Indian Polity

Day 1
Q) The India Constitution was Framed in-
2 years 11 months 18 days (9th December 1946 – 26th November 1949)
Q) When was the Constituent Assembly formed?
November 1946. 9th December 1946: first meeting of Constituent Assembly.
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru introduced the Objective Resolution on 13th December 1946, which
established the concept and guiding principles for building the Constitution and eventually took the
shape of the Preamble to the Indian Constitution. On 22 January 1947, the Constituent Assembly
accepted this Resolution.
26th November 1949: The Indian Constitution was ready and adopted. Constitution Day of India.
Citizenship and Election provisions were implemented on this day.
26th January 1950: The whole Indian Constitution was implemented.
Q) When was the first Constituent Assembly election held?
July-August 1946
208 seats were won by Congress Party. (199 were Congress members and 9 were supported) Muslim
league won 73 seats. 10 Lakh Population - 1 seat. Total seats were 389 but election was held for 296
seats.
Q) The total membership assembly of the Constituent Assembly was 389, of which _____
were representatives of princely states.
389-(292+4)= 93
Q) Which Among the Following is the most flexible Constitution?
Britain.
USA (most strict-Federal), India (mixed: quasi-Federal, blend of rigidity and flexibility)
Q) Who was appointed as the constitutional advisor to the Constituent Assembly?
B. N. Rau (Benegal Narsing Rau)
1. Sachchidananda Sinha: Interim (Temporary) President
2. Rajendra Prasad: Permanent Chairperson (elected on 11 th December 1946) and first president of
Republic India (1950-1962)
3. H.C. Mookerjee (Harendra Coomar Mookerjee): Deputy chairman/ Vice-President of the
Assembly
Q) Who was the chairman of the constitution Drafting Committee?
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (Father/ Maker/ Architect of the Constitution of India, Modern Manu of India)
Q) How many parts and articles were included in the original constitution?
22 parts and 395 articles. 8 schedules
22 parts, 448 articles and 12 schedules – Current.
Q) The original Constitution of India was published in?
Dehradun.
Prem Behari Narain Raizada wrote the Constitution by hand as a English calligrapher.
Vasant Krishna Vaidya was the Hindi calligrapher, who translated Constitution from English to Hindi.
Nandalal Bose did the artwork on the Constitution after the Handwritten Constitution was sent to
him at Shantiniketan.
Q) When was Fundamental Duties (Part IVA) added?
1976: 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act
Q) India is a republic meaning-
Head of the State in India is elected.
Britain: Monarchy (not Republic) & Democratic. USA: Republic and Democratic.
Q) The procedure for Amendment in the Constitution is given in which Part?
Part 20. (Article 368: taken from South Africa)
Part 17 – official Language of India
Part 18 – Emergency Provision (Article 352: National Emergency; Article356: State Emergency,
Central Govt. takes control of State; Article 360: Financial Emergency)
Q) Who says India is a “quasi-federal”, less federal and more unitary?
K. C. Wheare (Kenneth Clinton Wheare)
Flexible Unitary Constitution – UK. Rigid Federal Constitution: USA.
Q) The Constitution adopted many institutional details and procedures from which Act?
Government of India Act, 1935. (Federal Court -> Supreme Court || All India Federation)
 Supreme Court at Calcutta was established by the Regulating Act, 1773.
Q) Which among the following describes India as a secular state?
Preamble (Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic)
Q) Indian Parliament has the power to create a new State under which of the following
Constitutional provisions?
a) Article 1 - Name & Territory of the Union
b) Article 2 – Admission or establishment of new States with the Union
c) Article 3 – Formation of new States. (1960: Bombay was divided into Maharashtra amd Gujarat;
2014: Andhra Pradesh and Telengana)
d) Article 4
Q) With reference to the federal system in India, which of the Statements is/are correct?
1. States have no right to secede from the Union under the constitution of India. (Only 1 right)
2. India is an indestructible union of indestructible states
Q) After Independence, in which year were the Indian States reorganized on the
linguistic basis?
1956- State reorganization Act was made reorganized on linguistic basis.
1953- Andhra Pradesh was first made on linguistic basis. Fazal Ali Commission was setup for looking
into the linguistic basis reorganization demands of other states.
Q) According to Article of Indian Constitution, India is -
a) Group of States
b) Federation of States ->USA
c) Confederation of States -> Former Soviet Union (USSR)
d) The Union of States (Article 1)

Q) Which one of the following is not a fundamental right?

a) Right to equality
b) Right to freedom
c) Property rights 1978: 44th Amendment, Property Rights was removed from FR & numbered 300A
d) Right to religious freedom
Q) Which Constitutional Amendment Act removed the Right to Property from the
Fundamental Right?
a) 36th Constitutional Amendment
b) 42nd Constitutional Amendment
c) 44th Constitutional Amendment 1978: Morarji Desai was PM
d) 86th Constitutional Amendment

Q) Fundamental rights are described in the Indian Constitution from –

a) Article 12 to 35
b) Article 14 to 32
c) Article 13 to 36
d) Article 14 to 35
Part III: 6 Fundamental rights (Article 12-35)
Article 14-18 Article19-22 Article 23-24
Right to Equality Right to Freedom Right Against Exploitation
Article 14: equality before Article 19: Freedom of Speech
law and Expression (Press)
Article 15: prohibition of Article 20: Protection in respect
discrimination on the of conviction for offences
grounds of – 1. Religion 2. (someone is not guilty until
Race 3. Caste 4. Gender 5. proven) is contained.
Place of birth. It is a right of Article 21: Right to life &
the citizens of India. personal liberty
Article 16:equal opportunity Article 21A: Right to education
for State employment Article 22: Protection against
Article 17 1955: arrest and detention in certain
Untouchability cases
Article 18: abolition of titles Article 23: Forced Labour &
Human trafficking
Article 24: Child Labour (14 year
Article 25-28 Article 29-30 Article 32
Right to Freedom of Religion Educational and Cultural Rights Right to Constitutional Remedies
Article 29: Protection of Supreme Courts give Writs under
Minorities’ interest Article 32 whereas High courts
Article 30: Right of minorities to under Article 226
establish and administer
educational institutions of their
choice (Madarsa)
https://www.careerlauncher.com/upsc/fundamental-rights/
Q) Which among the following articles of Constitution of India abolishes the
untouchability?
a) Article 15
b) Article 16
c) Article 17 1955: Untouchability (Offenses) Act ->Revised in 1976- Civil Right Protection Act.
d) Article 18
Q) In which Article the Fundamental Rights to Freedom of Speech and Expression is
provided in the Constitution of India?
a) Article 18
b) Article 19
c) Article 20
d) Article 21
Q) In the Indian Constitution, the Right to Equality is granted by five Articles. They are –
a) Article 16 to 20
b) Article 15 to 19
c) Article 14 to 18
d) Article 12 to 18
Q) The concept of equality before law is borrowed from -
a) Britain. (Article 14: equality before law)
b) United States of America. (Article 14: equal protection of laws)
c) France (concept of Republic)
d) Russia (concept of Fundamental Duties)

24) Article 15 of the constitution provides for the prohibition of discrimination on the
grounds of – 1. Religion 2. Race 3. Caste 4. Gender 5. Place of birth
a) 1, 2 & 3
b) 1, 3 & 4
c) 1, 4 & 5
d) All of the above
27) Free education for all (6 to 14 age) was in original constitution under Directive Principle of State
Policy: Article 45. Later in 2002, 86th Amendment, included it in Fundamental Rights Article 21A.
Through this, it was made from non-justiciable to justiciable (CAN BE CHALLENGED IN COURT)
31) Machiavelli: Italy. State means Nation States. Elements of State: People, Territory, Government,
Sovereignty.
32) Schedule 1: Names of States & UTs
38) Thakurdas Bhargav called Preamble to be the soul of Indian constitution.
BR Ambedkar called Article 32 as the heart and soul of the constitution.
39) Writs
1. Habeas Corpus: The Latin meaning of the word ‘Habeas Corpus’ is ‘To have the body of.’ It is
issued by an appropriate judicial body in order to free a person who has been illegally detained.
Supreme Court/High Court orders one person who has arrested another person to bring the body of
the latter before the court.
2. Mandamus: The literal meaning of this writ is ‘We command.’ This writ is used by the court to
order the public official who has failed to perform his duty or refused to do his duty, to resume his
work. Besides public officials, Mandamus can be issued against any public body, a corporation, an
inferior court, a tribunal, or government for the same purpose.
3. Prohibition: A court that is higher in position issues a Prohibition writ against a court that is lower
in position to prevent the latter from exceeding its jurisdiction or usurping a jurisdiction that it does
not possess. It directs inactivity.
4. Certiorari: The literal meaning of the writ of ‘Certiorari’ is ‘To be certified’ or ‘To be informed.’
This writ is issued by a court higher in authority to a lower court or tribunal ordering them either to
transfer a case pending with them to itself or quash their order in a case. It is issued on the grounds
of an excess of jurisdiction or lack of jurisdiction or error of law. It not only prevents but also cures
for the mistakes in the judiciary.
5. Quo-Warranto: The literal meaning of the writ of ‘Quo-Warranto’ is ‘By what authority or
warrant.’ Supreme Court or High Court issue this writ to prevent illegal usurpation of a public office
by a person. Through this writ, the court enquires into the legality of a claim of a person to a public
office
42) 11 Fundamental Duties: 10 FDs (Part 4A-Article 51A) were added in 42nd Amendment 1976:
Swaran Singh Committee. Another FD was added in 2002 86th Amendment taking the total to 11
FDs.
Day 2

Ancient Indian History

Age Paleolithic Age Mesolithic Age Neolithic Age
Tools / Instruments Hand Axe, Cleaver, Microlith Celt
Chopper
Sites Hunasagi (Karnataka) Mehrgarh (Pakistan),
Chirand (Bihar),
Burzahom (Kashmir)
Hunting and Food Animal Husbandry Farming
Gathering

Indus Valley Civilization

7 prominent cities
Harappa Mohenjodar Chanhudaro Lothal Kalibangan Dholavira Rakhigarhi
o
Punjab, Sind, Sind, Gujarat, Rajasthan- Gujarat, Haryana,
Pakistan, Pakistan- Pakistan- Bhogva Ghaggar Rann of Ghaggar-
Ravi River Indus River Indus River River, Gulf River Kutchh Hakra River
of Cambay
1921 1922 1931 1953 1953 1985 1963
Dayaram R.D. Banerjee N.G. R. Rao Amlanand R.S. Bisht
Sahni Majumdar Ghosh

Q) Sun Temple is situated in the state of

Odisha, Modhera, Kashmir,
Q) King Harshavardhana ascended (606-647 AD) the throne of Thaneshwar and
Kannauj (Mahodayanagar) on the death of his brother ___Rajyavardhan
600 AD – 700 AD Kannauj- Political center: Maukhari dynasty (King Grihaverma)
Thaneshwar: Vardhan dynasty (King Pushyabhuti) – King Prabhakarverma had 3 children-
Rajyavardhan, Harshavardhan, Rajyashree. Rajyashree was married to King Grihaverma.
King of Bengal (Gauda) Shashank killed Grihaverma, captured Rajyashree (Grihaverma’s wife) and
Rajyavardhan.
Q) Who was the founder of Pala(Bengal) dynasty? Gopala
When Shashank died, there was chaos, after 750 AD, Gopala started the Pala dynasty. Dharmapal
was the most powerful Pala ruler.
Tripartite struggle:
Q) Vikramshila University (Bihar but it used to come under Bengal) was founded by
Dharmapala

Q) Bhaskaravarman of the Varman dynasty ruled in ___Kamrup_____ region

Varman dynasty ruled North Eastern India (Assam) – ancient name – Pragjyotishpura/ Karmup. Next
renown dynasty Ahom dynasty.
Q) Harshavadhan moved his capital from Thaneshwar to Kannauj.
Q) The famous Chinese traveller Hieun Tsang visited India during which Emperor’s
reign? Harshavardhan
Chinese traveler to India Emperors
Fa-Hien Chandragupta Vikramyaditya
Hieun Tsang (Xuan Zang) (“Prince of Pilgrims”) He Harshavardhan
came to Nalanda University (Buddhist
education), which was made by Kumar Gupta.
I-tsing
The Chinese travelers (pilgrims) were visiting India for learning Buddhism.
Harshavardhan wanted to rule the whole India, he crossed Narmada and faced Pulakesin II in
Southern India (Southern India Chalukya Dynasty): Harshavardhan was defeated.

Al-Baruni an Afghani. He wrote an book “Kitabul Hind/ Taki ki Hind”

Ghazani dynasty’s King Mahmood Ghaznabi (1001AD-1027AD) attacked India 17 times.
1025 AD he attacked Gujrat’s Sri Shiv’s Somnath Temple. Chalukya dynasty’s Bhim II ruled Gujrat.
*) ChandraGupta Maurya – Takshashila University (current Pakistan) which is the ancient University
of Indian subcontinent.
Q) After which of the following centuries, did the practice of land donation in South
India go a long way? 8th century- Feudalism
When land donation started: post Maurya age (Saatvahana dynasty age). Queen Nagnika , Naneghat
Inscription also mentions Land donation. Land donation was initially given to religious leaders by
Kings in. But later land donation happened for political casesas they didn’t have money to pay
ministers, land donation became common in 7 th century.

Q) The capital of which empire was not n South India? Pala

Uraiyur/ Woraiyur: capital of Chola (Sangam age) (famous for cotton)
Tanjore/ Thanjavur: capital of Chola (Pre-mediaval age)
Vanji: capital of Chera (Sangam age)
Kanchipuram- capital of Pallava (Sangam age)
Chola, Chera & Pallava capitals were present in South India

Q) Privriraj Chauhan married __Somyukta__, she was the daughter of his enemy
Jaichandra Ghaidwal.
(Pre-medieval age) Rajput states:
Shakambari (Ajmer): Chauhan dynasty.
Kannauj – Ghaidwal dynasty.
Delhi: Tomar. Delhi was made by Tomar.
Ghaidwal defeated Tomar, then Chauhan defeated Ghaidwals. This happened before Prithviraj,
hence, the enemity.
*) Prithviraj Chauhan’s court poet Chand Bardai wrote an epic poem Prithviraj Raso.

Q) Who established Rashtrakuta dynasty? Dantidurga/ Dantiverman

At 8th Century AD, Manyakhet/ Malkhet (Deccan/ Maharashtra) was the capital of Rashtrakuta
dynasty by Dantidurga/ Dantiverman.
Amoghavarsha I was the greatest emperor of the Rashtrakuta dynasty who wrote the book
“Kavirajamarga”