Q31. Which of the following best describes the reason Dr. B.R. Ambedkar called Article 32 the heart and soul of the Constitution?
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 31–40 of 96 questions
Q32. Article 20 of the Indian Constitution provides protection in respect of conviction for offences. Which of the following principles is NOT covered under this Article?
Explanation
Article 20 offers protection against arbitrary and excessive punishment through three principles: ex-post-facto laws, double jeopardy, and self-incrimination. Preventive detention is not covered under Article 20; instead, it is addressed under Article 22. Article 22 provides specific safeguards for persons arrested under ordinary laws and those detained under preventive detention laws, forming a separate category of protection.
Q33. A religious community decides to establish a charitable hospital strictly managed by its own members. The State denies a general subsidy to this hospital citing it is managed by a specific religious group. Under which Article can the community primarily challenge this decision?
Explanation
Article 26 grants every religious denomination the right to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes. If a community’s charitable hospital is denied a general subsidy solely because of its religious management, it can challenge the action under this article. This right is subject to public order, morality, and health, but protects the administrative autonomy of religious groups.
Q34. The following question consists of two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the oth7er as Reason (R). Examine these two statements carefully and select the correct answer using the options given below:
Assertion (A): The Supreme Court can issue writs only for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights and not for any other purpose.
Reason (R): Article 32 limits the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction specifically to the enforcement of Part III of the Constitution.
Assertion (A): The Supreme Court can issue writs only for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights and not for any other purpose.
Reason (R): Article 32 limits the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction specifically to the enforcement of Part III of the Constitution.
Explanation
The Supreme Court’s jurisdiction under Article 32 is limited to the enforcement of Fundamental Rights. Unlike the High Courts under Article 226, the Supreme Court cannot issue writs for any other purpose. Thus, Assertion A is true. Reason R correctly explains this limitation, highlighting that Article 32 is specifically designed to safeguard the provisions of Part III of the Constitution.
Q35. Identify the correctly matched pair regarding reservations and their constitutional basis:
Explanation
Article 16(4A) allows reservation in promotions with consequential seniority for SCs and STs. EWS reservation comes from Articles 15(6) and 16(6), and Article 15(4) covers socially and educationally backward classes, so the other pairs are wrong.
Q36. Which Article restricts Fundamental Rights while martial law is in force in any area?
Explanation
Article 34 provides for the restriction of Fundamental Rights while martial law is in force in any area within the territory of India. It empowers Parliament to indemnify any person in government service for acts done during the maintenance of order. Martial law is a situation where the military takes over the administration due to the breakdown of ordinary law.
Q37. The term begar mentioned in Article 23 refers to:
Explanation
The term begar is a specific form of forced labor where a person is compelled to work without receiving any payment or wages. Article 23 of the Constitution prohibits begar and other similar forms of forced labor. This provision aims to eliminate feudal and exploitative practices that violate human dignity and the right to be free from economic coercion.
Q38. Consider the following statements regarding Article 22:
Statement I: A person arrested must be produced before the nearest magistrate within 24 hours of arrest.
Statement II: The safeguard of being produced before a magistrate within 24 hours is available to enemy aliens and persons arrested under preventive detention laws.
Which of the following is correct?
Statement I: A person arrested must be produced before the nearest magistrate within 24 hours of arrest.
Statement II: The safeguard of being produced before a magistrate within 24 hours is available to enemy aliens and persons arrested under preventive detention laws.
Which of the following is correct?
Explanation
Article 22 requires that an arrested person be produced before the nearest magistrate within 24 hours, so Statement I is correct. This safeguard is not available to enemy aliens or to persons held under preventive detention laws, so Statement II is incorrect.
Q39. Find the odd one out among the following Articles, based on their availability to non-citizens:
Explanation
Certain Fundamental Rights are reserved exclusively for Indian citizens, including Article 15 (prohibition of discrimination), Article 16 (public employment), Article 19 (freedoms), and Articles 29 and 30 (cultural rights). In contrast, rights like Article 14 (equality), Article 20 (conviction), and Article 21 (life and liberty) are available to both citizens and foreigners within the territory of India, excluding enemy aliens.
Q40. Article 21A, which makes the right to education a Fundamental Right, was added to the Constitution by which Amendment Act?
Explanation
The 86th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2002 introduced Article 21A, which mandates that the State provide free and compulsory education to all children between the ages of six and fourteen. This landmark amendment elevated the right to education from a directive principle to a justiciable fundamental right, emphasizing the nation’s commitment to universalizing elementary education for all children.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 31 | (a) It makes Fundamental Rights judicially enforceable by the Supreme Court. |
| 32 | (b) Preventive detention |
| 33 | (b) Article 26 |
| 34 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 35 | (b) Reservation in promotions with consequential seniority - Article 16(4A) |
| 36 | (b) Article 34 |
| 37 | (b) Compulsory labor without financial remuneration. |
| 38 | (c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect |
| 39 | (b) Article 15 |
| 40 | (c) 86th Amendment Act, 2002 |
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.