Fundamental Rights: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Polity)
4 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Fundamental Rights (Polity). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–4 of 4 questions
UPSC 2018Polity · Fundamental Rights
Q1. Consider the following statements: 1. As per the Right to Education (RTE) Act, to be eligible for appointment as a teacher in a State, a person would be required to possess the minimum qualification laid down by the concerned State Council of Teacher Education. 2. As per the RTE Act, for teaching primary classes, a candidate is required to pass a Teacher Eligibility Test conducted in accordance with the National Council of Teacher Education guidelines. 3. In India, more than 90% of teacher education institutions are directly under the State Governments. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) lays down the minimum qualifications for teachers, not the State Councils of Teacher Education.
Statement 2 is correct: The Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) is conducted as per NCTE guidelines and is a mandatory requirement for teaching primary classes in government and private schools.
Statement 3 is incorrect: More than 90% of teacher education institutions are privately managed, and only a small percentage are directly run by State Governments.
UPSC 2018Polity · Fundamental Rights
Q2. Consider the following statements: 1. The Parliament of India can place a particular law in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution of India. 2. The validity of a law placed in the Ninth Schedule cannot be examined by any court and no judgement can be made on it. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: The Ninth Schedule and Article 31-B of the Indian Constitution was added by the 1st Amendment (1951) to protect the laws included in it from judicial scrutiny on the ground of violation of fundamental rights. A law passed by the Parliament and inserted into the Ninth Schedule receives protection under Article 31-B (validation of certain Acts and Regulations) and is thus exempt from judicial review. However in IR Coelho vs State of Tamil Nadu, 2007, the SC ruled that all laws (including those in the Ninth Schedule) would be open to Judicial Review if they violated the basic structure of the constitution.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The mandate of Ninth schedule is to prevent judicial scrutiny but according to the Kesavananda Bharati Case, 1973, any violation with the ‘basic structure’ of the Constitution is open to challenge in court of law. Again in IR Coelho vs State of Tamil Nadu, 2007, the SC ruled that all laws (including those in the Ninth Schedule) after 24 April 1973 would be open to Judicial Review if they violated the basic structure of the constitution.
Exam tip:
For S2, it is well known fact that "everything " in India is under judicial review. Remember this! This clearly invalidates S2.
UPSC 2018Polity · Fundamental Rights
Q3. Which of the following are regarded as the main features of the "Rule of Law"? 1. Limitation of Powers 2. Equality before law 3. People’s responsibility to the Government 4. Liberty and civil rights Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
The concept of ‘Rule of Law’ was propounded by A.V.
Dicey. It is a cornerstone of democratic governance, ensuring that everyone, including government officials, is governed by law.
Statement 1, 2 and 4 are correct: The concept of ‘equality before law’ as enshrined in Article 14 of constitution is aligned with "Rule of Law" whose key features include:
Limitation of Powers: Government authority must be constrained by law to prevent misuse of power. Equality Before the Law: All individuals, irrespective of status, are equal before the law. Liberty and Civil Rights: The Rule of Law protects individual freedoms and rights, ensuring the state cannot infringe on them arbitrarily.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The government is responsible/ accountable to the people. While citizens have duties and responsibilities, the Rule of Law primarily focuses on how power is exercised by the government and how citizens are protected under the law.
Exam tip:
What is the logical relationship between rule of law and people’s responsibility? None!, Rule of Law is about government’s accountability to people, not the reverse. Hence S3 is clearly false, eliminates option A and D. For S1, Very basic meaning to "Rule of Law" -- laws restrict arbitrary power. This must be included.
UPSC 2018Polity · Fundamental Rights
Q4. Right to Privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of Right to Life and Personal Liberty. Which of the following in the Constitution of India correctly and appropriately imply the above statement?
Explanation
Article 21 of the Indian Constitution deals with the protection of life and personal liberty. The Right to Privacy is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, ensuring individuals’ autonomy and protection against unwarranted state interference. It was affirmed as a constitutional right by the Supreme Court in the landmark 2017 Puttaswamy judgment.The right may be restricted only by state action that passes each of the three tests:
Such state action must have a legislative mandate; It must be pursuing a legitimate state purpose; and It must be proportionate.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2018
(b) 2 only
2
2018
(a) 1 only
3
2018
(c) 1, 2 and 4 only
4
2018
(c) Article 21 and the freedoms guaranteed in Part III
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Fundamental Rights?
This page covers 4 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Fundamental Rights (Polity), asked from 1996 to 2024. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Fundamental Rights?
Questions on Fundamental Rights (Polity) are available for 14 years, from 1996 to 2024. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
