GK Questions

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polity hard fill_blank

In Indra Sawhney v. Union of India (1992), the Supreme Court upheld 27% reservation for OBCs but introduced the '______ layer' concept to exclude advanced sections within OBCs from reservation benefits, ensuring affirmative action reaches the neediest.

  1. upper
  2. creamy
  3. elite
  4. forward
polity hard true_false

In Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan (1997), the Supreme Court laid down guidelines to prevent sexual harassment at workplace, filling legislative vacuum until the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act was enacted in 2013, illustrating judicial activism in protecting women's rights under Articles 14, 15, 19, and 21.

  1. True
  2. False
polity hard mcq

In Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978), the Supreme Court expanded the scope of Article 21 (right to life and personal liberty) by holding that the procedure established by law must be:

  1. Any procedure prescribed by statute
  2. Fair, just, and reasonable, not arbitrary or oppressive
  3. Approved by the President before implementation
  4. Subject to Parliamentary ratification within 30 days
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In I.R. Coelho v. State of Tamil Nadu (2007), the Supreme Court held that laws placed in the Ninth Schedule after April 24, 1973 (date of Kesavananda judgment) are subject to ______ review, and can be struck down if they violate fundamental rights forming part of basic structure.

  1. procedural
  2. basic structure
  3. administrative
  4. financial
polity hard true_false

In Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association v. Union of India (2015), the Supreme Court struck down the 99th Constitutional Amendment establishing the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC), holding that judicial independence is part of the basic structure and executive dominance in judicial appointments threatens separation of powers.

  1. True
  2. False
polity hard mcq

In Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India (2020), the Supreme Court applied the proportionality test to internet shutdowns. Which of the following was NOT a requirement imposed by the Court for imposing internet restrictions?

  1. Publication of shutdown orders for transparency
  2. Time-bound restrictions subject to periodic review
  3. Judicial review of shutdown decisions
  4. Complete prohibition of internet shutdowns under any circumstances
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In Shayara Bano v. Union of India (2017), the Supreme Court struck down instant triple talaq (talaq-e-biddat) as violating Article ______ (right to equality), holding that constitutional values of gender equality override discriminatory religious customs.

  1. 14
  2. 15
  3. 19
  4. 21
polity hard true_false

In Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India (2018), the Supreme Court decriminalized consensual same-sex relations by striking down Section 377 IPC, holding that Constitutional Morality (constitutional values of dignity, equality, liberty) prevails over social morality (majoritarian views).

  1. True
  2. False
polity hard mcq

In Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017), the 9-judge bench recognized right to privacy as intrinsic to Article 21. Which of the following is NOT one of the three dimensions of privacy identified in this judgment?

  1. Spatial privacy (control over physical space)
  2. Decisional privacy (autonomy over personal choices)
  3. Informational privacy (control over personal data)
  4. Economic privacy (protection of financial transactions)
polity hard true_false

In Minerva Mills v. Union of India (1980), the Supreme Court struck down parts of the 42nd Amendment that gave Directive Principles primacy over Fundamental Rights, holding that the balance between Part III and Part IV is part of the basic structure.

  1. True
  2. False
polity hard mcq

In Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973), which of the following was NOT a core holding of the 13-judge Constitution Bench?

  1. Parliament can amend any part of the Constitution under Article 368
  2. Parliament cannot alter the 'basic structure' of the Constitution through amendments
  3. Fundamental Rights can be abridged but not destroyed by constitutional amendment
  4. The Preamble is not part of the Constitution and has no legal force
polity medium fill_blank

Basic structure values recognize human dignity as foundational to Article 21 (right to life and personal liberty), requiring state action to respect individual autonomy, privacy, and worth — a principle affirmed in cases like ______ (2017) recognizing privacy as intrinsic to dignity and liberty.

  1. Kesavananda Bharati
  2. Puttaswamy
  3. Minerva Mills
  4. SR Bommai
polity hard true_false

For competitive exam success, understanding the basic structure doctrine requires recognizing it as both a conceptual framework (guiding interpretation of constitutional values) and a practical tool (enabling analytical, balanced answers to complex governance questions) — demanding integrated preparation combining text, cases, contemporary issues, and critical thinking.

  1. True
  2. False
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Article 13 declares that laws inconsistent with or in derogation of Fundamental Rights shall be void, establishing the Supreme Court's power of judicial review to examine constitutionality of legislation and executive action — a power basic structure values require to be exercised with sensitivity to ______ groups and transformative goals.

  1. privileged
  2. marginalized
  3. urban
  4. elite
polity hard true_false

The basic structure doctrine in Indian constitutionalism represents not just a legal doctrine but a normative commitment: that constitutional values (supremacy of Constitution, democracy, secularism, federalism, judicial review, rule of law, dignity) must guide governance, judicial interpretation, legislative action, and citizen engagement to realize transformative vision of constitutional identity — a commitment requiring continuous nurturing through democratic practice.

  1. True
  2. False
polity hard mcq

When answering basic structure-related questions in UPSC Mains, candidates should structure responses to demonstrate:

  1. Only factual recall of constitutional articles
  2. Conceptual clarity, case study application, contemporary relevance, critical analysis, and balanced solutions
  3. Only criticism of current judicial activism
  4. Only historical evolution without present-day application
polity medium fill_blank

Article 32, described by Dr. Ambedkar as the 'heart and soul' of the Constitution, empowers the Supreme Court to issue writs for enforcement of Fundamental Rights, making the right to constitutional remedies itself a Fundamental Right, which basic structure values require to be accessible and effective, particularly for ______ groups.

  1. privileged
  2. marginalized
  3. urban
  4. elite
polity medium fill_blank

Basic structure doctrine has guided the evolution of Article 14 (equality before law) from formal equality (treating likes alike) to substantive equality (addressing historical disadvantages through affirmative action) through cases like ______ (1992) upholding OBC reservations with creamy layer exclusion.

  1. Kesavananda Bharati
  2. Indra Sawhney
  3. Minerva Mills
  4. SR Bommai
polity hard true_false

The basic structure doctrine in Indian constitutionalism exemplifies a living tradition: rooted in enduring constitutional values but adaptive to changing societal needs through judicial interpretation, legislative action, and democratic practice — requiring aspirants to develop integrated, analytical understanding for competitive exam success and, more importantly, for responsible citizenship in a constitutional democracy.

  1. True
  2. False
polity hard mcq

Which answer template best demonstrates mastery of the basic structure doctrine for UPSC Mains?

  1. Article number + definition only
  2. Concept definition + landmark case illustration + contemporary application + critical analysis + balanced solution
  3. Only case names without explanation
  4. Only contemporary issues without constitutional basis