Q31. The concept of the ‘Concurrent List’ in the Indian Constitution was borrowed from the Constitution of:
Framing of the Constitution, Preamble and Citizenship: RAS Prelims MCQs
100 RAS Prelims MCQs on the framing of the Constitution, the Preamble and citizenship cover the Constituent Assembly, its members and committees, the sources from which features were borrowed, the Preamble’s words and the rules of citizenship. The explanations give dates, names and countries so that each fact can be placed quickly.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 31–40 of 100 questions
Q32. Identify the incorrect statement regarding the sources of the Indian Constitution:
Explanation
While the Indian Constitution borrowed the office of the President and the procedure for impeachment from the US Constitution, the specific method of the President’s election through an electoral college was actually adopted from the Irish Constitution. Other features like the suspension of rights during emergency (Germany) and procedure established by law (Japan) are correctly attributed to their respective sources.
Q33. Consider the following features of the Indian Constitution:
I. Federal Scheme
II. Office of Governor
III. Judiciary
IV. Public Service Commissions
V. Emergency provisions
Which of the above combination of features was largely drawn from the Government of India Act, 1935?
I. Federal Scheme
II. Office of Governor
III. Judiciary
IV. Public Service Commissions
V. Emergency provisions
Which of the above combination of features was largely drawn from the Government of India Act, 1935?
Explanation
The Government of India Act, 1935, served as the primary structural blueprint for the Indian Constitution. Major features such as the federal scheme, the office of the Governor, the organization of the judiciary, the establishment of Public Service Commissions, and various emergency provisions were all heavily drawn from this Act. It provided the administrative framework for the new democratic setup.
Q34. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer from the options given below:
| Borrowed Feature | Source Constitution |
|---|---|
| A. Fundamental Duties | i. South African Constitution |
| B. Procedure for amendment of the Constitution | ii. French Constitution |
| C. Ideals of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity | iii. Canadian Constitution |
| D. Advisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court | iv. Soviet Constitution (USSR) |
Explanation
Fundamental Duties were inspired by the Constitution of the Soviet Union (USSR). The procedure for amending the Constitution was borrowed from South Africa. The ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity, which are central to the Preamble, were taken from the French Constitution. Finally, the advisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court was a feature adopted from the Canadian Constitution.
Q35. Given below are two statements:
Statement I: The Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution are modeled upon the Irish Constitution.
Statement II: The Irish Constitution itself copied the concept of Directive Principles from the Spanish Constitution.
Identify the correct option:
Statement I: The Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution are modeled upon the Irish Constitution.
Statement II: The Irish Constitution itself copied the concept of Directive Principles from the Spanish Constitution.
Identify the correct option:
Explanation
The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) in the Indian Constitution, which outline the socio-economic goals of the state, were directly modeled upon the Irish Constitution. Interestingly, the Irish framers themselves had borrowed this concept from the Spanish Constitution. This demonstrates the global exchange of constitutional ideas that influenced the drafting of India’s fundamental law during the mid-twentieth century.
Q36. Which of the following features is not borrowed from the British Constitution?
Explanation
The independence of the judiciary and the power of judicial review were borrowed from the United States Constitution, not the British system. The British influence is most evident in India’s parliamentary form of government, the concept of the Rule of Law, the legislative procedure, and the system of single citizenship, which contrast with the American model of dual citizenship and judicial supremacy.
Q37. Identify the correctly matched pair regarding the sources of the Indian Constitution:
Explanation
The concept of a ‘Republic’, indicating that the head of state is elected rather than hereditary, was borrowed from the French Constitution. In contrast, the impeachment of the President was taken from the US, the nomination of members to the Rajya Sabha was from Ireland, and the vesting of residuary powers in the Centre was borrowed from the Canadian Constitution.
Q38. The federal system of India, characterized by a strong centre, is fundamentally different from the US model. Which country’s constitution provided the blueprint for this centralized federal structure?
Explanation
India adopted a federal system with a strong centralizing tendency, which is more similar to the Canadian model than the American one. From the Canadian Constitution, India borrowed the concept of a "federation with a strong Centre," the vesting of residuary powers in the Union, and the appointment of state governors by the Centre. This ensured national unity and effective administration.
Q39. Which is the most appropriate reason for Dr. B. R. Ambedkar defending the Indian Constitution against the criticism of being a "bag of borrowings"?
Explanation
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar defended the Constitution against the "bag of borrowings" criticism by stating that no constitution could be entirely original in the modern era. He argued that the framers had not blindly copied provisions but had carefully adapted them to suit Indian social conditions and requirements while simultaneously removing any faults observed in the original models of other countries.
Q40. The Constitution of India was adopted, enacted, and given to themselves by the people of India on:
Explanation
The Constitution of India was officially adopted and enacted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949. This is the date mentioned in the Preamble as the day "we do hereby adopt, enact and give to ourselves this Constitution." While the full Constitution came into force later, this date marked the formal completion and acceptance of the final legal document.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 31 | (a) Australia |
| 32 | (b) The method of election of the President was adopted from the US Constitution. |
| 33 | (d) I, II, III, IV and V |
| 34 | (a) A-iv, B-i, C-ii, D-iii |
| 35 | (c) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct |
| 36 | (d) Judiciary Independence |
| 37 | (c) Concept of ‘Republic’ -- French Constitution |
| 38 | (b) Canada |
| 39 | (d) Borrowings were adaptations to Indian conditions to remove inherent faults. |
| 40 | (b) 26 November 1949 |
Key facts from Framing of the Constitution, Preamble and Citizenship
- M. N. Roy first put forward the idea of a Constituent Assembly; the Cabinet Mission Plan rejected two constituent assemblies.
- Members of the Constituent Assembly were chosen in 1946 by single transferable vote proportional representation; its first meeting was on 9 December 1946.
- The Drafting Committee was set up on 29 August 1947, and Dr B. R. Ambedkar introduced the final draft on 4 November 1948.
- Frank Anthony represented the Anglo-Indian community in the Assembly.
- The Concurrent List was borrowed from Australia; the federal structure with a strong centre follows Canada.
- Liberty of occupation is not named in the Preamble.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Framing of the Constitution, Preamble and Citizenship?
This page has 100 practice MCQs on Framing of the Constitution, Preamble and Citizenship (Indian Polity and Governance). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
When did the Constituent Assembly first meet?
On 9 December 1946. The Assembly had been elected in July-August 1946 by the members of the provincial legislatures through single transferable vote, and it later took nearly three years to complete the Constitution.
Who introduced the final draft of the Constitution?
Dr B. R. Ambedkar, the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, introduced it in the Constituent Assembly on 4 November 1948. The Drafting Committee itself had been constituted on 29 August 1947.
From which country was the Concurrent List borrowed?
From Australia. The Constitution takes the idea of a list of subjects shared between the Union and the States from the Australian model, while the strong-centre federal scheme follows Canada.