question 12

Which case first held that in a conflict between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles, Fundamental Rights would prevail, prompting the 1st Constitutional Amendment?
(a) Champakam Dorairajan v. State of Madras, 1951 (b) Golaknath v. State of Punjab, 1967 (c) Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, 1973 (d) Minerva Mills v. Union of India, 1980

Accepted Answer

(a) Champakam Dorairajan v. State of Madras, 1951.

This case held Fundamental Rights were 'sacrosanct' over DPSPs, prompting the 1st Amendment (1951), which added Article 31B and the Ninth Schedule to protect DPSP-implementing land reform laws from Fundamental Rights challenges.

Question 13

Reasonable restrictions on the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) can be imposed on grounds including all EXCEPT:
(a) promotion of religious harmony among all faiths (b) security of the state (c) public order (d) contempt of court

Accepted Answer

(a) promotion of religious harmony among all faiths.

Article 19(2) lists specific grounds for restricting free speech — sovereignty/integrity of India, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency/morality, contempt of court, defamation and incitement to an offence. 'Promotion of religious harmony' as a standalone restriction ground is not among these listed grounds.

Question 14

The Right to Education as a Fundamental Right (Article 21A) was inserted by which amendment, and covers which age group?
(a) 86th Amendment, 2002 — ages 6 to 14 (b) 42nd Amendment, 1976 — ages 6 to 18 (c) 73rd Amendment, 1992 — ages 3 to 14 (d) 44th Amendment, 1978 — ages 6 to 14

Accepted Answer

(a) 86th Amendment, 2002 — ages 6 to 14.

Article 21A guarantees free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14, implemented through the RTE Act, 2009.

Question 15

The Golaknath v. State of Punjab (1967) judgment held that:
(a) Parliament cannot amend Fundamental Rights at all (b) Parliament can amend any part of the Constitution freely (c) DPSPs override Fundamental Rights (d) the Preamble is not part of the Constitution

Accepted Answer

(a) Parliament cannot amend Fundamental Rights at all.

This extreme position (giving Fundamental Rights a 'transcendental' status beyond Parliament's amending power) was later overturned by Kesavananda Bharati (1973), which held Parliament CAN amend Fundamental Rights, subject to the basic structure doctrine.

Practice — "Fundamental Rights, Duties & DPSPs"

Sign in to save attempts to your dashboard and track your accuracy over time

Find a verified tutor

Join a live course

Browse coaching centres

About

Categories

Support

Documentation

Get Study Tips & Updates

Download Our App

Download for iOS

Download for Android

Popular Cities