19 multiple-choice (MCQ / objective) questions from this chapter, in every exam-style shape used in the paper. Every question comes with an explanation along with the answer, so you remember why the option is correct, not just which one it is.
1 Direct Questions
Direct Questions
- 1 markWhich of the following is NOT one of the three things included in the political philosophy approach?
(A) Interpreting the Constitution’s concepts(B) Building a coherent vision(C) Reading it together with the Constituent Assembly Debates(D) Treating the Constitution as merely a legal document - 1 markWhat is the 1947 Japanese Constitution colloquially called?
(A) Freedom Constitution(B) Peace Constitution(C) Democracy Constitution(D) Equality Constitution - 1 markWhich step of the British government did Rammohan Roy oppose?
(A) Restrictions on freedom of the press(B) Restrictions on religious education(C) Restrictions on the right to vote(D) Restrictions on the right to property - 1 markFor how long before the adoption of the Constitution did every single resolution, scheme, bill and report of the Indian National Congress mention individual rights as a non-negotiable value?
(A) Over twenty years(B) Over thirty years(C) Over forty years(D) Over fifty years - 1 markAccording to K.M. Panikkar, who started the first stream of Indian liberalism?
(A) Swami Vivekananda(B) Rammohan Roy(C) Justice Ranade(D) K.C. Sen - 1 markWhich article contains the asymmetric federalism linked to the North-East?
(A) Article 370(B) Article 371(C) Article 372(D) Article 368 - 1 markIn which year was the Motilal Nehru Report?
(A) 1919(B) 1928(C) 1935(D) 1947 - 1 markFor whom was the spirit of true fraternity a deeply cherished goal?
(A) Sardar Patel(B) Nehru(C) Gandhi(D) Dr. Ambedkar - 1 markWhat does the ‘voice’ aspect of representation mean?
(A) People being recognised in their own language and voice(B) A majority decision(C) Taking part in elections(D) The right to amend the Constitution - 1 markAs early as which year was it noticed that the Dalit people of northern India were using the newly introduced legal system to bring suits against their landlords?
(A) 1821(B) 1841(C) 1861(D) 1881
2 Assertion-Reason
Assertion-Reason
- 1 markAssertion (A): In the Indian Constitution, the separation of religion and state takes the form of mutual exclusion.
Reason (R): The state can fund educational institutions run by religious organisations.
(A) Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A(B) Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A(C) A is true, R is false(D) A is false, R is true - 1 markAssertion (A): The Indian Constitution makes special provisions for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Reason (R): The makers of the Constitution believed that the right to equality alone was not enough to undo the historical injustice done to these sections.
(A) Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A(B) Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A(C) A is true, R is false(D) A is false, R is true - 1 markAssertion (A): Nagaland was given special status under Article 371A.
Reason (R): This article cancels laws already in force in Nagaland.
(A) Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A(B) Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A(C) A is true, R is false(D) A is false, R is true
3 Match the Following
Match the Following
- 1 markMatch the following:
(A) Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar (B) Sardar Patel (C) K. Hanumanthaiya (D) K.M. Panikkar
(i) The two streams of Indian liberalism (ii) Support for adult franchise (iii) Veena-Sitar versus an English band (iv) Only one community in India
(A) A-i, B-ii, C-iii, D-iv(B) A-ii, B-iv, C-iii, D-i(C) A-iv, B-i, C-ii, D-iii(D) A-iii, B-ii, C-iv, D-i
4 Statement-Based Questions
Statement-Based Questions
- 1 markStatement I: In the western notion, secularism means mutual exclusion.
Statement II: In India too, secularism means the same thing.
(A) Both statements are true(B) Statement I is true, Statement II is false(C) Statement I is false, Statement II is true(D) Both statements are false - 1 markStatement I: All the limitations of the Indian Constitution seriously threaten its philosophy.
Statement II: Socio-economic rights are an integral part of the Fundamental Rights in the Indian Constitution.
(A) Both statements are true(B) Statement I is true, Statement II is false(C) Statement I is false, Statement II is true(D) Both statements are false
5 Chronological Ordering
Chronological Ordering
- 1 markArrange these events in the correct chronological order:
(i) Formation of the Constituent Assembly
(ii) Constitution adopted
(iii) Constitution comes into force
(iv) Sardar Patel’s ‘one community’ speech in the Constituent Assembly (25 May 1949)
(A) i, iv, ii, iii(B) i, ii, iii, iv(C) iv, i, ii, iii(D) i, iii, ii, iv
6 Odd One Out
Odd One Out
- 1 markWhich of the following is NOT a ‘substantive achievement’ but a ‘procedural achievement’?
(A) Individual liberty(B) Social justice(C) The spirit of compromise and accommodation(D) Universal franchise
7 True / False
True / False
- 1 markConsider the following statements.
(i) Community-based rights are given no recognition at all in the Indian Constitution.
(ii) Religious communities can establish their own educational institutions.
(A) Only (i) is true(B) Both are true(C) Only (ii) is true(D) Both are false
Answer Key and Explanations
Direct Questions
- (D) Treating the Constitution as merely a legal document is the opposite of the political philosophy approach. It is exactly the assumption this approach challenges.
- (B) The 1947 Japanese Constitution is colloquially called the ‘Peace Constitution’.
- (A) Rammohan Roy opposed the British government’s restrictions on freedom of the press.
- (C) For over forty years before the adoption of the Constitution, every single resolution, scheme, bill and report of the Indian National Congress mentioned individual rights, not just in passing but as a non-negotiable value.
- (B) The first stream began with Rammohan Roy, who emphasised individual rights, especially women’s rights.
- (B) Article 371 is linked to the North-East and reflects the concept of asymmetric federalism.
- (B) The Motilal Nehru Report came in 1928, and reaffirmed the citizenship-notion of universal franchise.
- (D) Our Constitution wanted to develop a spirit of true fraternity rather than an imposed unity, a goal deeply cherished by Dr. Ambedkar.
- (A) ‘Voice’ means that people are recognised through their own language and voice, not the language of their rulers.
- (B) As early as 1841, it was noticed that the Dalit people of northern India were not afraid to use the newly introduced legal system and bring suits against their landlords.
Assertion-Reason
- (D) A is false, in India this separation is not mutual exclusion but principled distance. R is true, the state can fund religious educational institutions, and this is itself an example of principled distance.
- (A) Both are true, and this is exactly why special provisions (reservation) were made, so R correctly explains A.
- (C) A is true. R is false, this article does not cancel laws already in force in Nagaland, it recognises them.
Match the Following
- (B) Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar supported adult franchise (ii); Sardar Patel spoke of ‘one community’ (iv); K. Hanumanthaiya spoke of Veena-Sitar versus an English band (iii); K.M. Panikkar spoke of the two streams of Indian liberalism (i).
Statement-Based Questions
- (B) Statement I is true. Statement II is false, in India secularism means principled distance, not mutual exclusion.
- (D) Statement I is false, according to the book these limitations are not serious enough to seriously threaten the Constitution’s philosophy. Statement II is also false, socio-economic rights are placed in the Directive Principles, not the Fundamental Rights.
Chronological Ordering
- (A) First the Constituent Assembly was formed (December 1946, i), then Sardar Patel made his ‘one community’ speech in it (25 May 1949, iv), then the Constitution was adopted (26 November 1949, ii), and then it came into force (26 January 1950, iii).
Odd One Out
- (C) The spirit of compromise and accommodation is a procedural achievement, the other three are substantive achievements.
True / False
- (C) Statement (i) is false, the Constitution does recognise community-based rights. Statement (ii) is true.
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