Preamble and Features of the Constitution MCQ: Fundamental Duties, DPSP & the 61st and 42nd Amendments

Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.

1. Q1.Which of the following is NOT a unitary feature of the Indian Constitution?

   • A.Strong Centre
   • B.Single Constitution
   • C.Independent Judiciary✓ Correct Answer
   • D.All-India Services

   Explanation: An Independent Judiciary is a federal feature (as it acts as an umpire between Centre and States), whereas Strong Centre, Single Constitution, and All-India Services are unitary features.

2. Q2.The date of adoption of the Indian Constitution as mentioned in the Preamble is:

   • A.26th January, 1950
   • B.26th November, 1949✓ Correct Answer
   • C.15th August, 1947
   • D.26th January, 1930

   Explanation: The Preamble states 'In our Constituent Assembly this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do hereby adopt, enact and give to ourselves this Constitution'.

3. Q3.Fundamental Duties were added to the Constitution on the recommendation of which committee?

   • A.Verma Committee
   • B.Sarkaria Commission
   • C.Swaran Singh Committee✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Mandal Commission

   Explanation: Fundamental Duties were added by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee.

4. Q4.Which Constitutional Amendment reduced the voting age from 21 to 18 years?

   • A.42nd Amendment
   • B.44th Amendment
   • C.61st Amendment✓ Correct Answer
   • D.74th Amendment

   Explanation: The 61st Constitutional Amendment Act of 1988 reduced the voting age from 21 years to 18 years for the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly elections.

5. Q5.The concept of 'Concurrent List' in the Indian Constitution is borrowed from:

   • A.Canada
   • B.Australia✓ Correct Answer
   • C.USA
   • D.Ireland

   Explanation: The Concurrent List, Freedom of trade, commerce and intercourse, and Joint sitting of the two houses of Parliament are borrowed from the Australian Constitution.

6. Q6.Who called the Preamble the 'Identity Card of the Constitution'?

   • A.Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
   • B.Jawaharlal Nehru
   • C.N.A. Palkhivala✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Dr. Rajendra Prasad

   Explanation: N.A. Palkhivala, an eminent jurist and constitutional expert, called the Preamble the 'Identity Card of the Constitution'.

7. Q7.Which of the following is NOT a part of the 'Basic Structure' of the Constitution as declared by the Supreme Court?

   • A.Supremacy of the Constitution
   • B.Rule of Law
   • C.Power of Parliament to amend the Constitution✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Judicial Review

   Explanation: While Parliament has the power to amend the Constitution, this power itself is limited and not absolute. The 'limited power of Parliament to amend' is part of the basic structure, but absolute power is not.

8. Q8.The concept of 'Directive Principles of State Policy' (DPSP) was borrowed from which country?

   • A.USA
   • B.Canada
   • C.Ireland✓ Correct Answer
   • D.USSR

   Explanation: The Directive Principles of State Policy were borrowed from the Irish Constitution, which had copied it from the Spanish Constitution.

9. Q9.Who described the Preamble as the 'Horoscope of our Sovereign Democratic Republic'?

   • A.K.M. Munshi✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar
   • C.B.N. Rau
   • D.Mahatma Gandhi

   Explanation: K.M. Munshi, a member of the Drafting Committee, described the Preamble as the 'Horoscope of our Sovereign Democratic Republic'.

10. Q10.Which Constitutional Amendment Act gave a constitutional status and protection to cooperative societies?

    • A.95th Amendment Act
    • B.96th Amendment Act
    • C.97th Amendment Act✓ Correct Answer
    • D.98th Amendment Act

    Explanation: The 97th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2011 gave constitutional status and protection to cooperative societies.

11. Q11.The Indian Constitution is regarded as:

    • A.Federal
    • B.Unitary
    • C.Federal in form and Unitary in spirit✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Purely Federal

    Explanation: K.C. Wheare described the Constitution of India as 'Quasi-federal'. It is often described as 'federal in form but unitary in spirit'.

12. Q12.Which of the following provisions of the Constitution can be amended by a simple majority of the Parliament?

    • A.Election of the President
    • B.Fundamental Rights
    • C.Formation of new states✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Amendment of the Constitution (Article 368)

    Explanation: Formation of new states and alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing states can be amended by a simple majority.

13. Q13.The term 'Justice' in the Preamble embraces three distinct forms. Which of the following is NOT one of them?

    • A.Social Justice
    • B.Economic Justice
    • C.Political Justice
    • D.Religious Justice✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: The Preamble secures to all citizens Justice: Social, Economic and Political. Religious justice is not explicitly mentioned as a category of justice.

14. Q14.From which constitution did India borrow the method of election of the President?

    • A.US Constitution
    • B.Irish Constitution✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Australian Constitution
    • D.German Constitution

    Explanation: The method of election of the President and the nomination of members to Rajya Sabha were borrowed from the Irish Constitution.

15. Q15.Which Schedule of the Constitution distributes powers between the Union and the States?

    • A.Sixth Schedule
    • B.Seventh Schedule✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Eighth Schedule
    • D.Ninth Schedule

    Explanation: The Seventh Schedule contains the division of powers between the Union and the States in terms of the Union List, State List, and Concurrent List.

16. Q16.The Ninth Schedule was added to the Constitution by which Amendment?

    • A.1st Amendment Act, 1951✓ Correct Answer
    • B.24th Amendment Act, 1971
    • C.42nd Amendment Act, 1976
    • D.44th Amendment Act, 1978

    Explanation: The Ninth Schedule was added by the 1st Amendment Act of 1951 to protect land reform laws from judicial scrutiny.

17. Q17.The ideal of 'Political Justice' is ensured by:

    • A.Directive Principles of State Policy
    • B.Fundamental Rights only
    • C.Universal Adult Franchise and Fundamental Rights✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Preamble only

    Explanation: Political justice implies that all citizens should have equal political rights, equal access to all political offices, and equal voice in the government. This is ensured by Universal Adult Franchise and Fundamental Rights.

18. Q18.Which of the following is considered the 'custodian' of the Constitution?

    • A.The President
    • B.The Prime Minister
    • C.The Supreme Court✓ Correct Answer
    • D.The Parliament

    Explanation: The Supreme Court acts as the custodian and guardian of the Constitution and the Fundamental Rights.

19. Q19.The term 'Republic' in our Preamble indicates that:

    • A.India has an elected head called the President✓ Correct Answer
    • B.The Prime Minister has supreme power
    • C.The King is the head of the state
    • D.The Parliament is supreme

    Explanation: A Republic means that the head of the state is elected (directly or indirectly) for a fixed period and not a hereditary monarch.

20. Q20.Which Article of the Indian Constitution declares India as a 'Union of States'?

    • A.Article 1✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Article 2
    • C.Article 3
    • D.Article 4

    Explanation: Article 1 describes India, that is Bharat, as a 'Union of States' rather than a 'Federation of States'.