Preparing for the AIBE (All India Bar Examination) requires a strong understanding of Constitutional Law, one of the most important areas of the AIBE syllabus. This article covers 30 Most Important Previous Year Questions (PYQs) on Constitutional Law, carefully selected to help aspirants revise key constitutional provisions, landmark principles, and frequently tested concepts effectively.
Practice AIBE Constitutional Law Questions
- A United Kingdom
- B United States of America
- C Australia
- D India
While PIL has become highly prominent in India (pioneered by Justice P.N. Bhagwati and Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer), the concept originally evolved in the United States in the 1960s to provide legal representation to previously unrepresented groups like the poor and environmentalists.
- A Right to Equality
- B Right to Freedom of Religion
- C Protection of Life and Personal Liberty
- D Right to Constitutional Remedies
Article 21 states that "No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law." It is considered the heart of fundamental rights.
- A Golaknath v. State of Punjab
- B Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala
- C Minerva Mills v. Union of India
- D Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India
In the historic Kesavananda Bharati case, a 13-judge bench ruled that Parliament's amending power under Article 368 is broad but does not include the power to alter the "basic structure" or framework of the Constitution.
- A Habeas Corpus
- B Mandamus
- C Certiorari
- D Quo Warranto
The writ of Certiorari is issued to correct errors of jurisdiction or law on the face of the record by inferior courts or tribunals. It can be issued to quash an order already passed.
- A The Speaker
- B The Prime Minister
- C The President
- D The Vice-President
Under Article 85(2)(a) of the Constitution, the President has the power to prorogue (terminate a session without dissolving the assembly) either House of Parliament.
- A Article 42
- B Article 43
- C Article 44
- D Article 45
Article 44 (Directive Principles of State Policy) directs the State to endeavor to secure for the citizens a Uniform Civil Code throughout the territory of India.
- A 42nd Amendment, 1976
- B 44th Amendment, 1978
- C 24th Amendment, 1971
- D 86th Amendment, 2002
Fundamental Duties (Part IVA, Article 51A) were incorporated upon the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee via the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976.
- A Article 52
- B Article 61
- C Article 74
- D Article 123
Article 61 lays down the procedure for the impeachment of the President for "violation of the Constitution". The charge must be initiated by either House of Parliament.
- A Prime Minister
- B Law Minister
- C President of India
- D A collegium of Supreme Court Judges
Under Article 124(2), every Judge of the Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice, is appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal (acting on the advice of the collegium).
- A Rajya Sabha
- B Lok Sabha
- C Either House of Parliament
- D Joint sitting of Parliament
According to Article 109, a Money Bill shall not be introduced in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha). It can only be introduced in the House of the People (Lok Sabha) with the prior recommendation of the President.
- A Original jurisdiction of Supreme Court
- B Right to Constitutional Remedies
- C Advisory jurisdiction of Supreme Court
- D Appellate jurisdiction of Supreme Court
Article 32 guarantees the right to move the Supreme Court by appropriate proceedings for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar called it the "heart and soul" of the Constitution.
- A Interpretation of Fundamental Rights
- B Determining the legislative competence of Parliament and State Legislatures
- C Independence of Judiciary
- D Amending power of Parliament
When a law enacted by one legislature allegedly encroaches upon the subject matter of another (Lists I, II, or III), courts apply the doctrine of 'Pith and Substance' to find out the true nature and character of the legislation.
- A War, external aggression, or internal disturbance
- B War, external aggression, or armed rebellion
- C Failure of constitutional machinery in states
- D Financial instability
The 44th Amendment Act (1978) replaced the vague term "internal disturbance" with "armed rebellion" to prevent misuse of emergency powers.
- A The President
- B The Prime Minister
- C The Vice-President
- D A member elected by Rajya Sabha
According to Article 64 of the Constitution, the Vice-President of India shall be ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha).
- A Article 72
- B Article 161
- C Article 163
- D Article 123
Article 161 grants the Governor of a State the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions of punishment for offenses against laws relating to matters to which the executive power of the State extends. (Article 72 is for the President).
- A Right to Equality
- B Right to Property
- C Right to Freedom
- D Right against Exploitation
The Right to Property was deleted from the list of Fundamental Rights by the 44th Amendment Act, 1978. It is now a legal/constitutional right under Article 300A.
- A Eighth Schedule
- B Ninth Schedule
- C Tenth Schedule
- D Eleventh Schedule
The Tenth Schedule was added by the 52nd Amendment Act in 1985. It contains provisions as to disqualification on the ground of defection.
- A Executive power
- B Legislative power
- C Judicial power
- D Quasi-judicial power
Promulgating an ordinance under Article 123 is a legislative power exercised by the President when Parliament is not in session. It has the same force and effect as an Act of Parliament.
- A Article 12
- B Article 13
- C Article 14
- D Article 21
Article 14 ensures equality before the law and equal protection of laws, which is the cornerstone of the concept of the 'Rule of Law' (as propounded by A.V. Dicey).
- A Election Commission of India
- B Parliament
- C Supreme Court
- D High Court of Delhi
Under Article 71, all doubts and disputes arising out of or in connection with the election of a President or Vice-President shall be inquired into and decided by the Supreme Court, whose decision shall be final.
- A Canada
- B Australia
- C USA
- D Ireland
The idea of the Concurrent List (List III in the Seventh Schedule), where both the Union and States can make laws, was borrowed from the Australian Constitution.
- A 25 years
- B 30 years
- C 35 years
- D No minimum age
Article 157 prescribes the qualifications for appointment as Governor, stating that no person shall be eligible unless he is a citizen of India and has completed the age of 35 years.
- A Post-constitutional laws only
- B Pre-constitutional laws only
- C Both Pre and Post-constitutional laws
- D Neither Pre nor Post-constitutional laws
Initially applied to pre-constitutional laws under Article 13(1) (Bhikaji Narain case), the Supreme Court later held in State of Gujarat v. Ambica Mills that the doctrine can also apply to post-constitutional laws under Article 13(2) against non-citizens.
- A Government of India
- B Local authorities
- C ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation)
- D Judiciary (when acting in its judicial capacity)
While the executive and legislative functions of the judiciary may fall under "State", the Supreme Court has clarified that a court acting in its judicial capacity is not considered a "State" under Article 12, so its judicial orders cannot be challenged for violating Part III rights.
- A Article 132
- B Article 133
- C Article 134
- D Article 136
Article 136 gives extraordinary power to the Supreme Court, in its discretion, to grant special leave to appeal from any judgment, decree, determination, sentence or order in any cause or matter passed or made by any court or tribunal in India.
- A Article 20(1)
- B Article 20(2)
- C Article 20(3)
- D Article 21
Article 20(2) states that "no person shall be prosecuted and punished for the same offence more than once." This is the Indian constitutional embodiment of the principle of autrefois convict.
- A Article 356
- B Article 360
- C Article 368
- D Article 370
Article 368 (Part XX) provides for the power of Parliament to amend the Constitution and details the procedure for such amendments (simple majority, special majority, or special majority with state ratification).
- A Article 39
- B Article 39A
- C Article 40
- D Article 41
Article 39A (inserted by the 42nd Amendment) directs the State to secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity, and to provide free legal aid to ensure opportunities for securing justice are not denied by economic or other disabilities.
- A AK Gopalan v. State of Madras
- B ADM Jabalpur v. Shivkant Shukla
- C IC Golaknath v. State of Punjab
- D Sunil Batra v. Delhi Administration
In this infamous 1976 case, the Supreme Court ruled (with Justice H.R. Khanna dissenting) that during a national emergency, the right to approach the court for enforcement of Article 21 (habeas corpus) remains suspended.
- A State Legislatures
- B Both Parliament and State Legislatures
- C Parliament
- D The President
Under Article 248 and Entry 97 of the Union List, exclusive power to make laws with respect to any matter not enumerated in the Concurrent List or State List (residuary powers) vests with the Parliament.
Conclusion: Practicing these 30 Important Constitutional Law PYQs is a highly effective strategy for your AIBE Exam Preparation. Constitutional Law sets the foundation for legal practice in India. Bookmark this page and revisit these AIBE Constitutional Law Questions to ensure you are well-prepared for exam day!