Q21. The right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions is protected under which Article?
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 21–30 of 96 questions
Q22. Arrange the following grounds of non-discrimination in the sequential order they appear in Article 15(1) of the Constitution:
I. Caste
II. Race
III. Sex
IV. Religion
V. Place of birth
Which of the following represents the correct sequence?
I. Caste
II. Race
III. Sex
IV. Religion
V. Place of birth
Which of the following represents the correct sequence?
Explanation
Article 15(1) names the grounds in the order religion, race, caste, sex and place of birth. The correct sequence is IV, II, I, III, V.
Q23. The term untouchability as mentioned in Article 17 of the Constitution is defined in:
Explanation
Although Article 17 abolishes untouchability, the Constitution does not define the term. Similarly, the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, and the SC/ST Act, 1989, do not provide a specific definition. Courts have generally interpreted it in a historical sense, referring to the social practice of boycotting certain classes of people based on their birth in specific castes.
Q24. Consider the following entities:
I. Life Insurance Corporation (LIC)
II. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
III. Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)
IV. A private school with no state funding
V. The judiciary exercising non-administrative functions
Which of the above entities falls under the definition of State according to Article 12 as interpreted by the Supreme Court?
I. Life Insurance Corporation (LIC)
II. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
III. Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)
IV. A private school with no state funding
V. The judiciary exercising non-administrative functions
Which of the above entities falls under the definition of State according to Article 12 as interpreted by the Supreme Court?
Explanation
Under Article 12, the definition of State includes statutory bodies like LIC, ONGC, and SAIL because they are instrumentalities of the government. A private school without state funding does not usually fall under this definition. The judiciary is generally not considered State when exercising judicial functions, although it may be considered so when performing administrative or rule-making functions.
Q25. In the landmark case of Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India, the Supreme Court held that the Right to Privacy is protected under which Article?
Explanation
In the landmark 2017 case of Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India, a nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court unanimously declared that the Right to Privacy is a fundamental right. The Court held that this right is an intrinsic part of the right to life and personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 and Part III.
Q26. Consider the following statements regarding the restrictions on Fundamental Rights:
Statement I: The State can impose reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the freedom of speech and expression on the grounds of public order.
Statement II: The reasonableness of the restrictions is a decision of the judiciary and can be challenged in court.
Which of the following is correct?
Statement I: The State can impose reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the freedom of speech and expression on the grounds of public order.
Statement II: The reasonableness of the restrictions is a decision of the judiciary and can be challenged in court.
Which of the following is correct?
Explanation
The State can impose reasonable restrictions on free speech on grounds such as public order, so Statement I is correct. Whether a restriction is reasonable is for the courts to decide and can be challenged, so Statement II is correct too.
Q27. Match the freedoms in List I with the grounds for restriction in List II and select the correct answer using the options given below:
| Freedom under Article 19 | Ground for Restriction |
|---|---|
| A. Freedom of speech and expression | i. Interests of the general public or protection of any Scheduled Tribe |
| B. Freedom of assembly | ii. Sovereignty and integrity of India, and public order |
| C. Freedom of association | iii. Defamation or contempt of court |
| D. Freedom of movement | iv. Public order or morality |
Explanation
Each freedom under Article 19 is subject to specific restrictions. Speech can be restricted due to defamation. Assembly and association are limited by public order and sovereignty. Movement can be restricted for the general public interest or the protection of Scheduled Tribes. These restrictions must be reasonable and based on the grounds explicitly mentioned in clauses of Article 19.
Q28. Identify the incorrect statement regarding Article 24 of the Constitution:
Explanation
Article 24 prohibits the employment of children below 14 years in factories, mines, or hazardous occupations. However, it does not explicitly ban employment in harmless or innocent work. Over time, statutory laws like the Child Labour Act have become stricter, but the constitutional provision itself specifically targets hazardous sectors to protect the health and safety of young children.
Q29. Consider the following cases related to Article 21:
I. A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras
II. Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India
III. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala
Which of the above case(s) marks a shift from procedure established by law to due process of law in Indian jurisprudence?
I. A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras
II. Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India
III. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala
Which of the above case(s) marks a shift from procedure established by law to due process of law in Indian jurisprudence?
Explanation
In the Maneka Gandhi case, the Supreme Court moved away from the narrow interpretation of procedure established by law used in the A.K. Gopalan case. The Court ruled that any procedure must be just, fair, and reasonable, effectively introducing the American concept of substantive due process into Article 21. This expansion significantly strengthened the protection of personal liberty.
Q30. Which of the following is an exception to the rule of Equality before Law under Article 14?
Explanation
Article 361 provides an exception to the rule of equality before law. The President of India and State Governors are not answerable to any court for the exercise of their official powers and duties. They also enjoy immunity from criminal proceedings and arrest during their term. This ensures they can perform their constitutional roles without the threat of legal harassment.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 21 | (c) Article 30 |
| 22 | (a) IV, II, I, III, V |
| 23 | (d) It is neither defined in the Constitution nor in any Act |
| 24 | (a) I, II, and III only |
| 25 | (c) Article 21 |
| 26 | (a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct |
| 27 | (a) A-iii, B-ii, C-iv, D-i |
| 28 | (b) It completely bans the employment of children in harmless and innocent work. |
| 29 | (b) II only |
| 30 | (d) The President and Governors for their official acts |
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.