Introduction India, with its vast population of over 1.4 billion people, is one of the…
MCQs with answers on “The Role of India’s Judiciary in Safeguarding Constitutional Rights”
1. Which article of the Indian Constitution provides for the establishment of the Supreme Court of India?
a) Article 124
b) Article 32
c) Article 368
d) Article 50
Answer: a) Article 124
2. What is the primary role of the judiciary in India?
a) To make laws
b) To interpret and apply laws
c) To execute laws
d) To advise the President
Answer: b) To interpret and apply laws
3. Which of the following is not a fundamental right under the Indian Constitution?
a) Right to Equality
b) Right to Freedom of Speech
c) Right to Property
d) Right to Religion
Answer: c) Right to Property
4. Which article of the Indian Constitution empowers the judiciary to issue writs for the enforcement of fundamental rights?
a) Article 21
b) Article 32
c) Article 136
d) Article 226
Answer: b) Article 32
5. Who has the authority to transfer cases from one high court to another?
a) Chief Justice of India
b) President of India
c) Prime Minister of India
d) Union Law Minister
Answer: a) Chief Justice of India
6. What is the doctrine of “Basic Structure” related to?
a) Judicial review
b) Amendment of the Constitution
c) Fundamental Rights
d) Division of powers between states and the center
Answer: b) Amendment of the Constitution
7. Which of the following is a landmark case related to the “Right to Privacy” in India?
a) Keshavananda Bharti v. State of Kerala
b) Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India
c) Puttaswamy v. Union of India
d) Golaknath v. State of Punjab
Answer: c) Puttaswamy v. Union of India
8. The power of judicial review in India is exercised under which of the following articles?
a) Article 32
b) Article 131
c) Article 226
d) Article 13
Answer: d) Article 13
9. Which of the following is NOT a function of the judiciary in India?
a) Resolving disputes between states
b) Safeguarding fundamental rights
c) Making laws
d) Protecting the Constitution
Answer: c) Making laws
10. The right to constitutional remedies under Article 32 can be suspended during:
a) A National Emergency
b) A state of emergency in a state
c) A natural calamity
d) Both a and b
Answer: a) A National Emergency
11. Which of the following rights is NOT explicitly mentioned in the Fundamental Rights of the Indian Constitution?
a) Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression
b) Right to Life and Personal Liberty
c) Right to Education
d) Right to Work
Answer: d) Right to Work
12. Which of the following writs is issued to protect an individual’s personal liberty?
a) Mandamus
b) Habeas Corpus
c) Certiorari
d) Prohibition
Answer: b) Habeas Corpus
13. Which of the following fundamental rights is also available to non-citizens of India?
a) Right to Freedom of Religion
b) Right to Freedom of Speech
c) Right to Education
d) Right to Protection from Arrest and Detention
Answer: c) Right to Education
14. In which case did the Supreme Court declare that the “Basic Structure” doctrine is a part of the Indian Constitution?
a) Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India
b) Keshavananda Bharti v. State of Kerala
c) Minerva Mills v. Union of India
d) Golaknath v. State of Punjab
Answer: b) Keshavananda Bharti v. State of Kerala
15. Who can declare a law as unconstitutional in India?
a) Parliament
b) President
c) Supreme Court
d) Chief Justice of India
Answer: c) Supreme Court
16. Which of the following articles guarantees the right to move the Supreme Court for the enforcement of fundamental rights?
a) Article 21
b) Article 32
c) Article 368
d) Article 226
Answer: b) Article 32
17. What is the role of the judiciary in protecting minority rights in India?
a) Interpret the Constitution to prevent majoritarianism
b) Create new laws
c) Promote majority community interests
d) Restrict political participation of minorities
Answer: a) Interpret the Constitution to prevent majoritarianism
18. Which of the following cases established that ‘right to life’ includes the right to live with human dignity?
a) Keshavananda Bharti v. State of Kerala
b) Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India
c) Francis Coralie Mullin v. Union Territory of Delhi
d) Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation
Answer: c) Francis Coralie Mullin v. Union Territory of Delhi
19. Under which article of the Indian Constitution is the power of judicial review vested in the judiciary?
a) Article 13
b) Article 32
c) Article 136
d) Article 226
Answer: a) Article 13
20. Which of the following is a type of writ that can be issued by the judiciary to compel a public official to perform a duty?
a) Habeas Corpus
b) Mandamus
c) Certiorari
d) Prohibition
Answer: b) Mandamus
21. In which case did the Supreme Court uphold the validity of the right to education under Article 21?
a) T.M.A. Pai Foundation v. State of Karnataka
b) M.C. Mehta v. Union of India
c) Unnikrishnan v. State of Andhra Pradesh
d) State of Kerala v. N.M. Thomas
Answer: c) Unnikrishnan v. State of Andhra Pradesh
22. Which of the following writs can be issued to quash an order passed by a lower court or tribunal?
a) Certiorari
b) Mandamus
c) Habeas Corpus
d) Prohibition
Answer: a) Certiorari
23. Who appoints the judges of the Supreme Court in India?
a) Prime Minister
b) President
c) Chief Justice of India
d) Lok Sabha Speaker
Answer: b) President
24. Which fundamental right is often referred to as the ‘heart and soul’ of the Indian Constitution?
a) Right to Equality
b) Right to Freedom
c) Right to Constitutional Remedies
d) Right to Life and Personal Liberty
Answer: c) Right to Constitutional Remedies
25. The concept of ‘Public Interest Litigation (PIL)’ was first introduced in India in which of the following cases?
a) Menaka Gandhi v. Union of India
b) S.P. Gupta v. Union of India
c) Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala
d) Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation
Answer: b) S.P. Gupta v. Union of India
26. Which of the following rights is a negative right in the Indian Constitution?
a) Right to Equality
b) Right to Freedom of Speech
c) Right to Life
d) Right against Exploitation
Answer: b) Right to Freedom of Speech
27. Under which provision does the Supreme Court have the power to review its own judgments?
a) Article 142
b) Article 137
c) Article 128
d) Article 136
Answer: b) Article 137
28. Which of the following is an example of a preventive measure for safeguarding constitutional rights in India?
a) Suspension of Fundamental Rights during an Emergency
b) Judicial review
c) President’s rule in states
d) National Security Act
Answer: b) Judicial review
29. The Supreme Court can issue a writ of Habeas Corpus to protect which of the following rights?
a) Right to property
b) Right to life
c) Right to privacy
d) Right to freedom
Answer: b) Right to life
30. The power of judicial review can be exercised to strike down a law if it violates which of the following?
a) Directive Principles of State Policy
b) Fundamental Rights
c) Fundamental Duties
d) Statutory laws
Answer: b) Fundamental Rights
These MCQs provide an in-depth understanding of the role of India’s judiciary in safeguarding constitutional rights and the various judicial mechanisms that help uphold them.
