Which one among the following statements regarding the Fundamental Rights of the Constitution of India is not correct?
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Answer C (official UPSC key)NOT: FRs bar discrimination on grounds only of religion, race and caste
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Right to Equality: 29 previous year questions
UPSC has asked 29 questions on Right to Equality between 1980 and 2026: CDS 10 · CSE 9 · CISF (LDCE) 4 · CAPF 4 · NDA 2. 23 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.
Tap an option to check yourself. Answers follow the official UPSC key; where the key was dropped or disputed the question is not shown.
As defined in Article 12 of the Constitution of India, „State‟ includes : 1. Parliament of India 2. State Governments 3. State Legislatures 4. Local authorities in India Select the answer using the code given below :
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Answer C (official UPSC key)'State' (Art 12) includes → Parliament + State Govts + State Legislatures + local authorities
Consider the following statements with regard to the setting up of the Backward Class Commission in India : 1. The First Backward Class Commission, set up by the Government of India, is popularly known as Kaka Kalelkar Commission. 2. The Third Backward Class Commission, set up by the Government of India, is popularly known as Mandal Commission. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
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Answer A (official UPSC key)First Backward Class Commission → Kaka Kalelkar Commission | NOT: Third Backward Class Commission = Mandal Commission
Which one of the following is not a piece of social legislation?
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Answer B (official UPSC key)NOT social legislation → Maintenance of Internal Security Act
Which one among the following is not correct as per Article 14 of the Constitution of India?
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Answer A (official UPSC key)NOT: equality before law guaranteed to citizens only
Consider the following statements regarding ‗Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam‘: 1. Provisions will come into effect from the 18th Lok Sabha. 2. This will be in force for 15 years after becoming an Act. 3. There are provisions for the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes Women within the quota reserved for the Scheduled Castes. Which of the statements given above are correct ?
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam → in force for 15 yrs after becoming an Act + SC women's reservation within the SC quota | NOT: comes into effect from the 18th Lok Sabha
Which one of the following amendments to the Constitution of India has introduced reservations in education and in public employment for people from the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of society ?
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Answer D (official UPSC key)EWS reservation in education & public employment → 103rd Amendment
Which of the following statements in terms of Article 14 of the Constitution of India is/are correct ? 1. Article 14 would apply only when invidious discrimination is meted out to equals and similarly circumstanced without any rational basis 2. Article 14 guarantees equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India Select the correct answer using the code given below :
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Art 14 applies only when invidious discrimination is meted out to equals without a rational basis | Art 14 → equality before law or equal protection of laws within India
Which one of the following is the most accurate meaning of the term „the State‟, as defined in Part-Ill of the Constitution of India ?
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Answer D (official UPSC key)'the State' (Part III) → Union Govt, all State Govts, Parliament, all State Legislatures & all local or other authorities within India
Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The Supreme Court of India has held in some judgements that the reservation policies made under Article 16(4) of the Constitution of India would be limited by Article 335 for maintenance of efficiency of administration. Statement-II: Article 335 of the Constitution of India defines the term 'efficiency of administration'. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
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Answer C (official UPSC key)SC: Art 16(4) reservation limited by Art 335 (efficiency of administration) | NOT: Art 335 defines 'efficiency of administration'
Equality before the law or equal protection of the laws within the territory of India is guaranteed under which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India ?
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Equality before law / equal protection of laws within India → Article 14
Which one of the following is the correct meaning of the term „State‟, as defined in Article 12 of the Constitution of India ?
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Answer D (official UPSC key)'State' (Art 12) → GoI + Parliament + Govts & Legislatures of each State + all local or other authorities within India
Which one of the following provides for the complete equality of men and women in India ?
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Complete equality of men & women → Articles 14 & 15
Which one of the following is not a part of Fundamental Rights ?
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Answer C (official UPSC key)NOT a Fundamental Right → right to be conferred with titles
Consider the following statements in respect of Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards. 1. Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are titles under the Article 18(1) of the Constitution of India. 2. Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, were suspended only once. 3. The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of five in a particular year. Which of the above statements are not correct?
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Answer D (official UPSC key)NOT: Bharat Ratna & Padma Awards are titles under Art 18(1) | NOT: Padma Awards (instituted 1954) suspended only once | NOT: Bharat Ratna capped at 5 per year
Which of the following Articles in the Constitution of India are exceptions to the Fundamental Rights enumerated in Article 14 and Article 19?
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Exceptions to Arts 14 & 19 → Articles 31A & 31C
Which one of the following categories of ‗Fundamental Rights incorporated against untouchability as a form of discrimination?
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Fundamental Right against untouchability → Right to Equality
Which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India lays down that no citizen can be denied the use of wells, tanks and bathing Ghats maintained out of State funds?
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Answer B (official UPSC key)No citizen denied use of wells, tanks, bathing ghats maintained out of State funds → Article 15
Which of the following statements according to the Constitution of India is/are correct? 1. Equality before the law is available to the citizens of India only. 2. Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment is available to citizens of India only. 3. Right to freedom of speech and expression is available to all persons residing in India. Select the correct answer using the code below:
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Equality of opportunity in public employment → citizens only | NOT: equality before law for citizens only | NOT: free speech available to all persons residing in India
Which one of the following cases in the Supreme Court of India dealt with the issue of „creamy layer‟ among the backward classes ?
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Answer B (official UPSC key)'Creamy layer' among backward classes → Indra Sawhney vs Union of India
Which of the following statements is/are correct ? 1. Article 15 of the Constitution of India is available to both citizens of India and the foreigners 2. Article 16 of the Constitution of India available to the citizens of India only 3. Article 21 of the Constitution of India is available to both citizens of India and the foreigners alike within the territory of India Select the correct answer using the code given below :
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Art 16 → citizens only | Art 21 → citizens & foreigners within India | NOT: Art 15 available to foreigners
Who among the following are entitled to get the benefits of equality before the law and the equal protection of the laws as enshrined under Article 14 of the Constitution of India ? 1. All Indian citizens living in India 2. All Indian citizens living abroad 3. Foreigners living within the territory of India 4. All citizens born in India Select the correct answer using the code given below :
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Art 14 benefits → Indian citizens living in India + foreigners within India | NOT: Indian citizens living abroad | NOT: all citizens born in India
Which one of the following categories of persons is not treated at par so far as the availability of Fundamental Rights is concerned ?
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Not at par with the others (Art 33 categories) → members of forces employed in communication systems set up in the country
Which of the following are related to Right to Equality under the provisions of Articles 14 - 18 of the Constitution of India ? 1. Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth 2. Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment 3. Educational and cultural rights to minorities 4. Abolition of untouchability Select the correct answer using the code given below :
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Right to Equality (Arts 14–18) → prohibition of discrimination on religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth + equality of opportunity in public employment + abolition of untouchability | NOT: minorities' educational & cultural rights
Which one among the following is not included in the Fundamental Rights embodied in the Constitution of India?
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Answer D (official UPSC key)NOT a Fundamental Right → Right to Information
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: [2004] List-I List II A. Article 14 1. The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex place of birth or any of term B. Article 15 2. The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of laws within the territory of India C. Article 16 3. ‗Untouchability‘ is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden D. Article 17 4. There shall be equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to employment or appointment to any office under the State Codes
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Art 14 → equality before law & equal protection | Art 15 → no discrimination against citizens on religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth | Art 16 → equality of opportunity in public employment | Art 17 → untouchability abolished
Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion etc. (Article 15 of the Constitution of India) is a Fundamental Rights classifiable under:
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Art 15 (prohibition of discrimination on religion etc.) → Right to Equality
If suitable Scheduled Caste/Tribe candidates are not available, the posts
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Reserved SC/ST posts with no suitable candidate → left vacant
The Constitution 45th Amendment Bill, passed by Parliament extended reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Parliament and State Assemblies upto
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Answer C (official UPSC key)45th Amendment Bill → extended SC/ST seat reservation in Parliament & State Assemblies up to 1990
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