Q30. India’s description as a Union despite having a federal structure was influenced by which Constitution?
[MPPSC Assistant Professor, Political Science Paper II, 1 June 2025]
(A) American Constitution
(B) South African Constitution
(C) French Constitution
(D) Canadian Constitution
Answer: (D) Canadian Constitution
Explanation: Canada offered the framers a model of federation with a strong Centre. India similarly uses the concept of a Union rather than a voluntary agreement between independent States. This design gives importance to national unity while retaining State governments and allocated powers.
Q29. Considering its amendment procedure, how should the Indian Constitution be characterised?
[Odisha B.Ed. Entrance (Arts), 1 June 2025]
(A) Flexible
(B) Partly rigid and partly flexible
(C) Rigid
(D) Democratic
Answer: (B) Partly rigid and partly flexible
Explanation: Constitutional change in India follows different procedures depending on the subject. Some provisions can be altered through ordinary legislation, while others require special parliamentary majorities or State ratification. Accordingly, the Constitution is neither fully rigid nor wholly flexible.
Q28. Which of the following is a federal feature of the Indian Constitution?
[SSC MTS, 11 November 2024, Shift 2]
(A) Bicameralism
(B) Integrated judiciary
(C) Single citizenship
(D) None of the above
Answer: (A) Bicameralism
Explanation: India’s Parliament has two Houses: the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The Rajya Sabha represents the States within the national legislature, making bicameralism an important federal feature. Single citizenship and the integrated judiciary, on the other hand, are generally classified as unitary features.
Q27. Which Articles of the Constitution provide for the parliamentary form of government at the Centre?
[SSC MTS, 7 October 2024, Shift 3]
(A) Articles 74 and 75
(B) Articles 71 and 72
(C) Articles 79 and 80
(D) Articles 76 and 77
Answer: (A) Articles 74 and 75
Explanation: Article 74 provides for a Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister to aid and advise the President. Article 75 deals with ministerial appointments and collective responsibility to the Lok Sabha. Together these provisions underpin responsible parliamentary government at the Union level.
Q26. Which feature of the Indian Constitution was borrowed from the Irish Constitution?
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 13 September 2024, Shift 1]
(A) Directive Principles of State Policy
(B) Concurrent List
(C) Fundamental Rights
(D) Rule of Law
Answer: (A) Directive Principles of State Policy
Explanation: The Directive Principles of State Policy were inspired by Ireland and appear in Part IV of the Indian Constitution. They guide governmental policy towards public welfare and social justice. Unlike Fundamental Rights, these constitutional principles are not directly enforceable by courts.
Q25. Secularism as a feature of the Indian Constitution means that:
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 4 July 2024, Shift 1]
(A) The State promotes the majority religion
(B) The State does not promote any particular religion
(C) The State may promote whichever religion it chooses
(D) The State promotes minority religions
Answer: (B) The State does not promote any particular religion
Explanation: A secular State does not adopt or favour any particular religion as its official faith. Indian constitutional secularism protects freedom of conscience and religious practice while permitting lawful regulation and social reform. It seeks equal citizenship irrespective of religious belief.
Q24. Under Article 368, Parliament may amend a constitutional provision by which of these methods: (1) addition, (2) variation, (3) repeal?
[UPSC CSE Prelims, General Studies Paper I, 2024]
(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: Article 368 expressly permits amendments through addition, variation or repeal, subject to its prescribed procedure. However, this power is limited by the judicially recognised basic structure doctrine. Parliament cannot use an amendment to destroy the Constitution’s essential features.
Q23. Consider the statements:
(1) India comprises 28 States and 8 Union Territories.
(2) India is a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic with a parliamentary system.
Which is/are correct?
[CGPSC State Services Prelims, 11 February 2024, Paper I]
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2
Explanation: Both statements were correct for the examination period. India had 28 States and eight Union Territories. Its Preamble declares the country sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic and republican, while its institutions operate through a parliamentary system with ministers responsible to the legislature.
Q22. Which is the correct sequence of these words in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution?
[UPPSC RO/ARO, General Studies, 11 February 2024]
(A) Socialist, Secular, Sovereign, Democratic
(B) Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic
(C) Secular, Socialist, Sovereign, Democratic
(D) Sovereign, Secular, Socialist, Democratic
Answer: (B) Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic
Explanation: The Preamble describes India in the sequence “Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic”. “Sovereign” signifies independence; “Socialist” expresses a commitment to social and economic justice; “Secular” reflects religious neutrality; and “Democratic” recognises government based on the people’s consent.
Q21. Which of the following is the correct statement appearing in the Constitution of India?
[WBCS Mains 2023, Polity and Economy (exam year 2023)]
(A) India shall be a Federation of States
(B) India shall be a Union of States
(C) India shall be a Quasi-Federal State
(D) India shall be a Unitary State
Answer: (B) India shall be a Union of States
Explanation: Article 1 begins, “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.” The expression underlines the enduring character of the Indian Union. The Constitution allocates powers federally, but the States do not possess a constitutional right to secede.
