Fundamental Rights: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Polity)
2 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 1–2 of 2 questions
UPSC 2021Polity · Fundamental Rights
Q1. ‘Right to Privacy’ is protected under which Article of the Constitution of India?
Explanation
In K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017), the Supreme Court ruled that the Right to Privacy is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty. The Court emphasized that privacy is integral to personal dignity and autonomy. It further held that privacy must be protected from arbitrary state actions, marking a significant expansion of constitutional rights in India.
Additional insight:
Article 15 prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth, ensuring equality for all citizens. Article 19 guarantees fundamental freedoms, including the right to freedom of speech, assembly, and movement. Article 29 protects cultural and educational rights, safeguarding the rights of minorities to preserve their language, culture, and script.
UPSC 2021Polity · Fundamental Rights
Q2. A legislation which confers on the executive or administrative authority an unguided and uncontrolled discretionary power in the matter of application of law violates one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India?
Explanation
Article 14 of the Indian Constitution guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the laws. If a legislation grants the executive or administrative authorities unguided and uncontrolled discretionary power, it violates the principle of rule of law and equality. This is because such unchecked discretion can lead to arbitrariness, which goes against the very essence of equality and fairness under Article 14. Therefore, any legislation with unrestrained discretionary powers could be deemed unconstitutional under Article 14.
Additional insight:
Article 28 (Fundamental Right): Prohibits religious instruction in educational institutions wholly funded by the State but allows it in institutions administered by religious groups. Article 32 (Fundamental Right): Provides the right to constitutional remedies, allowing individuals to approach the Supreme Court for the enforcement of fundamental rights. Article 44 (Directive Principles of State Policy):
Advocates for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) to ensure uniform personal laws across all communities in India.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2021
(c) Article 21
2
2021
(a) Article 14
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Fundamental Rights?
This page covers 2 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.
