Laxmikanth MCQs: Basic Structure of the Constitution

Q1: Statement 1: The Shankari Prasad case (1951) ruled that Parliament could not amend Fundamental Rights.
Statement 2: The Golak Nath case (1967) declared that Fundamental Rights were 'transcendental and immutable.'
(a) Both statements are true
(b) Both statements are false
(c) Statement 1 is true, Statement 2 is false
(d) Statement 1 is false, Statement 2 is true
Ans: (d)
Explanation: Statement 1 is false because in Shankari Prasad (1951) the Supreme Court held that Parliament's power under Article 368 included the power to amend Fundamental Rights. Statement 2 is true because in Golak Nath (1967) the Court ruled that Parliament could not curtail Fundamental Rights by amendment, treating them as beyond ordinary amendment at that time.

Q2: Match the following cases with their corresponding outcomes:
1. Kesavananda Bharati case
2. Indira Nehru Gandhi case
3. Minerva Mills case
A. Established the 'basic structure' doctrine
B. Invalidated a provision of the 39th Amendment Act
C. Struck down a provision of the 42nd Amendment Act
(a) 1-A, 2-B, 3-C
(b) 1-B, 2-A, 3-C
(c) 1-C, 2-B, 3-A
(d) 1-A, 2-C, 3-B
Ans: (a)
Explanation: 1 - Kesavananda Bharati (1973) established the basic structure doctrine. 2 - The Indira Nehru Gandhi case struck down a provision of the 39th Amendment that had attempted to place certain matters beyond judicial review. 3 - Minerva Mills (1980) struck down parts of the 42nd Amendment, reinforcing limits on Parliament's amending power.

Q3: Arrange the following events in chronological order:
1. Golak Nath case
2. Shankari Prasad case
3. Kesavananda Bharati case
4. Minerva Mills case
(a) 2, 1, 3, 4
(b) 1, 2, 3, 4
(c) 2, 3, 1, 4
(d) 1, 3, 2, 4
Ans: (a)
Explanation: Chronology: Shankari Prasad (1951) affirmed Parliament's amending power, Golak Nath (1967) restricted that view, Kesavananda Bharati (1973) introduced the basic structure doctrine, and Minerva Mills (1980) reinforced limits on amendment.

Q4: Assertion (A): The 24th Amendment Act explicitly granted Parliament the power to abridge or revoke Fundamental Rights.
Reason (R): The Supreme Court in the Kesavananda Bharati case held that Parliament has unlimited power to amend the Constitution.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
(i) Assertion: The Assertion is true. The 24th Amendment (1971) was enacted to affirm Parliament's power to amend Fundamental Rights after the Golak Nath decision.
(ii) Reason: The Reason is false. In Kesavananda Bharati (1973) the Supreme Court held that Parliament's amending power is not unlimited; it is subject to the constraint that the basic structure of the Constitution cannot be destroyed.
(iii) Justification: Thus, although the 24th Amendment sought to confirm amendment power, Kesavananda clarified that this power is limited by the basic structure doctrine.

Q5: Statement 1: The basic structure doctrine applies only to amendments made before April 24, 1973.
Statement 2: Judicial review is a part of the basic structure of the Indian Constitution.
(a) Both statements are true
(b) Both statements are false
(c) Statement 1 is true, Statement 2 is false
(d) Statement 1 is false, Statement 2 is true
Ans: (d)
Explanation: Statement 1 is false - the basic structure doctrine, formulated in Kesavananda Bharati (1973), applies to amendments made after that date as well; it limits Parliament's amendment power going forward. Statement 2 is true - judicial review is recognised as a core element of the basic structure and cannot be abrogated by amendment.

Q6: The Supreme Court, in the ______ case, validated the 24th Amendment Act and introduced the 'basic structure' doctrine.
(a) Golak Nath
(b) Minerva Mills
(c) Kesavananda Bharati
(d) Shankari Prasad
Ans: (c)
Explanation: The Kesavananda Bharati (1973) judgment both upheld the validity of the 24th Amendment to the extent challenged and announced the basic structure doctrine, limiting Parliament's power to amend the Constitution.

Q7: Which of the following statements about the basic structure of the Indian Constitution are correct?
1. It includes the principle of equality.
2. It guarantees the supremacy of the Constitution.
3. It restricts the power of Parliament to amend the Constitution.
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3
Ans: (d)
Explanation: All three are correct. The basic structure includes fundamental values such as equality, ensures the supremacy of the Constitution as the highest law, and places limits on Parliament's amendment power so that core constitutional features remain intact.

Q8: The Parliament's power to amend the Constitution is unlimited and includes altering the basic structure.
(a) True
(b) False
Ans: (b)
Explanation: False. The Supreme Court in Kesavananda Bharati and later cases held that Parliament cannot alter or destroy the basic structure of the Constitution; therefore its amending power is limited, not unlimited.

Q9: Assertion (A): The Indira Nehru Gandhi case is significant for applying the 'basic structure' doctrine.
Reason (R): This case dealt with the limitation of powers of the Supreme Court and High Courts.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: (b)
Explanation:
(i) Assertion: True. The Indira Nehru Gandhi case applied principles of the basic structure doctrine while adjudicating limits on certain amendments.
(ii) Reason: Also true in that the case concerned limits on judicial powers in the context of election disputes and immunity provisions.
(iii) Justification: Although both statements are true, the Reason does not correctly explain why the case is significant for the basic structure doctrine; the case's significance arises from how it sustained core constitutional principles while reviewing amendments.

Q10: Match the following elements of the basic structure with their descriptions:
1. Supremacy of the Constitution
2. Secular character
3. Federal character
4. Judicial review
A. Allows for a system where powers are divided between the central and state governments
B. The Constitution is the highest law of the land, overriding all other laws
C. Ensures that the state does not favor any religion
D. The power of the courts to declare a law unconstitutional
(a) 1-B, 2-C, 3-A, 4-D
(b) 1-C, 2-A, 3-B, 4-D
(c) 1-D, 2-B, 3-C, 4-A
(d) 1-A, 2-D, 3-B, 4-C
Ans: (a)
Explanation: 1-B: Supremacy of the Constitution means it is the highest law. 2-C: Secular character requires state neutrality in religion. 3-A: Federal character denotes division of powers between centre and states. 4-D: Judicial review is the courts' power to test constitutionality of laws.

Q11: Assertion (A): The 42nd Amendment Act was known as the 'Mini Constitution.'
Reason (R): It made significant changes to the structure of the Constitution, including the preamble.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
(i) Assertion: True. The 42nd Amendment (1976) made extensive changes and was widely described as a 'Mini Constitution'.
(ii) Reason: True. Among other alterations, it sought to amend the Preamble and various structural provisions of the Constitution.
(iii) Justification: Because the Amendment brought multiple and substantial changes across the Constitution, the Reason correctly explains why it was called the 'Mini Constitution'.

Q12: The Women's Reservation cases (1980) invalidated the 42nd Amendment Act on grounds of violating the basic structure of the Constitution.
(a) True
(b) False
Ans: (b)
Explanation: False. The Women's Reservation litigation did engage with basic-structure principles, but it did not operate to invalidated the entire 42nd Amendment. Later cases, notably Minerva Mills, struck down specific provisions of the 42nd Amendment on basic-structure grounds.

Q13: The 'basic structure' doctrine was first introduced in the Indian judicial system during the ______ case of 1973.
(a) Golak Nath
(b) Shankari Prasad
(c) Kesavananda Bharati
(d) Indira Nehru Gandhi
Ans: (c)
Explanation: The Kesavananda Bharati (1973) case is the landmark decision that first formulated the basic structure doctrine, limiting Parliament's power to amend the Constitution.

Q14: Which of the following is/are true regarding the basic structure doctrine?
1. It was established in the Golak Nath case.
2. It limits the Parliament's power to amend the Constitution.
3. It includes the principle of free and fair elections.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3
Ans: (b)
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect - the doctrine was established in Kesavananda Bharati (1973), not Golak Nath. Statements 2 and 3 are correct: the doctrine limits Parliament's amendment power and has been held to include essentials such as free and fair elections among basic features.

Q15: Match the following articles with their associated powers:
1. Article 32
2. Article 136
3. Article 226
A. Powers of the Supreme Court
B. Powers of the High Courts
C. Special leave to appeal by the Supreme Court
(a) 1-A, 2-C, 3-B
(b) 1-B, 2-A, 3-C
(c) 1-C, 2-B, 3-A
(d) 1-A, 2-B, 3-C
Ans: (a)
Explanation: Article 32 provides for remedies to enforce Fundamental Rights and concerns the Supreme Court (1-A). Article 136 grants the Supreme Court special leave to appeal (2-C). Article 226 empowers the High Courts to issue certain writs (3-B).

Q16: Arrange the following events in chronological order:
1. Introduction of the basic structure doctrine
2. Parliament's power to amend Fundamental Rights affirmed
3. Declaration that Fundamental Rights are 'transcendental and immutable'
(a) 2, 3, 1
(b) 3, 2, 1
(c) 1, 3, 2
(d) 2, 1, 3
Ans: (a)
Explanation: Correct chronology: (2) Shankari Prasad (1951) affirmed Parliament's amendment power; (3) Golak Nath (1967) declared Fundamental Rights not amendable; (1) Kesavananda Bharati (1973) then introduced the basic structure doctrine.

Q17: The principle of 'secular character' was added to the basic structure doctrine after the 42nd Amendment Act.
(a) True
(b) False
Ans: (b)
Explanation: False. The secular character of the Constitution is a fundamental attribute recognised as part of the basic structure; it was not an element newly added only after the 42nd Amendment.

Q18: The Supreme Court in the ______ case struck down a provision in the 42nd Amendment Act, underscoring the limited amending power of Parliament.
(a) Minerva Mills
(b) Kesavananda Bharati
(c) Shankari Prasad
(d) Golak Nath
Ans: (a)
Explanation: In Minerva Mills (1980) the Supreme Court struck down portions of the 42nd Amendment, emphasising that Parliament's amending power is constrained by the basic structure of the Constitution.

Q19: Assertion (A): The Kesavananda Bharati case ruled that Parliament has unlimited power to amend the Constitution.
Reason (R): This ruling was based on the understanding that the Constitution's basic structure can be altered.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) Both Assertion and Reason are incorrect.
Ans: (d)

• In the Kesavananda Bharati case, the Supreme Court held that Parliament's amending power is limited.
• It introduced the Basic Structure Doctrine, which states that the basic structure of the Constitution cannot be altered or destroyed.
  Assertion is incorrect and Reason is also incorrect.

Q20: The 24th Amendment Act of 1971 was passed in response to the Golak Nath case's ruling on Fundamental Rights.
(a) True
(b) False
Ans: (a)
Explanation: True. The 24th Amendment (1971) was enacted to meet the challenge posed by Golak Nath (1967), which had held that Fundamental Rights could not be abridged by constitutional amendment; the 24th Amendment affirmed Parliament's power to amend rights under Article 368.