Indian Polity: Judiciary & Constitutional Law PYQ.
UPSC Prelims previous year questions on Judiciary & Constitutional Law (Indian Polity) — real questions with answers and explanations.
5 questions · sorted by year
2026Multi-statement (Traditional Style)Judiciary & Constitutional Law
Consider the following statements in respect of questions asked by the Members in the Parliament of India:
1. Unstarred questions are those to which a Member desires an oral answer in the House.
2. Starred questions are those to which a Member desires a written answer.
3. No supplementary question can be asked on an unstarred question.
Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct?
A.All the three statements are correct.
B.There are two correct statements, that include statement 2.
C.There is only one correct statement.
D.There is no correct statement.
Explanation: * Statement 1 is incorrect: Unstarred questions require a written reply laid on the Table of the House; no oral answer is delivered. * Statement 2 is incorrect: Starred questions are those for which a Member wants an oral answer on the floor of the chamber. * Statement 3 is correct: Because unstarred questions receive written answers rather than floor time, no follow-up supplementary questions are permitted. * Since only Statement 3 is correct, conclusion (c) is the right answer.
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📌 Parliamentary SystemRelevance 40%
2025Multi-statement (Traditional Style)Judiciary & Constitutional Law
Consider the following statements with regard to pardoning power of the President of India:
I. The exercise of this power by the President can be subjected to limited judicial review.
II. The President can exercise this power without the advice of the Central Government.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A.I only
B.II only
C.Both I and II
D.Neither I nor II
Explanation: * Statement I is correct: Per Supreme Court rulings like Epuru Sudhakar (2006), the President's executive pardoning power under Article 72 is subject to limited judicial review if the choice is shown to be arbitrary, mala fide, or irrational. * Statement II is not correct: Under Article 74(1), the President is constitutionally required to act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers. The pardoning power is processed through recommendations from the Ministry of Home Affairs and is not a discretionary power.
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📌 President & Vice-PresidentRelevance 95%
2025Pairs/Matching (Traditional Style)Judiciary & Constitutional Law
Consider the following pairs:
Provision in the Constitution of India : Stated under
I. Separation of Judiciary from the Executive in the public services of the State : The Directive Principles of the State Policy
II. Valuing and preserving of the rich heritage of our composite culture : The Fundamental Duties
III. Prohibition of employment of children below the age of 14 years in factories : The Fundamental Rights
A.Only one
B.Only two
C.All the three
Explanation: * Pair I is correctly matched: Article 50, contained within Part IV (Directive Principles of State Policy), explicitly directs that the State shall take steps to separate the judiciary from the executive branch in public services. * Pair II is correctly matched: Article 51A, located in Part IVA (Fundamental Duties), states under Clause (f) that it is the duty of every citizen to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture. * Pair III is correctly matched: Article 24, listed under Part III (Fundamental Rights), strictly prohibits the employment of children below the age of fourteen years in any factory, mine, or hazardous work environment.
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📌 Directive Principles of State Policy & Fundamental DutiesRelevance 95%
2024Direct Conceptual / Factual MCQJudiciary & Constitutional Law
Under which of the following Articles of the Constitution of India, has the Supreme Court of India placed the Right to Privacy?
A.Article 15
B.Article 16
C.Article 19
D.Article 21
Explanation: * (d) Article 21 is correct: In the landmark case of Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) vs. Union of India, a nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court of India unanimously declared that the Right to Privacy is protected as an essential fundamental right under Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty). In doing so, it explicitly overruled older historic verdicts from the M.P. Sharma (1958) and Kharak Singh (1961) cases.
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📌 Fundamental RightsRelevance 85%
2024Direct Conceptual / Factual MCQJudiciary & Constitutional Law
A Writ of Prohibition is an order issued by the Supreme Court or High Courts to:
A.a government officer prohibiting him from taking a particular action.
B.the Parliament/Legislative Assembly to pass a law on Prohibition.
C.the lower court prohibiting continuation of proceedings in a case.
D.the Government prohibiting it from following an unconstitutional policy.
Explanation: * (c) is correct: The Writ of Prohibition is a judicial order issued by a superior court (Supreme Court or High Courts) directed to lower courts, tribunals, or quasi-judicial bodies to halt or prohibit them from continuing proceedings that exceed their judicial authority or jurisdiction. It mandates judicial inactivity (unlike mandamus which commands action) and cannot be issued against administrative officials, private individuals, or legislative bodies.
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📌 Supreme CourtRelevance 95%
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