MCQs with Answers for Civil Services Examination on “The Role of the Supreme Court in Protecting Constitutional Values”

1. Which Article of the Indian Constitution grants the Supreme Court the power to enforce Fundamental Rights?

• a) Article 32
• b) Article 226
• c) Article 124
• d) Article 143
• Answer: a) Article 32

2. What is the significance of the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) in relation to the role of the Supreme Court?

• a) Introduced the Basic Structure Doctrine
• b) Defined the scope of Fundamental Rights
• c) Clarified the power of Judicial Review
• d) Both a and c
• Answer: d) Both a and c

3. Which Article of the Indian Constitution allows the Supreme Court to issue writs for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights?

• a) Article 141
• b) Article 142
• c) Article 32
• d) Article 136
• Answer: c) Article 32

4. In the Minerva Mills case (1980), the Supreme Court held that:

• a) Directive Principles of State Policy can override Fundamental Rights
• b) Fundamental Rights are part of the Basic Structure
• c) Parliament cannot amend the Basic Structure
• d) Both b and c
• Answer: d) Both b and c

5. Which of the following is a function of the Supreme Court in India?

• a) Enforcing laws made by Parliament
• b) Providing advisory opinions to the President
• c) Impeaching the President
• d) Formulating government policies
• Answer: b) Providing advisory opinions to the President

6. The ‘Doctrine of Basic Structure’ was first established in which landmark Supreme Court case?

• a) Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India
• b) Golaknath v. State of Punjab
• c) Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala
• d) A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras
• Answer: c) Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala

7. The Supreme Court’s power to review the constitutionality of laws is derived from:

• a) Article 32
• b) Article 13
• c) Article 226
• d) Article 141
• Answer: b) Article 13

8. Which of the following ensures the independence of the Supreme Court in India?

• a) Appointment by the Prime Minister
• b) Fixed tenure for judges
• c) Security of tenure and protection against arbitrary removal
• d) None of the above
• Answer: c) Security of tenure and protection against arbitrary removal

9. In which case did the Supreme Court rule that the right to privacy is a fundamental right under the Indian Constitution?

• a) Indra Sawhney Case
• b) K.S. Puttaswamy Case
• c) Vishaka Case
• d) Olga Tellis Case
• Answer: b) K.S. Puttaswamy Case

10. The Supreme Court’s decision in the Vishaka Case (1997) led to the creation of:

• a) Guidelines on police reforms
• b) Guidelines to prevent sexual harassment at the workplace
• c) Constitutional amendment related to reservation
• d) Provisions for freedom of speech
• Answer: b) Guidelines to prevent sexual harassment at the workplace

11. Which of the following principles empowers the Supreme Court to nullify any unconstitutional amendment made by Parliament?

• a) Judicial Activism
• b) Judicial Review
• c) Original Jurisdiction
• d) Doctrine of Laches
• Answer: b) Judicial Review

12. The Supreme Court in the Maneka Gandhi Case (1978) expanded the scope of which Fundamental Right?

• a) Right to Property
• b) Right to Life and Personal Liberty
• c) Right to Freedom of Religion
• d) Right to Equality
• Answer: b) Right to Life and Personal Liberty

13. Which article provides the Supreme Court with advisory jurisdiction in India?

• a) Article 32
• b) Article 141
• c) Article 143
• d) Article 136
• Answer: c) Article 143

14. Which of the following statements about the Supreme Court’s role in upholding constitutional values is correct?

• a) It can strike down laws that violate Fundamental Rights
• b) It advises Parliament on constitutional amendments
• c) It can pass laws to enforce Directive Principles
• d) It cannot review actions of the executive
• Answer: a) It can strike down laws that violate Fundamental Rights

15. Which part of the Indian Constitution is often cited by the Supreme Court when adjudicating on social justice issues?

• a) Part II – Citizenship
• b) Part IV – Directive Principles of State Policy
• c) Part XII – Finance
• d) Part XI – Relations between Union and States
• Answer: b) Part IV – Directive Principles of State Policy

16. Which of the following best describes the term “Judicial Activism”?

• a) Strict interpretation of the law
• b) Proactive role of judiciary in protecting citizens’ rights
• c) Reviewing only laws passed by Parliament
• d) Following established legal precedents without deviation
• Answer: b) Proactive role of judiciary in protecting citizens’ rights

17. The Supreme Court’s role in protecting the ‘Right to Education’ as a fundamental right was recognized in:

• a) Unni Krishnan v. State of Andhra Pradesh
• b) Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation
• c) Minerva Mills v. Union of India
• d) Indra Sawhney v. Union of India
• Answer: a) Unni Krishnan v. State of Andhra Pradesh

18. The Supreme Court’s intervention in the S.R. Bommai Case was critical in defining:

• a) Scope of federalism in India
• b) Freedom of speech under Article 19
• c) Reservation policies for backward classes
• d) Constitutional limits on emergency powers
• Answer: a) Scope of federalism in India

19. Which of the following cases dealt with the misuse of Article 356 and the imposition of President’s Rule?

• a) Indra Sawhney Case
• b) Keshavananda Bharati Case
• c) S.R. Bommai Case
• d) Golaknath Case
• Answer: c) S.R. Bommai Case

20. Which of the following Fundamental Rights has the Supreme Court described as the “heart and soul” of the Constitution?

• a) Right to Freedom
• b) Right to Life and Personal Liberty
• c) Right to Constitutional Remedies
• d) Right to Equality
• Answer: c) Right to Constitutional Remedies

21. The doctrine of “Procedure established by law” under the Indian Constitution was originally interpreted in:

• a) A.K. Gopalan Case
• b) Maneka Gandhi Case
• c) Minerva Mills Case
• d) Vishaka Case
• Answer: a) A.K. Gopalan Case

22. Which of the following statements is true regarding the Supreme Court’s decision in the Indra Sawhney case?

• a) It upheld the 50% cap on reservations
• b) It introduced reservations for economically weaker sections
• c) It abolished caste-based reservations
• d) It reduced the age limit for backward classes in jobs
• Answer: a) It upheld the 50% cap on reservations

23. The Supreme Court has the authority to transfer cases from one High Court to another under which Article?

• a) Article 131
• b) Article 142
• c) Article 136
• d) Article 139A
• Answer: d) Article 139A

24. The Supreme Court’s role in protecting the environment was emphasized in which of the following cases?

• a) M.C. Mehta v. Union of India
• b) Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan
• c) K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India
• d) Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala
• Answer: a) M.C. Mehta v. Union of India

25. Which of the following cases expanded the interpretation of the right to life under Article 21 to include the right to a clean environment?

• a) Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation
• b) M.C. Mehta v. Union of India
• c) Indra Sawhney v. Union of India
• d) Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan
• Answer: b) M.C. Mehta v. Union of India

26. Which Article of the Constitution vests the Supreme Court with original jurisdiction?

• a) Article 141
• b) Article 143
• c) Article 131
• d) Article 144
• Answer: c) Article 131

27. Which Article of the Indian Constitution ensures that the law declared by the Supreme Court is binding on all courts within India?

• a) Article 137
• b) Article 141
• c) Article 32
• d) Article 142
• Answer: b) Article 141

28. In the case of Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, the Supreme Court decriminalized:

• a) Sedition under Section 124A
• b) Homosexuality under Section 377
• c) Dowry demands under Section 498A
• d) Religious hate speech
• Answer: b) Homosexuality under Section 377

29. Which of the following doctrines ensures that any law in violation of Fundamental Rights can be declared void by the Supreme Court?

• a) Doctrine of Severability
• b) Doctrine of Stare Decisis
• c) Doctrine of Laches
• d) Doctrine of Judicial Review
• Answer: d) Doctrine of Judicial Review

30. In which case did the Supreme Court uphold the concept of “due process of law” over “procedure established by law”?

• a) Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India
• b) A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras
• c) Golaknath v. State of Punjab
• d) Indra Sawhney v. Union of India
• Answer: a) Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India