Civics — Chapter 2
Salient Features of the Constitution — I
Multiple Choice Questions
Question 1
Which of the following are the salient features of the Indian Constitution?
1. Universal Adult Franchise
2. Fundamental Duties
3. Single Citizenship
4. All of the above
Answer
All of the above
Question 2
A Person of Indian Origin can enjoy all the privileges of an Indian citizen
except
1. Right to vote
2. Right to protest
3. Right to enter the country
4. Right to freedom
Answer
Right to vote
Question 3
In case a person is detained under Preventive Detention such a person can
be kept in custody for a period of ............... months without trial.
1. Four
2. Six
3. Three
4. Twelve
Answer
Three
Question 4
Right to Property is
1. a Fundamental Right
2. a Fundamental Duty
3. a Legal Right
4. no longer a fundamental right
Answer
a Legal Right
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Question 5
The Constitution of India provides for a Single Citizenship. Which of the
following statements describes the same?
1. A person born in India can be either a citizen of a State of domicile or
of India.
2. All Indians irrespective of the State of their domicile are the citizens
of India.
3. All Indians living in India are the citizens of India even if they are not
born in India.
4. All citizens of neighbouring countries living in India are Indian
citizens.
Answer
All Indians irrespective of the State of their domicile are the citizens of
India.
Question 6
If a male and a female are selected for the same post but the female candidate
gets less salary, which of her following rights is discriminated?
1. The Right to Freedom.
2. The Right Against Exploitation.
3. The Right to Education.
4. The Right to Equality.
Answer
The Right to Equality.
Question 7
Right to Information has been included in Article ............... of the
Constitution.
1. 19(1)
2. 20
3. 21
4. 22
Answer
19(1)
Question 8
Complete the analogy
Right to Equality: Articles 14-18: ...............: Articles 19-22
1. Right Against Exploitation
2. Right to Constitutional Remedies
3. Right to Freedom of Religion
4. Right to Freedom
Answer
Right to Freedom
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Question 9
Which of the following is incorrectly matched?
1. Habeas Corpus: to have the body
2. Mandamus: we order
3. Quo-Warranto: to be informed
4. Writ of Certiorari: information of what is going on
Answer
Quo-Warranto: to be informed
Question 10
A labourer was unlawfully detained by his employer. Which of the
following writs will be issued by the Supreme Court or the High Court?
1. Mandamus
2. Certiorari
3. Habeas Corpus
4. Quo-Warranto
Answer
Habeas Corpus
Question 11
A seven-year-old boy was not given admission in a school run by the State
government. Which of his Fundamental Rights was violated by the State.
1. Right to Freedom.
2. Right against Exploitation.
3. Cultural and Educational Rights.
4. Right to Education.
Answer
Right to Education.
Question 12
Which of the following is incorrect?
1. Right to Equality: Article 14-19
2. Right to Freedom: Articles 19-22
3. Right to Education: Article 29-30
4. Right Against Exploitation: Article 23-24
Answer
Right to Equality: Article 14-19
Question 13
Fundamental Duties: Part IV :: ...............: Part III.
1. Universal Adult Franchise
2. Fundamental Rights
3. Single citizenship
4. Constitutional Remedies
Answer
Fundamental Rights
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Question 14
Right to Information is an implied Fundamental Right meaning
1. it is a part of a named Fundamental Right.
2. it partakes of the same basic nature and character of the Fundamental
Right.
3. it is implicit in the Right to Freedom and Expression.
4. All of the above.
Answer
All of the above
Short Answer Questions:
Question 1
What is meant by the term 'Single Citizenship'?
Answer
The term 'Single Citizenship' means that all Indians irrespective of the state
of their domicile are the citizens of India.
Question 2
'Fundamental Rights are universal in nature'. Explain in one sentence.
Answer
Fundamental rights are universal in nature as they are the same for all human
beings and don't make any distinction based on race, colour, sex, religion,
etc.
Question 3
How are the Fundamental Rights justiciable?
Answer
The Fundamental Rights are justiciable as a suit can be filed in a High Court
or the Supreme Court if a person's Fundamental Rights are violated. Article
32 gives the Right to Constitutional Remedies. This right is given to citizens
to move the Supreme Court for enforcement of other fundamental Rights
conferred on them.
Question 4
What is meant by the term 'Right to Equality'?
Answer
The term 'Right to Equality' means equality of every citizen before the law
irrespective of economic status, caste, colour, creed, religion, or sex. This
right provides equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to
employment in an office under the central or state government. It abolishes
untouchability and titles like Rai Sahib, Khan Bahadur, Maharaja, etc.
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Question 5
Mention one Fundamental Right granted to citizens of India.
Answer
'The Right to Freedom' is one of the Fundamental Rights granted to citizens
of India.
Question 6
In the context of Fundamental Rights, give one example that India is a
secular state.
Answer
'The Right to Freedom of Religion' is an example that India is a secular
country. The Right to Freedom of Religion gives Indian citizens the freedom
to practice and preach a religion of their choice.
Question 7
What is meant by the term 'Right Against Exploitation'?
Answer
i. 'Right Against Exploitation' is the Right that upholds the dignity of the
individual and prohibits exploitation in many respects like slavery,
beggary and other forms of forced labour.
ii. It also prohibits, child labour (Article 24), human trafficking, and the
use of women or girls for immoral purposes.
Question 8
By which Act of the Parliament were the Fundamental Duties included in
the constitution? Mention the Fundamental Duty which has been added by
the Constitution (86th Amendment) Act, 2002.
Answer
▪ The Fundamental Duties were added to the Constitution by the 42nd
Amendment Act, of 1976.
▪ The Fundamental Duty which has been added by the Constitution
(86th Amendment) Act, 2002 is "it is the duty of a parent or guardian
to provide opportunities for education to his child or, as the case may
be, ward between the age of six and fourteen years".
Question 9
To whom can the citizens of India file can application if they wish to seek
any information from the government authorities?
Answer
The citizens of India can file an application under RTI with the Public
Information Officers (PIOs) and Assistant Public Information Officers
(APIOs) if they wish to seek any information from the government
authorities.
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Structured Questions:
Question 1
Explain the following basic features of the Indian Constitution:
(a) Single Citizenship.
(b) Universal Adult Franchise.
(c) Fundamental Rights.
Answer
(a) Single Citizenship — The Indian Constitution provides for a Single
Citizenship. This means that all Indians irrespective of the state of their
domicile are the citizens of India. A person born in Punjab or Kerala can
only be a citizen of India and not a citizen of the State of their domicile as
well. This has been done to ward off separatist tendencies and promote
fraternity and unity among the people.
(b) Universal Adult Franchise — This means that all persons of 18 years of
age and above have the right to vote irrespective of their caste, colour,
religion, etc. The constitution of independent India replaced the British-era
communal electorate with a joint electorate. According to this system,
resident voters of a constituency have to vote for the same candidate
irrespective of caste or creed.
(c) Fundamental Rights — The Fundamental Rights are given in Part-III of
the constitution. They are basic human rights, which provide the conditions
essential for the all-round development of a human being. They protect
people against unjust discrimination among members of the community and
give recognition to the dignity and equality of all human beings. The Indian
Constitution provides 7 Fundamental Rights to the citizens of India:
1. Right to Equality
2. Right to Freedom
3. Right Against Exploitation
4. Right to Freedom of Religion
5. Cultural and Educational Rights
6. Right to Constitutional Remedies
7. Right to Education
Question 2
With reference to the Fundamental Rights answer the following:
(a) Why are the Fundamental Rights so called?
(b) State their three characteristic features.
(c) Briefly explain the components of the Right to Equality.
Answer
(a) The Fundamental Rights are so-called because they are the basic human
rights that provide the conditions essential for the all-round development
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of a human being. Hence, they must be given to every person without
any distinction on the basis of caste, creed, sex, colour, religion etc.
(b) The three characteristic features of Fundamental Rights are:
1. They protect people against unjust discrimination.
2. They don't make any distinction between human beings.
3. They can be suspended when the president declares a state of Emergency
in the country.
(c) The Right to Equality has political, social, and economic components.
Following are the components of the Right to Equality:
1. Equality before the law — Article 14 guarantees both equality before
the law as well as equality in protection by law irrespective of
economic status, caste, colour, creed, religion, or sex. Article 15
prohibits discrimination on grounds mentioned above making such
discrimination a punishable offence.
2. Equality of Opportunity — Article 16 provides for equality of
opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to employment in an
office under the State or Central government. It also allows the
making of reservations of posts in favour of Scheduled Castes and
Tribes by passing a law.
3. Abolition of Untouchability — Article 17 abolishes untouchability
and its practice in any form. Any person preventing the other from
entering a place of public worship, using a public well or a public
transport system, etc. can be punished by law.
4. Abolition of Titles — Article 18 abolishes all titles like Rai Sahib,
Khan Bahadur, Maharaja, etc. These titles are considered a negation
of equal status for all.
Question 3
With reference to inclusion of Right to Freedom in the Indian Constitution,
state the following:
(a) State any three freedoms given under Article 19.
(b) What do these freedoms imply?
(c) Explain the restrictions imposed on these rights.
Answer
(a) Three freedoms given under Article 19 are:
1. Freedom of speech and expression
2. Freedom to assemble peacefully without arms.
3. Freedom to form associations and unions.
(b) These freedoms imply that the citizens of India are provided with the
freedom to live anywhere and move freely across India, practice any
profession, assemble peacefully, form associations, etc. The state
government cannot make laws to curtail these freedoms. Freedom of speech
and expression is provided which includes freedom of the press.
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(c) There are some restrictions on the Right to Freedom. Right to Freedom
does not mean that the State cannot make laws for the public good and
protection of trade and profession. Similarly, the Right to reside and settle
in any part of India cannot go against the laws of a particular territory where
a larger national interest is involved.
Question 4
Article 20 provides for Protection in Respect of Conviction for offences. In
this respect answer the following:
(a) What protections are available to the citizens against conviction?
(b) What is meant by Preventive Detention? State the rights of citizens in
this respect.
(c) Explain the limitations of the Right to Protection.
Answer
(a) Under Article-20 the following protections are available to a citizen:
1. Greater penalty than what is prescribed under the law is prohibited.
2. No one can be punished or prosecuted for the same offence twice.
3. A person cannot be compelled to be a witness in the case where he
himself is accused of the offence.
(b) Preventive detention means keeping a person in custody on the grounds
of the suspicion that some wrong actions may be done by the person
concerned which will be prejudicial to the State. In case a person is
detained under Preventive Detention he can be kept in custody for a
period of three months without trial. Such a person has the following
rights
1. Prevention Detention does not mean that a person stands accused. It
is only a precautionary measure.
2. Detention beyond three months can be extended only by an Advisory
Board constituted for the purpose and consisting of a judge of the
High Court.
3. Grounds of detention have to be specified and the detainee informed
of these grounds. He also has the right to make representation against
the detention order.
(c) The Right to protection has the following limitations:
1. Public Interest - The authority or the State can take recourse to public
interest and refuse to disclose the grounds of detention.
2. Power of the Parliament - The legislature or the Parliament has the
power to specify the maximum period of Preventive Detention.
Question 5
With reference to the Right to Constitutional Remedies, answer the
following question:
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(a) How has this right been given legal sanction?
(b) Why is this right important?
(c) Explain any two writs issued by courts for enforcement of this right.
Answer
(a) Article 32 of the Indian constitution gives the Right to Constitutional
Remedies. This right is given to citizens to move the Supreme Court or the
High Courts for the enforcement of other Fundamental Rights conferred on
them. Also, the Supreme Court and the High Courts are empowered to issue
writs providing legal remedies to individuals in case their Fundamental
Rights are violated.
(b) This Right is important because it ensures the protection of other rights
provided by the Constitution. According to Dr. Ambedkar, it is the heart and
soul of the Constitution. It is not just a right but a remedy.
(c) Two writs issued by courts for enforcement of this right are:
1. Habeas Corpus — It means 'to have the body'. By issuing such a writ,
the High Court or the Supreme Court orders the person or a group of
persons or the State who has detained an individual to produce the
latter before the court to examine the legality of his detention and get
him released if he is unlawfully detained. This writ is thus a great
safeguard for the personal freedom of a citizen.
2. Mandamus — In Latin, it means 'we order'. It is a command or an
order from a superior Court to a lower or an administrative authority
to perform a certain duty.
Question 6
With reference to Fundamental Rights, answer the following questions:
(a) What are the components of the Right to Education?
(b) How is the Right to Information and implied Fundamental Right?
(c) Write a Short note on the Right to Privacy.
Answer
(a) The components of the Right to Education are:
1. Protection of language, script, and culture of minorities (Article-29).
2. Right to establish and administer minority educational, social, and
cultural institutions (Article-30).
(b) An implied Fundamental Right is one which is a part of a named
Fundamental Right or partakes of the same basic nature and character as
that Fundamental Right.
Since RTI is implicit in the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression
(Article-19), it is an implied Fundamental Right because if one does not
know the facts one cannot speak freely.
(c) On August 24, 2017, the Supreme Court confirmed that the Right to
Privacy is a Fundamental Right that does not need to be separately
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articulated but can be derived from Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the
Constitution.
It is a fundamental right about all information of a person and the choice
that he makes. It protects an individual from the scrutiny of the State in
their home, of their movements, and over their reproductive choice,
choice of partners, food habits, etc.
Question 7
With reference to the Fundamental Duties, answer the following:
(a) What are known as Fundamental Duties?
(b) Give any three Fundamental Duties.
(c) What is the importance of these Duties?
Answer
(a) The Fundamental Duties are the basic moral and civic obligations that
are expected from the citizens. The Fundamental Duties and
Fundamental Rights go hand in hand.
For example, the right to freedom implies that we have to maintain a
self-restraint and accord similar rights to others which we want for
ourselves.
(b) Three Fundamental Duties are:
1. To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the
National Flag and the National Anthem.
2. To cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national
struggle for freedom.
3. To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.
(c) The Importance of Fundamental Duties are:
1. To make the citizens aware of their social and economic obligations.
2. To warn them to do and not to do certain things in the interest of their
country, fellow citizens, and themselves.
3. To protect and awaken the people to their cultural heritage.
4. To tame the unruly elements in society.
5. To strengthen national harmony as they stir up patriotism.
Thinking Skills:
Question 1
Name the writ that will be issued in each of the following circumstances.
(a) Against a person holding a public office to which he is not entitled.
(b) An order to an administrative authority to perform a certain duty.
(c) (i) For the transfer of a case from lower to higher court.
(ii) To prohibit a lower court from proceeding in a case.
Answer
(a) Quo- warranto
(b) Mandamus
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(c) (i) Writ of Certiorari
(ii) Writ of Prohibition
Question 2
Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties go hand in hand. If this
statement is holistically followed many of our problems would be solved.
Give your reply with examples to prove your point.
Answer
Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties are two sides of the same coin.
They are interconnected and interdependent. If every citizen understands
and practices their Fundamental Duties while enjoying their Fundamental
Rights, it would lead to a harmonious and progressive society. For example,
the Right to Equality ensures that every citizen is treated equally,
irrespective of their religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. On the other
hand, it’s the Fundamental Duty of every citizen to respect others, and their
rights, and not to discriminate. If everyone practices this duty, it would
reinforce the Right to Equality, leading to a more equitable society.
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