Indian Constitution Basics: questions and answers
Study every question with its correct answer and explanation.
1. On which date did the Constituent Assembly adopt the Constitution of India?
- A. 26 January 1950
- B. 26 November 1949
- C. 15 August 1947
- D. 9 December 1946
Answer: 26 November 1949
The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949, now observed as Constitution Day (Samvidhan Divas), and came fully into force on 26 January 1950, Republic Day. The Constituent Assembly had held its first meeting on 9 December 1946.
2. Who was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution?
- A. B. R. Ambedkar
- B. Rajendra Prasad
- C. Jawaharlal Nehru
- D. B. N. Rau
Answer: B. R. Ambedkar
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee and is called the chief architect of the Indian Constitution. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the President of the Constituent Assembly, and B. N. Rau served as its Constitutional Adviser.
3. Which Article of the Indian Constitution abolishes untouchability?
- A. Article 14
- B. Article 19
- C. Article 21
- D. Article 17
Answer: Article 17
Article 17 abolishes untouchability and forbids its practice in any form, making it a punishable offence. Article 14 guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the laws.
4. Which Article did Dr. B. R. Ambedkar call the 'heart and soul' of the Constitution?
- A. Article 14
- B. Article 19
- C. Article 32
- D. Article 226
Answer: Article 32
Article 32 guarantees the Right to Constitutional Remedies, allowing citizens to move the Supreme Court directly to enforce Fundamental Rights. Under Article 226, High Courts can also issue writs such as habeas corpus and mandamus.
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5. Fundamental Duties were added to the Indian Constitution by which Amendment?
- A. 44th Amendment
- B. 42nd Amendment
- C. 52nd Amendment
- D. 73rd Amendment
Answer: 42nd Amendment
The 42nd Amendment (1976), based on the Swaran Singh Committee's recommendations, added Part IVA and Article 51A with ten Fundamental Duties. An eleventh duty, on providing education to children aged 6–14, was added by the 86th Amendment in 2002.
6. The Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution were inspired by the constitution of which country?
- A. Ireland
- B. United States
- C. United Kingdom
- D. Canada
Answer: Ireland
The Directive Principles (Part IV, Articles 36–51) were borrowed from the Irish Constitution and are not enforceable by courts. The Fundamental Rights, by contrast, were inspired by the Bill of Rights of the United States.
7. Which Article of the Indian Constitution deals with the power of Parliament to amend the Constitution?
- A. Article 352
- B. Article 356
- C. Article 360
- D. Article 368
Answer: Article 368
Article 368 lays down the power and procedure for amending the Constitution. The other three are emergency provisions: Article 352 (national emergency), Article 356 (President's Rule in a state) and Article 360 (financial emergency).
8. What is the minimum age to become a member of the Lok Sabha?
- A. 18 years
- B. 21 years
- C. 25 years
- D. 30 years
Answer: 25 years
Under Article 84, a candidate for the Lok Sabha must be at least 25 years old, while the minimum age for the Rajya Sabha is 30. The minimum age to be elected President of India is 35 years.
9. Article 21A, which makes free and compulsory education a Fundamental Right, was inserted by which Amendment?
- A. 42nd Amendment
- B. 86th Amendment
- C. 73rd Amendment
- D. 61st Amendment
Answer: 86th Amendment
The 86th Amendment Act of 2002 inserted Article 21A, guaranteeing free and compulsory education to all children aged 6 to 14. The 61st Amendment is remembered for lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 years.
10. Which Constitutional Amendment gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions?
- A. 52nd Amendment
- B. 44th Amendment
- C. 86th Amendment
- D. 73rd Amendment
Answer: 73rd Amendment
The 73rd Amendment Act of 1992 added Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule, giving constitutional status to Panchayati Raj; it came into force on 24 April 1993, now observed as National Panchayati Raj Day. The 74th Amendment did the same for urban local bodies (municipalities).