Q11. A lower caste individual is denied entry into a public well solely based on caste. This act directly violates which fundamental right?
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 11–20 of 96 questions
Q12. Find the odd one out regarding the writs issued under Article 32:
Explanation
Article 32 empowers the Supreme Court to issue five specific types of writs for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights. These include Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Certiorari, and Quo Warranto. An injunction is a general legal remedy used in civil law but is not one of the five prerogative writs traditionally listed under the constitutional remedies article.
Q13. Which Article of the Indian Constitution expressly prohibits human trafficking and forced labour?
Explanation
Article 23 prohibits traffic in human beings, begar, and other similar forms of forced labor. Any contravention of this provision is an offence punishable in accordance with law. This right is available to both citizens and non-citizens and protects individuals against the State as well as private persons, aiming to uphold human dignity and freedom.
Q14. Which of the following is the correct sequence of the first four freedoms guaranteed under Article 19(1) of the Indian Constitution?
Explanation
Article 19(1) lists the freedoms in this order: speech and expression, assembling peacefully without arms, forming associations or unions, and moving freely throughout India.
Q15. Which of the following pairs is incorrectly matched regarding writs and their meanings?
Explanation
The literal meaning of Certiorari is to be informed or to be certified. It is a writ issued by a higher court to squash the order of a lower court. In contrast, the writ of Prohibition means to forbid and is issued to prevent a lower court from exceeding its jurisdiction or acting against natural justice.
Q16. Article 25 guarantees freedom of conscience and free profession, practice, and propagation of religion. This right is subject to:
Explanation
Freedom of religion under Article 25 is not absolute. It is expressly made subject to public order, morality, and health, as well as to other provisions of Part III. This allows the State to intervene in religious practices to maintain social harmony, protect public health, and ensure that religious activities do not violate other fundamental rights.
Q17. Match the articles in List I with the subject matter in List II and select the correct answer using the options given below:
| Article | Subject Matter |
|---|---|
| A. Article 25 | i. Freedom to manage religious affairs |
| B. Article 26 | ii. Freedom from attending religious instruction |
| C. Article 27 | iii. Freedom of conscience and free practice of religion |
| D. Article 28 | iv. Freedom from payment of taxes for promotion of any religion |
Explanation
Articles 25 to 28 cover the Right to Freedom of Religion. Article 25 deals with freedom of conscience and free practice. Article 26 allows for managing religious affairs. Article 27 prohibits taxes for religious promotion, and Article 28 provides freedom from attending religious instructions in state-funded institutions. This structure ensures a secular state while protecting individual and collective religious rights.
Q18. Which of the following statements about Article 29 is correct?
Explanation
Article 29 provides for the protection of the interests of minorities. It states that any section of citizens residing in India having a distinct language, script, or culture has the right to conserve the same. Notably, this right is not restricted to religious or linguistic minorities but extends to all sections of citizens, ensuring cultural preservation.
Q19. Consider the following statements regarding Article 32:
I. It is itself a Fundamental Right.
II. The Supreme Court has original and exclusive jurisdiction to issue writs under it.
III. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar called it the heart and soul of the Constitution.
IV. The right guaranteed by this Article cannot be suspended except as otherwise provided by the Constitution.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. It is itself a Fundamental Right.
II. The Supreme Court has original and exclusive jurisdiction to issue writs under it.
III. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar called it the heart and soul of the Constitution.
IV. The right guaranteed by this Article cannot be suspended except as otherwise provided by the Constitution.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Article 32 is a Fundamental Right that makes other rights enforceable. Dr. Ambedkar called it the heart and soul of the Constitution. Its suspension is only permitted as per constitutional provisions. One statement is incorrect because the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction under Article 32 is original but not exclusive, as High Courts share concurrent powers under Article 226.
Q20. The doctrine of eclipse, applied in constitutional law, is an effect primarily associated with which Article?
Explanation
The doctrine of eclipse is associated with Article 13. It suggests that a pre-constitutional law inconsistent with fundamental rights is not dead but becomes dormant or eclipsed. If the fundamental right is later amended or removed, the law becomes active again. This doctrine primarily applies to pre-constitutional laws but has been extended to post-constitutional laws in certain contexts.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 11 | (b) Article 17 |
| 12 | (b) Injunction |
| 13 | (b) Article 23 |
| 14 | (d) Freedom of speech and expression; Freedom to assemble peacefully; Freedom to form associations; Freedom to move freely |
| 15 | (a) Certiorari - To forbid |
| 16 | (b) Public order, morality, and health |
| 17 | (a) A-iii, B-i, C-iv, D-ii |
| 18 | (a) It allows any section of citizens to conserve their distinct language, script, or culture. |
| 19 | (b) I, III and IV |
| 20 | (b) Article 13 |
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.