EvaluatorIAS
  1. Home
  2. PYQ Explorer
  3. Polity
  4. Salient Features / Basic Structure

Polity · Constitution: basics

Salient Features / Basic Structure: 39 previous year questions

UPSC has asked 39 questions on Salient Features / Basic Structure between 1988 and 2026: CAPF 12 · CDS 12 · CSE 9 · CISF (LDCE) 4 · NDA 2. 28 of them came after 2015, so this is a live topic examiners keep returning to. 9 were set in Civil Services Prelims; the rest come from UPSC's other papers, which draw on the same question bank.

Practise these 39, one at a timeRead the questions

Tap an option to check yourself. Answers follow the official UPSC key; where the key was dropped or disputed the question is not shown.

CAPF2026Salient Features / Basic StructureOn card POL 1·3

Which of the following statements in respect of the nature of the federal system in India is/are correct? 1. Since the States had an independent existence prior to the formation of the Federation, the Constitution of India provided safeguards for protecting "State rights", similar to the Constitution of the United States. 2. The residuary powers are reserved with the States under the Constitution of the United States, but these are with the Union under the Constitution of India. 3. The Constitution of India has followed the Irish Constitution in vesting the residuary powers. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Show answer
Answer B (official UPSC key)Residuary powers → with the States under the US Constitution but with the Union under India's | NOT: States pre-existed the Federation, so 'State rights' safeguarded like the US | NOT: India followed the Irish Constitution in vesting residuary powers
CAPF2022Salient Features / Basic StructureOn card POL 1·3

Which one of the following is not a feature of Indian federalism?

Show answer
Answer D (official UPSC key)NOT a feature of Indian federalism → based on the principle of Separation of Powers
CAPF2021Salient Features / Basic StructureOn card POL 1·3

Which one of the following statements with regard to the Preamble to the Constitution of India is not correct?

Show answer
Answer D (official UPSC key)NOT: SC held the Preamble cannot aid interpretation of the Constitution where the language is ambiguous
CSE2021Salient Features / Basic StructureOn card POL 1·3

Which one of the following in Indian polity is an essential feature that indicates that it is federal in character?

Show answer
Answer A (official UPSC key)Essential feature indicating federal character → independence of the judiciary safeguarded
CSE2021Salient Features / Basic StructureOn card POL 5·7

We adopted parliamentary democracy based on the British model, but how does our model differ from that model? 1. As regards legislation, the British Parliament is supreme or sovereign but in India, the power of the parliament to legislate is limited. 2. In India, matters related to the constitutionality of the Amendment of an Act of the Parliament are referred to the Constitution Bench by the Supreme Court. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Show answer
Answer C (official UPSC key)Indian vs British parliamentary model → British Parliament sovereign, Indian Parliament's legislative power limited | constitutionality of amendments to Acts referred by the SC to a Constitution Bench
CISF (LDCE)2020Salient Features / Basic StructureOn card POL 1·3

Which one of the following does not describe the procedure or substance of the amendments to the Indian Constitution ?

Show answer
Answer B (official UPSC key)Amendment procedure/substance → NOT: 'basic features cannot be amended' (a judicially imposed limit, not procedure)
CSE2020Salient Features / Basic StructureOn card POL 1·3

Consider the following statements: 1. The Constitution of India defines its ‗basic structure‘ in terms of federalism, secularism, fundamental rights and democracy. 2. The Constitution of India provides for ‗judicial review‘ to safeguard the citizens‘ liberties and to preserve the ideals on which the Constitution is based. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Show answer
Answer D (official UPSC key)NOT: the Constitution defines its 'basic structure' | NOT: the Constitution expressly provides for 'judicial review'
CAPF2019Salient Features / Basic Structure

Which of the following statements about Max Weber‟s ideal theory of Bureaucracy is/are correct ? 1. It refers to the dominant class character. 2. Bureaucracy is associated with structural and behavioral characteristics. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

Show answer
Answer B (official UPSC key)Max Weber's ideal bureaucracy → associated with structural and behavioural characteristics | NOT: refers to dominant class character
CDS2019 · 1Salient Features / Basic StructureOn card POL 1·3

Which among the following statements about the power to change the basic structure of the Constitution of India is/are correct? 1. It falls outside the scope of the amending powers of the Parliament. 2. It can be exercised by the people through representatives in a Constituent Assembly. 3. It falls within the constituent powers of the Parliament. Select the correct answer using the code below.

Show answer
Answer B (official UPSC key)Power to change the basic structure → outside Parliament's amending powers | can be exercised by the people through representatives in a Constituent Assembly | NOT: within Parliament's constituent powers
CDS2017 · 1Salient Features / Basic StructureOn card POL 1·3

Which of the following statements regarding Indian federal system is/are correct? 1. All States have equal representation in the Rajya Sabha. 2. Consent of a State is not required for altering its boundaries. 3. There is no dual citizenship in India. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Show answer
Answer B (official UPSC key)Indian federal system → a State's consent not required to alter its boundaries | no dual citizenship | NOT: all States have equal Rajya Sabha representation
CSE2017Salient Features / Basic StructureOn card POL 1·3

Which one of the following is not a feature of Indian federalism?

Show answer
Answer D (official UPSC key)NOT a feature of Indian federalism → result of an agreement among the federating units
CAPF2016Salient Features / Basic StructureOn card POL 1·3

Which one of the following is not a feature of Indian federalism ?

Show answer
Answer C (official UPSC key)NOT a feature of Indian federalism → States subordinate to the Central Government
CDS2016 · 2Salient Features / Basic StructureOn card POL 1·3

The basic structure doctrine with regard to the Constitution of India relates to 1. the power of judicial review 2. the judgment in Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) 3. the constraints on Article 368 of the Constitution of India 4. the judgment in Golaknath case (1967) Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Show answer
Answer A (official UPSC key)Basic structure doctrine → relates to judicial review, the Kesavananda Bharati judgment (1973) and constraints on Art 368 | NOT: Golaknath judgment (1967)
CDS2015 · 2Salient Features / Basic StructureOn card POL 3·6

Which of the following is/are not central feature(s) of Article 343 of the Constitution of India? 1. Hindi in Devanagari Script shall be the national language of the Union. 2. The official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari Script. 3. English language shall continue to be used for official purposes within States. 4. If two or more States agree, Hindi language should be the official language of communication between the States. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Show answer
Answer A (official UPSC key)Art 343 → official language of the Union = Hindi in Devanagari script | NOT: Hindi = national language | NOT: English continues for official purposes within States | NOT: Hindi as official language between States that agree
CDS2010 · 1Salient Features / Basic StructureOn card POL 1·3

For which one of the following Judgements of the Supreme Court of India, the Kesavananda Bharati vs. State of India case is considered a landmark?

Show answer
Answer C (official UPSC key)Kesavananda Bharati case → landmark: basic structure of the Constitution cannot be changed
CDS2010 · 2Salient Features / Basic StructureOn card POL 1·3

Despite being a Republican State, India is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations whose head is the British Monarch. This is because [2011-1]

Show answer
Answer A (official UPSC key)India in the Commonwealth despite being a Republic → membership does not affect the sovereign nature of the Indian Republic
CSE1994Salient Features / Basic StructureOn card POL 1·3

The basic structure theory of the Constitution of India implies that [1994]

Show answer
Answer A (official UPSC key)Basic structure theory → certain features of the Constitution are so essential that they cannot be abrogated
CSE1988Salient Features / Basic StructureOn card POL 5·7

Assertion (A): The Indian Constitution closely follows the British Parliamentary model. Reason (R): In India the Upper House of the Parliament has judicial powers.

Show answer
Answer C (official UPSC key)Indian Constitution → closely follows the British Parliamentary model | NOT: India's Upper House has judicial powers

Related topics

Historical Background · 34Making of the Constitution · 34Preamble · 18