SALIENT FEATURES OF THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION

1. SALIENT FEATURES OF THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION 

 

A. The Preamble

1. Explain the main principles embodied in the Preamble to the Constitution of India. What is their significance? Do you think that they are the political horoscope of the country? Discuss. (2004)
2. Comment in 150 words: Significance of the Preamble. (2013)
3. In the light of neo-economic policies adopted since 1991, examine the relevance of the term ‘socialist’ in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. (2015)
4. Mention the founding principles that define India’s Constitution. (150 words) (2021)
5. The Preamble of the Indian Constitution reflects itself as a ‘social contract’. Elucidate. (2022)

B. Fundamental Rights

1. Comment: Kesavananda Bharathi Case. (1996)
2. Comment: Right to Constitutional Remedies under Article 32 of the Indian Constitution and application of the principle of Res Judicata. (1999)
3. Comment: ‘Right against exploitation’ under the Indian Constitution. (2003)
4. What are the provisions for constitutional protection of right to freedom of religion and how far have they succeeded in promoting secularism in India? (2014)
5. Right to privacy is an intrinsic part of the right to life. Comment. (2017)
6. Answer in 150 words: Right to Constitutional remedies in India. (2020)
7. Write approximately 150 words on Legal remedies in Part III of the Constitution of India. (2024)

C. Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)

1. “The Directive Principles of State Policy are not mere pious declarations but clear directions for the guidance of State Policy.” Comment and show how far they have been applied in practice. (2003)
2. Comment: The Directive Principles of State Policy are not mere pious declarations but clear directions for the guidance of state policy. (2007)
3. Examine the significance of the Directive Principles of State Policy in achieving the goal of socio-economic justice. (2011)
4. Examine the relevance of Directive Principles in the era of liberalisation and globalization. (2012)
5. Comment in 150 words: Increasingly higher focus on Directive Principles of State Policy. (2014)
6. Comment on the relevance of the Directive Principles of State Policy in an era of liberalization and globalization. (2019)
7. How far do you agree that the Directive Principles of State Policy are more fundamental than the Fundamental Rights in meeting socio-economic justice as mentioned in the Preamble of the Constitution? (2024)

D. Fundamental Duties

1. Comment: Fundamental Duties in the Indian Constitution. (2004)
2. Comment: Fundamental Duties under Article 51A of the Constitution of India. (2005)
3. The main goal of the fundamental duties in the Indian Constitution is to generate civic responsibility among the citizen. Explain. (2023)

E. Secularism

1. “Minorities are the natural custodians of the secular state” [D.E. Smith]. Discuss. (2010)
2. Critically examine and comment on the assertion in about 200 words: Secularism in Indian politics is a myth. (2011)
3. Comment in 150 words: Secularism in the Indian Constitution. (2015)

F. Socio-Economic Justice / Other Features

1. Comment: Reverse discrimination. (1994)
2. Do you agree with the view that Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Polity constitute the ‘Core and Conscience’ of the Indian Constitution? Comment on the emerging trends in their interrelationship. (2005)
3. Discuss the ‘Right to Education’ and the concerns raised by it. (2015)
4. Critically examine the provisions made in the Constitution for the protection of Environment. (2016)
5. Comment in 150 words: Indian Constitution is a ‘Lawyers’ Paradise’. – Ivor Jennings. (2018)
6. Write approximately 150 words on Constitutional morality in the Indian Constitution. (2024)

G. Parliamentary System

1. Majority in legislatures does not necessarily contribute to the stability of the state Government in India. Discuss. (1992)
2. Examine the case for formation of small states in India. (1993)
3. Discuss the patterns of legislative-executive relationship prevalent in the world today. What factors and forces have enabled the executive to overpower the legislature, in most countries? (1997)
4. Differentiate parliamentary supremacy from parliamentary sovereignty. Would you consider the Indian Parliament as a Sovereign Parliament? Examine. (2017)

H. Amendment Procedures, Judicial Review & Basic Structure

1. Comment: The 42nd amendment to the Constitution of India. (1992)
2. Examine the significance of the verdicts of the Supreme Court in the Golaknath and Kashavananda Bharati cases for an understanding of the scope of Article 368 in regard to Fundamental Rights. (2013)
3. Comment on Doctrine of Basic Structure of the Indian Constitution. (150 words) (2012)
4. Comment in 150 words: 99th Amendment of the Indian Constitution. (2015)
5. Discuss the efficacy of judicial review in India. (2015)
6. Comment: ‘Article 368 does not enable Parliament to alter the basic structure or framework of the Constitution’. (2016)
7. Comment: The purpose of the 42nd Constitutional Amendment was to make the economic and social democracy explicitly visible. (2016)
8. “The basic structure doctrine is implicit in the Indian Constitution; the Supreme Court has only given it an explicit form.” Comment. (2019)
9. Underline the significance of the first constitutional amendment. (150 words) (2021)
10. The Doctrine of Basic Structure of the Constitution has enhanced the power of judicial review of the Supreme Court. Examine. (2022)