Indian Polity and Constitution Mixed Practice — MCQs with Answers (Set 13)

E.P. Royappa v. State of Tamil Nadu (1974) held that equality is antithetic to arbitrariness. Article 14 thus strikes at arbitrary State action, not just classification.

The correct answer is the object sought to be achieved by the law. The grouping needs a rational link to the law’s aim. Memory hook: differentia must match the object.

The correct answer is equality before the law and equal protection of the laws. Article 14 gives both to any person. Memory hook: Article 14 means equality.

Ambedkar moved the Draft Constitution for consideration on 4 November 1948. In that speech he spoke of constitutional morality.

Constitutional morality demands fidelity to the Constitution’s spirit, not just its text. Institutions must act on its core values and principles.

Dr B.R. Ambedkar coined the term in his Constituent Assembly speech of 4 November 1948. He urged that constitutional morality must be cultivated.

The answer is 2 only. Statement 2 is supported. The Department of Personnel was set up in 1970, on acceptance of the First ARC’s recommendations, under the Prime Minister. Statement 1 is marked wrong in the answer key. The summary of the Ayyangar Committee lists other recommendations: four bureaus, a limit on departments and three grades of minister.

The correct answer is tension between land-reform legislation and property-rights litigation slowing redistributive laws.

The correct answer is ordinary courts, including High Courts under Article 226. It lost the fast-track Article 32 route once it stopped being a Fundamental Right.

The correct answer is no person shall be deprived of their property save by authority of law.

The correct answer is legal right available to any person. Since the 44th Amendment, 1978, it is a legal right under Article 300A, not a Fundamental Right, and it is not restricted to citizens only.

The answer is No, parole is discretionary, not a matter of right. The Home Ministry says parole is not an absolute right. It calls it a concession. The Model Prison Manual says the concession can be cancelled. The Supreme Court in Asfaq added a limit: a conviction for a serious crime cannot, by itself, be the reason to deny it. Why the others fail: it does not become an enforceable right. No “under 5 years” rule appears in the model rules. Parole does exist in Indian prison rules. Memory hook: parole is a concession, not a claim.

The answer is No, the police need the court’s approval first. The Magistrate decides in which custody an accused is held. In the 2026 case the police filed a memo before the Magistrate seeking police custody. The Supreme Court then gave seven days with unrestricted access for questioning. Why the others fail: “freely, at any time” ignores the Magistrate. A “written consent” of the suspect is not the test. “Never possible” is wrong, because police custody can be granted. Memory hook: the Magistrate holds the key to the interrogation room.

The answer is jail, under a magistrate’s custody. The BNSS says nobody may be detained except in a police station under police custody, or in a prison under judicial custody, or in a place declared a prison. In the 2026 Supreme Court case the accused in judicial custody was lodged in a Central Prison. Why the others fail: a police station is police custody. Home surveillance is not one of the places the BNSS allows. A court holding cell is not the place for judicial custody. Memory hook: judicial means jail.

The answer is 2 only. Statement 1 is wrong. The Home Ministry says parole is not an absolute right. It calls parole a concession. The Model Prison Manual calls it a legal right only of an eligible prisoner, on stated conditions. Statement 2 is right. Prisons are State subjects, and States have made their own rules. Why the others fail: “1 only” and “both” treat parole as a right. “Neither” denies the State rules. Memory hook: parole is a concession, States write the rules.

The answer is 2 only. Statement 1 is wrong. The BNSS allows a person to be held in a police station under police custody, or in a prison under judicial custody. So judicial custody means prison. Statement 2 is right. The Magistrate decides the custody. In the 2026 Supreme Court case the police asked the Magistrate for police custody of an accused already in judicial custody. Why the others fail: “1 only” and “both” accept the police-station claim. “Neither” rejects the approval rule. Memory hook: judicial means jail, police means station.

The correct answer is it promotes and discusses the idea through global forums and reports, without formal treaty enforcement.

The correct answer is no, it is an evolving planning and participation concept, not a formal binding right.

The correct answer is 2 and 3, per the official UPSC key. ‘Right to the City’ is not a formally agreed, UN-Habitat-monitored human right — statement 1 is false. It does genuinely emphasise reclaiming public space and participation (statement 2) and non-denial of services to unauthorized colonies (statement 3).

The correct answer is (b) Fifth Schedule. Para 5(2)(a) of the Fifth Schedule empowers the Governor to make regulations prohibiting or restricting land transfers by Scheduled Tribes members in Scheduled Areas, which can render such transfers null and void — reinforced by cases like Samatha v. Andhra Pradesh (1997). Read more.

The correct answer is (a) 1 and 2 only. The Act does exempt several posts and has been amended five times — statements 1 and 2 are correct. “Office of Profit” is NOT defined anywhere in the Constitution’s text — statement 3 is false. Read more.

The correct answer is (a) This would prevent the transfer of land of tribal people to non-tribal people.. Fifth Schedule areas carry land-alienation restriction as their core practical consequence; it does not itself create a local body, a UT, or Special Category State status. Read more.

The answer is B, statement 2 only. Section 7(1)(h) and (i) let the BCI lay down legal education standards and recognise universities. Statement 1 is false because the official key marks only statement 2 as correct. Hook: the BCI shapes legal education.

The correct answer is An autonomous think-tank supporting the Ministry with research and solutions. The Ministry’s own report calls NIUA an autonomous non-statutory body for urban research. NIUA calls itself a premier urban think tank.

“Apex body” is the UPSC trap. NIUA is a research institute, not the top body of the Ministry. It is not a state planning authority or a private firm.

Memory hook: Think tank, not top body.

The correct answer is Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. NIUA was set up in 1976 as an autonomous body under the aegis of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

Rural Development and Panchayati Raj deal with villages. The Home Ministry deals with internal security. NIUA studies cities.

Memory hook: NIUA studies cities, so its Ministry is the urban one.