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Indian PolityMediumAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2024, GK

Through the Forty Second Amendment to the Constitution of India, which of the following was/were inserted into its Preamble? 1. 'Liberty of thought, expression and belief' was substituted by 'Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship'. 2. The expression 'Unity of the Nation' was substituted by 'Unity and Integrity of the Nation'. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A.1 only
  2. B.2 only
  3. C.Both 1 and 2
  4. D.Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer

B. 2 only

Explanation

The correct answer is B, 2 only. The 42nd Amendment of 1976 changed 'unity of the Nation' to 'unity and integrity of the Nation', but it did not touch the words on liberty.

The 42nd Amendment, passed during the Emergency under Indira Gandhi and often called the 'Mini-Constitution', is the only amendment so far to change the Preamble. It made three insertions: 'Socialist' and 'Secular' were added to describe India as a 'Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic', and 'Integrity' was added after 'unity of the Nation'. The phrase 'Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship' was already part of the Preamble adopted on 26 November 1949; it was never a substitute for a shorter phrase.

Option A is wrong because statement 1 describes a change that never happened. Option C is wrong for the same reason, since only statement 2 is true. Option D is wrong because the change in statement 2 was in fact made in 1976.

Exam tip: 42nd Amendment, 1976: three words added to the Preamble: Socialist, Secular and Integrity.

Practice Questions

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Q1.Indian PolityAsked in: NDA · NDA-I 2018, GATHard

Which of the following provision(s) of the Constitution of India became effective from 26th November 1949? 1. Elections 2. Citizenship 3. Emergency provisions 4. Appointment of the Judges Select the correct answer using the code given below :

  1. A.1 only
  2. B.1 and 2 only
  3. C.1,2 and 3
  4. D.2 and 4
Show answer
Correct answer: B. 1 and 2 only

The provisions on citizenship and elections came into force on 26 November 1949, the day the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution.

Q2.Indian PolityAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2018, GKMedium

Which of the following are the functions of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)? 1. Inquiry at its own initiative on the violation of human rights 2. Inquiry on a petition presented to it by a victim 3. Visit to jails to study the condition of the inmates 4. Undertaking and promoting research in the field of human rights Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A.1 and 2 only
  2. B.2, 3 and 4 only
  3. C.1, 3 and 4 only
  4. D.1, 2, 3 and 4
Show answer
Correct answer: D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 gives the NHRC every one of these four functions. The NHRC is a statutory body, not a constitutional one, set up on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.

Q3.Indian PolityAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2024, GKHard

As per the State List under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, the States have jurisdiction over agricultural land in connection with which of the following subjects? 1. Taxes on agricultural income 2. Duties in respect of succession of agricultural land 3. Estate duty in respect of agricultural land Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A.1 and 2 only
  2. B.2 and 3 only
  3. C.1 and 3 only
  4. D.1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Correct answer: D. 1, 2 and 3

All three are State List subjects: taxes on agricultural income, duties on succession to agricultural land and estate duty on agricultural land.

Q4.Indian PolityAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2025, GKMedium

Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. First Law Commission recommended Indian Penal Code, 1860. 2. Indian Penal Code, 1860 has been completely replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Select the answer using the code given below :

  1. A.1 only
  2. B.2 only
  3. C.Both 1 and 2
  4. D.Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Both 1 and 2

The Indian Penal Code was drafted on the recommendation of the First Law Commission, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 repealed and replaced it.

Q5.Indian PolityAsked in: NDA · NDA-I 2018, GATEasy

The Superintendence, direction and control of elections in India is vested in

  1. A.The Supreme Court of India
  2. B.The Parliament of India
  3. C.The Election Commission of India
  4. D.The Chief Election Commissioner
Show answer
Correct answer: C. The Election Commission of India

Article 324(1) vests the superintendence, direction and control of elections in the Election Commission, as a body. Under Article 324 the Commission conducts elections to Parliament, the State legislatures and the offices of President and Vice-President.