Polity Topics
Undergraduate level — Polity
Choose question count and time — session stays in your browser only.
filter_alt Topics
Constitution
Fundamental Rights
Parliament & Legislature
Local Self Government
Bihar Governance
quiz Questions
Q281
Under the doctrine of 'Reasonable Classification' embedded in Article 14, what is the precise impact of the 'new dimension' introduced in the E.P. Royappa case?
Equality is subverted if under-inclusive classifications are permitted by state policy.
Equality is a dynamic concept, and any executive or legislative action characterized by arbitrariness violates Article 14.
Classification is valid only when it relies on chronological or geographic lines.
Arbitrariness can be condoned if the legislature satisfies the 'intelligible differentia' parameter.
Explanation
Justice P.N. Bhagwati in E.P. Royappa v. State of Tamil Nadu established that equality is a dynamic concept with many aspects, and it cannot be cribbed, cabined, and confined within traditional classification walls. It is antithetical to arbitrariness.
Q282
The constitutional validity of Article 15(5), which enables reservations in private unaided educational institutions, was upheld by the Supreme Court in which landmark judgment?
Ashoka Kumar Thakur v. Union of India
P.A. Inamdar v. State of Maharashtra
Pramati Educational and Cultural Trust v. Union of India
T.M.A. Pai Foundation v. State of Karnataka
Explanation
In Pramati Educational and Cultural Trust v. Union of India (2014), the Supreme Court upheld the validity of the 93rd Constitutional Amendment Act, which inserted Article 15(5) allowing reservations in private educational institutions, whether aided or unaided.
Q283
In Indra Sawhney v. Union of India (1992), what was the Supreme Court's definitive ruling regarding backwardness and reservation frameworks under Article 16(4)?
Backward classes can be identified exclusively on economic criteria without any reference to caste hierarchies.
Reservations under Article 16(4) apply equally to initial appointments and subsequent promotional cadres.
Caste can be a valid baseline for identifying backward classes, but the 'creamy layer' must be excluded, and a 50% cap must generally apply.
The 50% cap can be violated by simple executive circulars without showing any quantitative data.
Explanation
The Court held that backward classes under Article 16(4) can be identified on the basis of caste and not economic criteria alone, reservations cannot exceed 50% except in extraordinary situations, and reservation in promotions is unconstitutional.
Q284
Which of the following restrictions on the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(2) was explicitly added by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951?
Sovereignty and integrity of India
Public order, friendly relations with foreign states, and incitement to an offence
Decency, morality, and contempt of court
Security of the State and defamation
Explanation
The Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, introduced three new grounds of restriction to Article 19(2): 'Public order', 'Friendly relations with foreign States', and 'Incitement to an offence'.
Q285
The protections under Article 20(3) against self-incrimination extend to which of the following scenarios based on modern judicial precedents like Selvi v. State of Karnataka?
Compulsory extraction of blood or DNA samples for identification matrices.
Involuntary administration of narco-analysis, polygraph examinations, and brain mapping tests.
Voluntary production of physical documents summoned by an investigating agency.
Compulsory fingerprints scanning under standard biometric registration laws.
Explanation
In Selvi (2010), the Supreme Court ruled that the forced administration of narco-analysis, polygraph tests, and brain mapping violates Article 20(3) as it amounts to testimonial compulsion, whereas physical samples do not.
Q286
In the evolution of Article 21, how did the judgment in Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India redefine the 'Procedure Established by Law' concept?
It narrowed Article 21 to shield state executive actions if they follow any enacted text of law.
It established that the legislative procedure must be checked exclusively against procedural requirements without analyzing fairness.
It introduced the requirement that the procedure must be 'just, fair, and reasonable', effectively assimilating American procedural due process.
It held that the right to life could be suspended by simple executive declarations during non-emergencies.
Explanation
Maneka Gandhi (1978) overrode Gopalan by holding that the procedure depriving a person of life or liberty must not be arbitrary, fanciful, or oppressive; it must be 'just, fair, and reasonable', importing substantive due process elements.
Q287
Under Article 22, what is the maximum duration for which a person can be detained under a preventive detention law without obtaining a supportive opinion from an Advisory Board, as currently operationalized?
Two months, pursuant to the unconditional operationalization of the 44th Amendment Act.
Three months, because the corresponding amendment in the 44th Amendment Act reducing it was never notified.
Six months, subject to immediate judicial validation by a High Court division bench.
One month, unless extended by an explicit resolution passed by the Lok Sabha.
Explanation
Article 22(4) sets a maximum of three months. Though the 44th Amendment proposed reducing it to two months, that section was never officially notified by the executive, leaving the limit at three months.
Q288
Which of the following constitutional provisions guarantees protection against 'begar' and other forms of forced labor, and to what extent can the State enforce exceptions?
Article 23; the State cannot make any exception under any circumstances.
Article 24; the State can enforce compulsory military service based on economic classifications.
Article 23; the State can impose compulsory service for public purposes without discriminating solely on social grounds.
Article 39; the State can enforce community labor programs during financial emergencies.
Explanation
Article 23 prohibits forced labor, but Article 23(2) allows the State to impose compulsory service for public purposes (e.g., military conscription or social service), provided it does not discriminate on grounds only of religion, race, caste, or class.
Q289
In Shayara Bano v. Union of India (2017), the practice of Talaq-e-Biddat (triple talaq) was declared unconstitutional primarily on which ground?
It violated the absolute freedom of conscience under Article 25.
It was found to be manifestly arbitrary and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution.
It directly infringed the minority cultural administrative rights guaranteed under Article 30.
It conflicted with the directive principles regarding a Uniform Civil Code under Article 44.
Explanation
The majority held that triple talaq is arbitrary because the marital tie can be broken whimsically and capriciously without any attempt at reconciliation. This violates the principle of equality under Article 14.
Q290
What is the structural distinction between the rights guaranteed under Article 29(1) and Article 30(1) regarding educational and cultural safety?
Article 29(1) is confined to linguistic factions, whereas Article 30(1) applies to all majoritarian sects.
Article 29(1) applies to any section of citizens, while Article 30(1) is strictly a protection for religious and linguistic minorities.
Article 30(1) allows judicial immunity to minority institutions against standard regulatory legislation.
Both articles are identical in application but apply to separate geographical territories.
Explanation
Article 29(1) applies to any section of citizens (majority or minority) seeking to conserve their language, script, or culture. Article 30(1) is explicitly restricted to religious and linguistic minorities to establish and administer educational institutions.