Ans: C

Exp:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The 43rd Constitutional Amendment restored the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the High courts in respect of judicial review and issue of writs, which was curtailed by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The 42nd Constitutional Amendment added the words ‘Socialist, Secular, and Integrity’ in the Preamble to the Constitution. This amendment gave effect to the following change- 

• Before the Amendment, ‘Sovereign, Democratic, Republic- Unity of Nation’; 
• After the Amendment, ‘Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic- Unity and integrity of Nation’.
• The 42nd Amendment Act is also known as Mini-Constitution and it is the only amendment that has amended the Preamble so far.

Ans: B

Exp:

Pair 1 is incorrect: 39th Amendment, 1975 placed the elections of President, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Speaker beyond the scope of the judiciary and 44th Amendment, 1978 brought them back within the scope of judicial review.

Pair 2 is correct: The 52nd Amendment, 1985 added the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution of India, which provided for the disqualification of members of Parliament and State legislatures on the ground of defection.

Pair 3 is incorrect: 61st Amendment, 1989 reduced the voting age from 21 to 18 for the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assembly elections.

Pair 4 is correct: 97th Amendment, 2011 recognised people’s right to form Co-operative societies as a fundamental right and added the term ‘co-operative societies’ under Article 19 (1) (c).

Ans: A

Exp:

Statement 1 is correct: As per Article 368, the Constitution can be amended by two ways only-

• Amendment by special majority (majority of total membership of the House and a majority of two-thirds of the members present and voting) of the Parliament.

• Amendment by special majority of the Parliament and ratification of half of the states by a simple majority (matters of President’s election, Supreme Court and high courts, extent of executive power of union and states, legislative distribution of powers, Seventh schedule, GST Council, procedure for amendment under Article 368, representation of states in Parliament).

Statement 2 is correct: In case of any disagreement or deadlock between the two Houses of Parliament over a constitutional amendment bill, there cannot be a joint sitting of the two Houses. 

Statement 3 is incorrect: The procedure of amendment has been borrowed from the South African Constitution whereas the concept of ‘procedure established by law’ has been borrowed from the Japanese Constitution. 

Ans: A

Exp: 

Statement 1 is incorrect: The principle of common citizenship is directed towards strengthening the sense of fraternity in the nation. Fraternity means a sense of brotherhood. Single citizenship promotes fraternity among all Indians transcending religious, linguistic, regional or sectional diversities.

Statement 2 is correct: The Preamble to the Constitution declares that fraternity has to assure the dignity of the individual, besides unity and integrity of the nation. Fraternity is not possible without preserving and assuring the dignity of each citizen. Therefore, fraternity is sought to be promoted by ensuring equal rights to all. According to Dr. BR Ambedkar, fraternity “is the principle which gives unity and solidarity to social life”.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Secularism in Indian context does not mean strict neutrality or mutual exclusion of state and religion. Religiously sanctioned customs such as untouchability deprived individuals of the most basic dignity and self-respect. Hence, the State intervenes when it needs to lawfully regulate or remove pernicious or exploitative practices in the name of religion.

Ans: D

Exp: 

Statement 1 is incorrect: The concept of welfare state is envisaged in the Directive Principles of State Policy. The preamble mentions social and economic justice, besides political. The DPSPs envisage the concept of a welfare state. Social justice implies that all citizens should enjoy equal opportunities in the matter of public appointment regardless of caste, creed, sex or religion. 

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Preamble to the Constitution begins with ‘We, the people of India….’ which indicates that the Constitution derives its authority from the people. It points out that the Constitution of India has been ordained by the people of India through their representatives in the Constituent Assembly. 

Statement 3 is incorrect: The idea of sovereignty was present in the original preamble. The 42nd Amendment added the concept of Integrity to the preamble. The word ‘sovereign’ implies that India is neither a dependency nor a dominion of any other nation, but an independent state. The word integrity has been used in the context of fraternity. Fraternity must assure the dignity of an individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation.