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UPSC Prelims · Indian Polity PYQ

Fundamental Rights UPSC PYQ — Articles 12 to 35

Articles 12–35 — the right to equality, freedom, rights against exploitation, and constitutional remedies.

18 Questions · 1995–2024

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Right to Freedom

Articles 19-22: personal liberty, preventive detention, and protection against exploitation.

7 questions
  1. 1 2023

    Consider the following statements :
    1. According to the Constitution of India, the Central Government has a duty to protect States from internal disturbances.
    2. The Constitution of India exempts the States from providing legal counsel to a person being held for preventive detention.
    3. According to the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002, confession of the accused before the police cannot be used as evidence.
    How many of the above statements are correct?

    1. A Only one
    2. B Only two
    3. C All three
    4. D None
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: B. Only two

    Explanation

    Under Article 355, the Union does have a duty to protect States against internal disturbance — Statement 1 is correct. The Constitution does not exempt States from providing legal counsel to persons in preventive detention in the blanket manner claimed; in fact, Article 22 provides certain safeguards (though limited) even in preventive detention cases — Statement 2 is incorrect. Also, POTA was enacted in 2002, but it actually allowed a police confession to be used as evidence under specified safeguards, which was one of its controversial features — so the claim that it 'cannot' be used is incorrect — Statement 3 is incorrect.

  2. 2 2019

    Which Article of the Constitution of India safeguards one's right to marry the person of one's choice?

    1. A Article 19
    2. B Article 21
    3. C Article 25
    4. D Article 29
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: B. Article 21

    Explanation

    The right to marry a person of one's choice has been read by courts as part of the Right to Life and Personal Liberty guaranteed under Article 21.

  3. 3 2017

    Which of the following are envisaged by the Right against Exploitation in the Constitution of India?
    1. Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour
    2. Abolition of untouchability
    3. Protection of the interests of minorities
    4. Prohibition of employment of children in factories and mines
    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    1. A 1, 2 and 4 only
    2. B 2, 3 and 4 only
    3. C 1 and 4 only
    4. D 1, 2, 3 and 4
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: C. 1 and 4 only

    Explanation

    The Right against Exploitation (Articles 23-24) specifically covers prohibition of trafficking in human beings and forced labour, and prohibition of employing children below 14 in hazardous occupations like factories and mines; abolition of untouchability falls instead under the Right to Equality (Article 17), and protection of minorities' interests falls under Cultural and Educational Rights, not the Right against Exploitation.

  4. 4 2005

    Consider the following statements:
    1. Article 301 pertains to the Right to Property.
    2. Right to Property is a legal right but not a Fundamental Right.
    3. Article 300 A was inserted in the Constitution of India by the Congress Government at the Centre by the 44th Constitutional Amendment.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A 2 only
    2. B 2 and 3
    3. C 1 and 3
    4. D 1, 2 and 3
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: A. 2 only

    Explanation

    Article 301, dealing with freedom of trade, commerce, and intercourse, has nothing to do with the Right to Property — Statement 1 is incorrect. The Right to Property was removed from the list of Fundamental Rights by the 44th Amendment Act, 1978, and now exists only as a legal/constitutional right under Article 300-A — Statement 2 is correct. However, it was the Janata Party Government (not the Congress Government) that was in power and enacted the 44th Amendment in 1978 which inserted Article 300A — Statement 3 is incorrect.

  5. 5 2004

    Which Article of the Constitution of India says, “No child below the age of fourteen years shall be employed to work in any factory or mine or engaged in any other hazardous employment”?

    1. A Article 24
    2. B Article 45
    3. C Article 330
    4. D Article 368
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: A. Article 24

    Explanation

    Article 24 of the Constitution prohibits the employment of children below the age of 14 in any factory, mine, or other hazardous employment.

  6. 6 1999

    A British citizen staying in India cannot claim Right to

    1. A Freedom of trade and profession
    2. B Equality before the Law
    3. C Protection of life and personal liberty
    4. D Freedom of religion
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: A. Freedom of trade and profession

    Explanation

    As a foreign national, a British citizen in India cannot claim the freedoms under Article 19 (such as freedom of trade and profession), which are reserved for Indian citizens, though they can claim rights like equality before the law and protection of life and personal liberty, which extend to all persons.

  7. 7 1996

    Consider the following statements: No one can be compelled to sing the National Anthem since
    I. It will be violative of the Right to freedom of speech and expression.
    II. It will be violative of the Right to freedom of conscience and practise and propagation of religion.
    III. There is no legal provision obliging any one to sing the National Anthem. Of these statements

    1. A I and II are correct
    2. B II and III are correct
    3. C I, II and III are correct
    4. D None is correct
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: C. I, II and III are correct

    Explanation

    Compelling someone to sing the National Anthem against their sincerely held beliefs can indeed infringe their freedom of speech and expression, and can also infringe their freedom of conscience and religion in appropriate cases (as recognised in the Bijoe Emmanuel case) — Statements I and II are correct. There is also no specific legal provision that obligates every individual to sing the National Anthem — Statement III is correct.

Right to Equality

Articles 14-18: equality before law and prohibition of discrimination.

6 questions
  1. 1 2020

    Which one of the following categories of Fundamental Rights incorporates protection against untouchability as a form of discrimination?

    1. A Right against Exploitation
    2. B Right to Freedom
    3. C Right to Constitutional Remedies
    4. D Right to Equality
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: D. Right to Equality

    Explanation

    The Right to Equality (Articles 14-18) includes Article 17, which abolishes untouchability and forbids its practice in any form, treating it as a form of prohibited discrimination.

  2. 2 2004

    Match List I (Articles of the Constitution of India) with List II (Provision) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
    List I
    (A) Article 14
    (B) Article 15
    (C) Article 16
    (D) Article 17
    List II
    1. The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them
    2. The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of laws within the territory of India
    3. “Untouchability” is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden
    4. There shall be equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to employment or appointment to any office under the State
    Codes: A B C D

    1. A 2 4 1 3
    2. B 3 1 4 2
    3. C 2 1 4 3
    4. D 3 4 1 2
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: C. 2 1 4 3

    Explanation

    Article 14 guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the laws; Article 15 prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth; Article 16 guarantees equality of opportunity in public employment; and Article 17 abolishes untouchability.

  3. 3 2002

    Match List I (Article of Indian Constitution) with List II (Provisions) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
    List I (Article)
    A. Article 16(2)
    B. Article 29(2)
    C. Article 30(1)
    D. Article 31(1)
    List II (Provisions)
    1. No person shall be deprived of his property save by the authority of law
    2. No person can be discriminated against in the matter of public appointment on the ground of race, religion or caste
    3. All minorities whether based on religion or language shall have the fundamental right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice
    4. No citizen shall be denied admission into any educational institution maintained by the State, or receiving State aid, on grounds of religion, race, caste, language or any of them
    Codes:

    1. A A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
    2. B A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4
    3. C A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
    4. D A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: A. A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1

    Explanation

    Article 16(2) prohibits discrimination in public employment on grounds of religion, race, or caste; Article 29(2) prohibits denial of admission to State-maintained or State-aided educational institutions on grounds such as religion, race, caste, or language; Article 30(1) guarantees minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice; and Article 31(1) (as it then stood) protected against deprivation of property save by authority of law.

  4. 4 2002

    In the Indian Constitution, the Right to Equality is granted by Five Articles. They are

    1. A Article 16 to Article 20
    2. B Article 15 to Article 19
    3. C Article 14 to Article 18
    4. D Article 13 to Article 17
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: C. Article 14 to Article 18

    Explanation

    The Right to Equality in the Indian Constitution is granted through five Articles, from Article 14 to Article 18, covering equality before law, prohibition of discrimination, equality of opportunity, abolition of titles, and abolition of untouchability.

  5. 5 1999

    The Constitution of India recognises

    1. A only religious minorities
    2. B only linguistic minorities
    3. C religious and linguistic minorities
    4. D religious, linguistic and ethnic minorities
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: C. religious and linguistic minorities

    Explanation

    The Constitution recognises and protects both religious and linguistic minorities, particularly through provisions like Articles 29 and 30, without a separate express category for ethnic minorities.

  6. 6 1995

    Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, etc. (Article 15 of the Constitution of India) is a Fundamental Right classifiable under

    1. A the Right to Freedom of Religion
    2. B the Right against Exploitation
    3. C the Cultural and Educational Rights
    4. D the Right to Equality
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: D. the Right to Equality

    Explanation

    Article 15, which prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth, falls under the broader category of the Right to Equality (Articles 14-18).

Right to Privacy

Right to Privacy as part of the Right to Life and Personal Liberty under Article 21.

4 questions
  1. 1 2024

    Under which of the following Articles of the Constitution of India, has the Supreme Court of India placed the Right to Privacy ?

    1. A Article 15
    2. B Article 16
    3. C Article 19
    4. D Article 21
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: D. Article 21

    Explanation

    The Supreme Court, in the K. S. Puttaswamy judgment (2017), located the Right to Privacy as an intrinsic part of the Right to Life and Personal Liberty guaranteed under Article 21.

  2. 2 2021

    'Right to Privacy' is protected under which Article of the Constitution of India?

    1. A Article 15
    2. B Article 19
    3. C Article 21
    4. D Article 29
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: C. Article 21

    Explanation

    The Right to Privacy has been held by the Supreme Court to be protected under Article 21, as an intrinsic part of the Right to Life and Personal Liberty.

  3. 3 2018

    Right to Privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of Right to Life and Personal Liberty. Which of the following in the Constitution of India correctly and appropriately imply the above statement?

    1. A Article 14 and the provisions under the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution
    2. B Article 17 and the Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV
    3. C Article 21 and the freedoms guaranteed in Part III
    4. D Article 24 and the provisions under the 44th Amendment to the Constitution
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: C. Article 21 and the freedoms guaranteed in Part III

    Explanation

    The Right to Privacy has been recognised as an intrinsic part of the Right to Life and Personal Liberty under Article 21, and is further reinforced by the various freedoms guaranteed under Part III of the Constitution.

  4. 4 2006

    Which one among the following was the first to legalize euthanasia?

    1. A Australia
    2. B New Zealand
    3. C Netherlands
    4. D Canada
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: A. Australia

    Explanation

    The Netherlands, in 2001-2002, became the first country in the world to legalise euthanasia through specific legislation.

Article 32 & Constitutional Remedies

Article 32, the Right to Constitutional Remedies.

1 questions
  1. 1 2002

    Which one of the following rights was described by Dr B. R. Ambedkar as the heart and soul of the Constitution?

    1. A Right to freedom of religion
    2. B Right to property
    3. C Right to equality
    4. D Right to Constitutional remedies
    Reveal answer

    Correct answer: D. Right to Constitutional remedies

    Explanation

    Dr. B. R. Ambedkar famously described Article 32, the Right to Constitutional Remedies, as 'the heart and soul' of the Constitution, since it allows citizens to directly approach the Supreme Court for enforcement of their Fundamental Rights.

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