21 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 markWhen was India’s Constitution adopted?
(A) 15 August 1947(B) 26 January 1950(C) 2 October 1950(D) 26 November 1949 - 1 markOn which date did the Constitution formally come into force?
(A) 26 November 1949(B) 26 January 1950(C) 15 August 1950(D) 26 January 1949 - 1 markHow many times has the US Constitution been amended so far?
(A) 17 times(B) 27 times(C) 37 times(D) 47 times - 1 markWhere do all amendments to the Indian Constitution begin?
(A) In Parliament(B) With a constitution commission(C) In State legislatures(D) With the President - 1 markWhich article gives Parliament the power to increase the area of a state by ordinary law?
(A) Article 2(B) Article 3(C) Article 4(D) Article 368 - 1 markWhat is the basis of the constitutional amendment procedure?
(A) Judicial supremacy(B) Parliamentary sovereignty(C) The President’s consent(D) Referendum - 1 markWhat is the second condition for special majority?
(A) Half of those voting(B) Two-thirds of those voting(C) Three-fourths of those voting(D) Two-thirds of the total membership - 1 markWhat did the amendment to Article 74(1) clarify?
(A) The advice of the Council of Ministers is binding on the President(B) The President can declare an Emergency(C) The President can dissolve Parliament(D) The President is directly elected by the people - 1 markIn South Africa and Russia, how large a vote do some amendments need?
(A) Half majority(B) Two-thirds majority(C) Three-fourths majority(D) Unanimity - 1 markFor which provisions is the consent of the States necessary for an amendment?
(A) All provisions(B) Only education-related provisions(C) Only Fundamental Rights(D) Provisions related to the federal structure/representation - 1 markBy 26 January 2024, how many years had India’s Constitution been in force?
(A) 64 years(B) 69 years(C) 74 years(D) 79 years - 1 markWhich change was made by the 15th amendment?
(A) Raised High Court judges’ retirement age from 60 to 62(B) Lowered the voting age(C) Added Fundamental Duties(D) Extended the Lok Sabha’s term
2 Assertion-Reason
Assertion-Reason
- 1 markAssertion (A): A referendum is required to ratify a constitutional amendment under Article 368.
Reason (R): After an amendment bill is passed, it is sent to the President for assent, but the President cannot send it back for reconsideration.
(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 42nd amendment was made against the backdrop of the Emergency (June 1975).
Reason (R): This amendment shortened the Lok Sabha’s term from 6 years to 5 years.
(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): Two-thirds of the members present voting in favour is by itself enough to pass an amendment bill.
Reason (R): Those voting in favour of the amendment must also be at least half of the House’s total membership.
(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) Kesavananda Bharati case (B) Minerva Mills case (C) Justice Venkatachaliah Commission (D) 15th Amendment
(i) Raised High Court judges’ retirement age (ii) Basic structure doctrine put forward (1973) (iii) Commission to review the Constitution (2000) (iv) Basic structure doctrine reaffirmed (1980)
(A) A-i, B-ii, C-iv, D-iii(B) A-ii, B-iv, C-iii, D-i(C) A-iv, B-i, C-ii, D-iii(D) A-iii, B-ii, C-i, D-iv
4 Statement-Based Questions
Statement-Based Questions
- 1 markStatement I: The Justice Venkatachaliah Commission suggested measures that would endanger the basic structure doctrine.
Statement II: Opposition parties boycotted this commission.
(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) The Kesavananda Bharati ruling
(ii) The Constitution comes into force
(iii) The Emergency is declared
(iv) The 42nd Amendment is passed
(A) ii, i, iii, iv(B) i, ii, iii, iv(C) ii, iii, i, iv(D) iv, iii, i, ii
6 Odd One Out
Odd One Out
- 1 markWhich of the following is NOT a method of amending the Indian Constitution?
(A) Simple majority(B) Special majority(C) Special majority + ratification by States(D) Referendum
7 Passage-Based Questions
Passage-Based Questions
Passage
An amendment bill must satisfy two conditions: first, those voting in favour of the bill must be at least half of the House’s total membership. Second, those supporting the amendment must be at least two-thirds of all members taking part in the voting. The Lok Sabha has 545 members, so any amendment bill needs the support of at least 273 members, even if fewer members are present at the time of voting.
- 1 markAccording to the passage, how many members does the Lok Sabha have?
(A) 525(B) 535(C) 545(D) 555
8 True / False
True / False
- 1 markConsider the following statements.
(i) The basic structure doctrine is mentioned in the Constitution’s own text.
(ii) This doctrine was put forward in the Kesavananda Bharati case.
(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) India’s Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949, and formally came into force on 26 January 1950.
- (B) The Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950.
- (B) The US Constitution is more than 200 years old, but has been amended only 27 times so far.
- (A) All amendments are initiated only in Parliament, no outside agency such as a constitution commission is needed.
- (B) Article 3 provides that Parliament may by law increase the area of any state.
- (B) The final say on amendments rests with elected representatives, that is, its basis is parliamentary sovereignty.
- (B) Those supporting the amendment must also be at least two-thirds of all members who actually take part in the voting.
- (A) The Article 74(1) amendment clarified that the President shall act in accordance with the advice of the Council of Ministers, a purely technical amendment codifying an existing convention.
- (C) South Africa and Russia require a three-fourths majority for some amendments.
- (D) Provisions concerning the distribution of powers between the Centre and States, or concerning representation, need the consent of the States.
- (C) On 26 January 2024 the Constitution completed 74 years.
- (A) The 15th amendment raised the retirement age of High Court judges from 60 to 62 years.
Assertion-Reason
- (D) A is false, no referendum is required to ratify an amendment. R is true, the President cannot send an amendment bill back for reconsideration.
- (C) A is true. R is false, the 42nd amendment extended the Lok Sabha’s term from 5 to 6 years, not the other way round.
- (D) A is false, a two-thirds vote alone is not sufficient, the condition of half the total membership must also be met. R is true, this is the condition of half the total membership, which must be met along with the two-thirds condition.
Match the Following
- (B) Kesavananda Bharati put forward the basic structure doctrine (ii); Minerva Mills reaffirmed it (iv); the Venkatachaliah Commission was set up to review the Constitution (iii); the 15th amendment raised judges’ retirement age (i).
Statement-Based Questions
- (C) Statement I is false, the commission stuck to the basic structure theory and suggested nothing that would endanger it. Statement II is true.
Chronological Ordering
- (A) First the Constitution came into force (1950, ii), then the Kesavananda Bharati ruling came (1973, i), then the Emergency was declared (1975, iii), then the 42nd amendment was passed (1976, iv).
Odd One Out
- (D) A referendum is not a method of amending the Indian Constitution at all, this provision does not exist in India.
Passage-Based Questions
- (C) According to the passage, the Lok Sabha has 545 members.
True / False
- (C) Statement (i) is false, this doctrine is nowhere mentioned in the Constitution’s own text. Statement (ii) is true.
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