Polity – GK Questions

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Showing 321–340 of 1638 questions
polity medium Fill in the Blank Hussainara Khatoon Case - Right to Speedy Trial Hussainara Khatoon speedy trial frequently asked in UPSC and Judiciary exams

In Hussainara Khatoon v. State of Bihar (1979), the Supreme Court recognized right to speedy trial as part of right to life and personal liberty under Article ______, leading to release of thousands of undertrial prisoners detained longer than maximum sentence.

  1. 14
  2. 19
  3. 21
  4. 32
polity hard True/False Supriyo Case - Same-Sex Marriage and Judicial Restraint Supriyo same-sex marriage critical for UPSC Mains and current affairs exams

In Supriyo v. Union of India (October 2023), the Supreme Court declined to legalize same-sex marriage, holding that recognition of such marriages involves complex policy considerations best left to Parliament, while affirming rights of queer couples to protection from discrimination and access to services.

  1. True
  2. False
polity hard Fill in the Blank Common Cause Case - Right to Die with Dignity Common Cause right to die with dignity critical for UPSC Mains and Judiciary exams

In Common Cause v. Union of India (2018), the Supreme Court recognized passive euthanasia and living wills (advance medical directives) as part of right to die with dignity under Article ______, subject to stringent safeguards to prevent misuse.

  1. 14
  2. 19
  3. 21
  4. 25
polity hard True/False NALSA Case - Transgender Rights and Self-Identification NALSA transgender rights critical for UPSC Mains and Judiciary exams

In National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) v. Union of India (2014), the Supreme Court recognized transgender persons as a third gender under Articles 14, 15, 19, 21, and affirmed their right to self-identify their gender without medical/surgical intervention.

  1. True
  2. False
polity hard MCQ ADM Jabalpur Case - Habeas Corpus During Emergency ADM Jabalpur habeas corpus critical for UPSC Mains and Judiciary exams

In ADM Jabalpur v. Shivkant Shukla (1976), during the 1975-77 Emergency, the Supreme Court held that:

  1. Fundamental Rights cannot be suspended even during Emergency
  2. Right to move courts for enforcement of Fundamental Rights under Article 21 is suspended during Emergency, but this judgment was later overruled by Puttaswamy (2017)
  3. Emergency provisions are unconstitutional and violate basic structure
  4. Habeas corpus petitions can always be filed regardless of Emergency proclamation
polity hard Fill in the Blank Indra Sawhney Case - Reservation and Creamy Layer Indra Sawhney creamy layer critical for UPSC Mains and Judiciary exams

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 Vishaka Case - Gender Justice and Judicial Activism Vishaka gender justice critical for UPSC Mains and Judiciary exams

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 Maneka Gandhi Case - Procedural Due Process Maneka Gandhi procedural due process critical for UPSC Mains and Judiciary exams

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
polity hard Fill in the Blank I.R. Coelho Case - Ninth Schedule and Basic Structure Review I.R. Coelho Ninth Schedule review critical for UPSC Mains and Judiciary exams

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 NJAC Case - Judicial Independence as Basic Structure NJAC judgment judicial independence critical for UPSC Mains and Judiciary exams

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 Anuradha Bhasin Case - Digital Rights and Proportionality Anuradha Bhasin digital rights critical for UPSC Mains and current affairs exams

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
polity hard Fill in the Blank Shayara Bano Case - Gender Justice in Personal Law Shayara Bano gender justice critical for UPSC Mains and Judiciary exams

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 Navtej Singh Johar Case - Constitutional Morality Navtej Singh Johar Constitutional Morality critical for UPSC Mains and current affairs exams

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 Puttaswamy Case - Privacy Dimensions Puttaswamy privacy dimensions critical for UPSC Mains and Judiciary exams

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 Minerva Mills Case - FR-DPSP Balance Minerva Mills FR-DPSP balance critical for UPSC Mains and Judiciary exams

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 Kesavananda Bharati Case - Core Holdings Kesavananda Bharati core holdings critical for UPSC Mains and Judiciary exams

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 in the Blank Basic Structure - Article 21 Dignity and Basic Structure Foundation Dignity foundation and basic structure values frequently asked in UPSC and Judiciary exams

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 Basic Structure - Ultimate Synthesis for Competitive Exams Basic structure ultimate synthesis critical for UPSC Mains and advanced SSC exams

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
polity medium Fill in the Blank Basic Structure - Article 13 Judicial Review and Basic Structure Values Judicial review and basic structure values frequently asked in UPSC and Judiciary exams

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 Basic Structure - Closing Philosophical Synthesis Basic structure philosophical synthesis critical for UPSC Mains and advanced SSC exams

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