Q1. Which part of the Constitution of India deals with Fundamental Rights?
Fundamental Rights: RAS Prelims MCQs
96 RAS Prelims MCQs on the Fundamental Rights in Part III test article numbers, exceptions and the limits on each right. Equality under Articles 14 to 18, the six freedoms of Article 19, the protections in Articles 20 to 22, religious and cultural rights and the doctrine of eclipse are asked as facts, statements and sequences.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 1–10 of 96 questions
Q2. The concept of Fundamental Rights in the Indian Constitution was primarily inspired by the Constitution of which country?
Explanation
The concept of Fundamental Rights in the Indian Constitution was heavily influenced by the Bill of Rights in the United States Constitution. While the British tradition emphasizes parliamentary sovereignty, the Indian framers chose the American model of a written constitution where specific rights are judicially enforceable against the legislative and executive branches.
Q3. Under Article 12 of the Constitution, which of the following is NOT included in the definition of the State?
Explanation
Article 12 provides a broad definition of State to include the executive and legislative organs of the Union and States, all local authorities, and other statutory or non-statutory authorities. Private entities are typically excluded unless they perform public functions or are under deep and pervasive state control, functioning as state instrumentalities.
Q4. The following question consists of two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R). Examine these two statements carefully and select the correct answer using the options given below:
Assertion (A): Article 13 declares that all laws that are inconsistent with or in derogation of any of the fundamental rights shall be void.
Reason (R): Article 13 expressly provides for the doctrine of judicial review to protect fundamental rights.
Assertion (A): Article 13 declares that all laws that are inconsistent with or in derogation of any of the fundamental rights shall be void.
Reason (R): Article 13 expressly provides for the doctrine of judicial review to protect fundamental rights.
Explanation
Article 13 of the Constitution provides the foundation for judicial review by declaring laws inconsistent with fundamental rights as void. This article ensures the supremacy of Part III. Since courts are empowered to test the validity of laws against these rights, it expressly provides the doctrine of judicial review to maintain constitutional sanctity.
Q5. The concept of equality before the law as enshrined in Article 14 of the Indian Constitution is of:
Explanation
The concept of equality before the law is derived from the British constitutional tradition and the Rule of Law. It represents a negative concept, implying the absence of special privileges and the equal subjection of all classes to the ordinary law. In contrast, the equal protection of laws is of American origin.
Q6. Article 15 prohibits discrimination by the State against any citizen on grounds only of:
Explanation
Article 15(1) forbids discrimination by the State on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. Descent, residence and language are not in this list.
Q7. Match the articles in List I with the provisions in List II and select the correct answer using the options given below:
| Article | Provision |
|---|---|
| A. Article 14 | i. Equality of opportunity in public employment |
| B. Article 15 | ii. Abolition of untouchability |
| C. Article 16 | iii. Equality before law |
| D. Article 17 | iv. Prohibition of discrimination |
Explanation
This matching exercise aligns constitutional provisions with their respective articles. Article 14 ensures equality before the law, while Article 15 prohibits discrimination. Article 16 provides equality of opportunity in public employment for all citizens. Finally, Article 17 abolishes the practice of untouchability and forbids its implementation in any form within the Indian society.
Q8. Consider the following statements regarding Article 16 of the Constitution:
Statement I: Article 16 guarantees equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to employment under the State.
Statement II: The State is prohibited from making any provision for the reservation of appointments in favour of any backward class of citizens.
Which of the following is correct?
Statement I: Article 16 guarantees equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to employment under the State.
Statement II: The State is prohibited from making any provision for the reservation of appointments in favour of any backward class of citizens.
Which of the following is correct?
Explanation
Article 16 guarantees equality of opportunity in public employment, so Statement I is correct. It allows the State to reserve posts for backward classes not adequately represented (Article 16(4)), so Statement II is incorrect.
Q9. Consider the following statements regarding the freedoms guaranteed under Article 19:
I. They are available to both citizens and foreigners.
II. They can be suspended during an emergency declared on the grounds of armed rebellion.
III. They are subject to reasonable restrictions by the State.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. They are available to both citizens and foreigners.
II. They can be suspended during an emergency declared on the grounds of armed rebellion.
III. They are subject to reasonable restrictions by the State.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Fundamental Rights under Article 19 are exclusive to Indian citizens and are not available to foreigners. They can only be suspended during an emergency declared on grounds of war or external aggression, not armed rebellion. However, all these freedoms are subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by the State on specific grounds like public order.
Q10. The fundamental right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 has been expanded by the Supreme Court to include:
Explanation
Article 21 has been interpreted broadly by the Supreme Court through various landmark judgments. The right to life and personal liberty now encompasses numerous aspects of human dignity, including the right to a speedy trial, protection against solitary confinement, and the right to privacy, which was affirmed in the historic Puttaswamy case as an intrinsic right.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | (b) Part III |
| 2 | (a) United States |
| 3 | (c) Private bodies performing no public function |
| 4 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 5 | (c) British origin |
| 6 | (b) Religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth |
| 7 | (a) A-iii, B-iv, C-i, D-ii |
| 8 | (c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect |
| 9 | (c) III only |
| 10 | (d) All of the above |
Key facts from Fundamental Rights
- Part III of the Constitution deals with Fundamental Rights, and the concept was inspired by the United States.
- Article 15 prohibits discrimination on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth; Article 17 abolishes untouchability.
- Article 20 gives protection against ex post facto laws, double jeopardy and self-incrimination, in that order.
- Article 22 requires production before a magistrate within 24 hours, but not for enemy aliens or preventive detention.
- Article 23 prohibits human trafficking and forced labour; Article 30 protects the right of minorities to run educational institutions.
- The doctrine of eclipse is linked with Article 13.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Fundamental Rights?
This page has 96 practice MCQs on Fundamental Rights (Indian Polity and Governance). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which Article prohibits human trafficking and forced labour?
Article 23. It prohibits traffic in human beings, begar and other forced labour, and makes any contravention an offence punishable by law, while allowing the State to impose compulsory service for public purposes.
What does Article 20 protect against?
Three things: conviction under an ex post facto law (clause 1), double jeopardy (clause 2) and compulsion to be a witness against oneself (clause 3). The right against self-incrimination applies to criminal proceedings only.
Who is not covered by the 24-hour rule of Article 22?
Enemy aliens and persons arrested under preventive detention laws. Article 22 requires an arrested person to be produced before the nearest magistrate within 24 hours, but these two groups are excluded from that safeguard.