1. The concept of Basic Structure Doctrine was propounded in which case?
A) Golaknath v. State of Punjab (1967)
B) Shankari Prasad v. Union of India (1951)
C) Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973)
D) Minerva Mills v. Union of India (1980)
Answer: C
Explanation: Kesavananda Bharati (1973) introduced the Basic Structure Doctrine.
2. Who was the Chief Justice during Kesavananda Bharati case?
A) M. Hidayatullah
B) S.M. Sikri
C) Y.V. Chandrachud
D) P.N. Bhagwati
Answer: B
Explanation: Chief Justice S.M. Sikri headed the 13-judge bench.
3. The Kesavananda Bharati case was decided by what margin?
A) 7:6
B) 9:4
C) 8:5
D) 6:5
Answer: A
Explanation: The judgment was delivered by a 7:6 majority.
4. Which case first upheld Parliament’s power to amend any part of the Constitution?
A) Shankari Prasad (1951)
B) Sajjan Singh (1965)
C) Golaknath (1967)
D) Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain (1975)
Answer: A
Explanation: Shankari Prasad upheld unlimited amending power.
5. Which case held that Fundamental Rights cannot be amended?
A) Kesavananda Bharati (1973)
B) Golaknath v. State of Punjab (1967)
C) Sajjan Singh v. State of Rajasthan (1965)
D) Shankari Prasad (1951)
Answer: B
Explanation: Golaknath held Parliament cannot amend FRs, later overruled by Kesavananda.
6. Which case upheld the 24th Amendment and overruled Golaknath?
A) Shankari Prasad
B) Kesavananda Bharati
C) Minerva Mills
D) Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain
Answer: B
Explanation: Kesavananda upheld 24th Amendment, allowing amendment of FRs subject to basic structure.
7. Which case invalidated 39th Amendment that put PM’s election beyond judicial review?
A) Minerva Mills (1980)
B) Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain (1975)
C) Kesavananda Bharati (1973)
D) Waman Rao (1981)
Answer: B
Explanation: Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain struck down 39th Amendment for violating basic structure.
8. Which of the following is NOT part of basic structure?
A) Supremacy of the Constitution
B) Judicial review
C) Sovereignty of Parliament
D) Federalism
Answer: C
Explanation: Sovereignty of Parliament is not part of basic structure; Constitution is supreme.
9. Which case reiterated that harmony between FRs and DPSPs is part of basic structure?
A) Kesavananda Bharati
B) Minerva Mills (1980)
C) Waman Rao (1981)
D) I.R. Coelho (2007)
Answer: B
Explanation: Minerva Mills declared balance between FRs and DPSPs as basic structure.
10. Which case extended basic structure doctrine to state legislatures?
A) Kesavananda Bharati
B) Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain
C) Kuldip Nayar v. Union of India
D) Kesavananda did not extend it
Answer: D
Explanation: Basic structure applies only to Parliament’s amending power, not state legislatures.
11. Judicial review is part of basic structure as held in:
A) Shankari Prasad
B) Kesavananda Bharati
C) Minerva Mills
D) Both B and C
Answer: D
Explanation: Both Kesavananda and Minerva Mills recognised judicial review as basic structure.
12. Which case reaffirmed judicial review over Ninth Schedule laws post-1973?
A) Golaknath (1967)
B) Kesavananda Bharati (1973)
C) I.R. Coelho v. State of Tamil Nadu (2007)
D) Waman Rao (1981)
Answer: C
Explanation: I.R. Coelho declared post-1973 Ninth Schedule laws reviewable.
13. Rule of law as part of basic structure was affirmed in:
A) Kesavananda Bharati
B) Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain
C) Minerva Mills
D) All of the above
Answer: D
Explanation: Rule of law was reaffirmed across these landmark judgments.
14. Separation of powers is part of basic structure as held in:
A) Kesavananda Bharati
B) Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain
C) Minerva Mills
D) All of the above
Answer: D
Explanation: Multiple cases held separation of powers as essential to basic structure.
15. Which case limited Parliament’s power to amend even Preamble?
A) Kesavananda Bharati
B) Shankari Prasad
C) Minerva Mills
D) Waman Rao
Answer: A
Explanation: Kesavananda held Preamble amendable but not beyond basic structure.
16. Federalism as part of basic structure was emphasised in:
A) S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994)
B) Kesavananda Bharati
C) Minerva Mills
D) I.R. Coelho
Answer: A
Explanation: S.R. Bommai stressed federalism as part of basic structure.
17. Which case called basic structure doctrine the “bedrock of Indian Constitution”?
A) Kesavananda Bharati
B) Minerva Mills
C) Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain
D) S.R. Bommai
Answer: A
Explanation: Kesavananda described it as the bedrock of Constitution.
18. Which judge in Kesavananda case said “Basic structure is like the North Star”?
A) Justice Khanna
B) Justice Hegde
C) Justice Chandrachud
D) Justice Mathew
Answer: A
Explanation: Justice H.R. Khanna gave the metaphor of the North Star.
19. Which of the following is part of basic structure?
A) Supremacy of Constitution
B) Parliamentary system
C) Secularism
D) All of the above
Answer: D
Explanation: All these are recognised as basic structure elements.
20. Democracy as part of basic structure was affirmed in:
A) Kesavananda
B) Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain
C) Minerva Mills
D) All of the above
Answer: D
Explanation: All these cases affirmed democracy as integral.
21. Which case emphasised independence of judiciary as basic structure?
A) Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain
B) Kesavananda Bharati
C) S.P. Gupta v. Union of India
D) Minerva Mills
Answer: B
Explanation: Kesavananda Bharati first upheld judiciary’s independence as basic structure.
22. Which Amendment was struck down in entirety for violating basic structure?
A) 24th Amendment
B) 39th Amendment
C) 42nd Amendment (partially)
D) 99th Amendment
Answer: D
Explanation: 99th Amendment (NJAC) was struck down in entirety.
23. Which feature is NOT part of basic structure?
A) Judicial review
B) Parliamentary sovereignty
C) Secularism
D) Federalism
Answer: B
Explanation: Parliamentary sovereignty is limited by Constitution.
24. Which case limited Parliament from destroying balance between FRs and DPSPs?
A) Kesavananda Bharati
B) Minerva Mills
C) I.R. Coelho
D) Golaknath
Answer: B
Explanation: Minerva Mills upheld harmony as part of basic structure.
25. Which case held that equality is part of basic structure?
A) Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain
B) Kesavananda Bharati
C) Minerva Mills
D) Both B and C
Answer: D
Explanation: Equality was emphasised in both cases.
26. Which doctrine curtails Parliament’s amending power?
A) Judicial activism
B) Basic Structure Doctrine
C) Rule of law
D) Separation of powers
Answer: B
Explanation: Only Basic Structure Doctrine restricts amendment power.
27. Which judge in Kesavananda gave “Constitution is not plaything of majority”?
A) Justice H.R. Khanna
B) Justice Shelat
C) Justice Sikri
D) Justice Ray
Answer: C
Explanation: Chief Justice Sikri said Constitution cannot be altered whimsically.
28. Which case applied basic structure doctrine to constitutional amendments only?
A) Kesavananda Bharati
B) Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain
C) Minerva Mills
D) I.R. Coelho
Answer: A
Explanation: It applies only to constitutional amendments, not ordinary laws.
29. Which feature ensures balance of power between Union and States?
A) Rule of law
B) Judicial review
C) Federalism
D) Parliamentary sovereignty
Answer: C
Explanation: Federalism is part of basic structure.
30. Which case reaffirmed that secularism is part of basic structure?
A) Kesavananda Bharati
B) Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain
C) S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994)
D) Minerva Mills
Answer: C
Explanation: S.R. Bommai emphasised secularism as a cornerstone.
31. Basic structure doctrine is unique to:
A) UK
B) USA
C) India
D) France
Answer: C
Explanation: It is India’s judicial innovation.
32. Which case clarified that judicial review cannot be excluded by Parliament?
A) Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain
B) Kesavananda Bharati
C) Minerva Mills
D) I.R. Coelho
Answer: D
Explanation: I.R. Coelho reaffirmed judicial review as inviolable.
33. Which case struck down NJAC for violating independence of judiciary?
A) Kesavananda
B) Minerva Mills
C) NJAC Judgment (2015)
D) Waman Rao
Answer: C
Explanation: SC struck down NJAC as violative of judiciary’s independence.
34. Which case held free and fair elections as part of basic structure?
A) Kesavananda
B) Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain
C) Minerva Mills
D) I.R. Coelho
Answer: B
Explanation: SC declared free and fair elections integral to democracy.
35. Which case applied basic structure to post-1973 Ninth Schedule laws?
A) Waman Rao (1981)
B) Kesavananda Bharati
C) I.R. Coelho (2007)
D) Minerva Mills
Answer: A
Explanation: Waman Rao held laws after 24 April 1973 reviewable.
36. Which of the following is part of basic structure?
A) Effective access to justice
B) Secularism
C) Federalism
D) All of the above
Answer: D
Explanation: All these are included in basic structure interpretation.
37. Which case described Parliament’s amending power as “constituent power”?
A) Shankari Prasad
B) Kesavananda Bharati
C) Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain
D) Minerva Mills
Answer: B
Explanation: Kesavananda clarified Article 368 grants constituent power, not absolute power.
38. Which doctrine protects Constitution from parliamentary majorities?
A) Doctrine of pith and substance
B) Doctrine of severability
C) Basic Structure Doctrine
D) Doctrine of eclipse
Answer: C
Explanation: Basic Structure Doctrine safeguards constitutional core.
39. Which feature was read into basic structure for the first time in Kesavananda?
A) Fundamental Rights
B) Judicial review
C) Rule of law
D) Limited amending power
Answer: D
Explanation: Limited amending power was recognised as part of basic structure.
40. Which case extended basic structure to apply even to constitutional amendments made before 1973?
A) Waman Rao
B) I.R. Coelho
C) Minerva Mills
D) None
Answer: B
Explanation: I.R. Coelho applied doctrine retrospectively to post-1973 laws in Ninth Schedule.
41. Which judge gave “Golden Triangle” of Constitution (Articles 14, 19, 21)?
A) Justice H.R. Khanna
B) Justice Bhagwati
C) Justice Sikri
D) Justice Chandrachud
Answer: D
Explanation: Justice Chandrachud emphasised the “golden triangle” in Kesavananda.
42. Which feature ensures accountability of government as basic structure?
A) Free and fair elections
B) Rule of law
C) Judicial review
D) All of the above
Answer: D
Explanation: All ensure government accountability.
43. Which feature was added to basic structure in Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain?
A) Separation of powers
B) Judicial review
C) Free and fair elections
D) Independence of judiciary
Answer: C
Explanation: Court held free and fair elections part of basic structure.
44. Which case described “harmony between Parts III & IV” as essential?
A) Minerva Mills
B) Kesavananda
C) Waman Rao
D) Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain
Answer: A
Explanation: Minerva Mills emphasised harmony between FRs & DPSPs.
45. Which case upheld secular character of Constitution as inviolable?
A) Kesavananda
B) Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain
C) Minerva Mills
D) S.R. Bommai
Answer: D
Explanation: S.R. Bommai highlighted secularism.
46. Which case rejected absolute sovereignty of Parliament?
A) Shankari Prasad
B) Golaknath
C) Kesavananda Bharati
D) Minerva Mills
Answer: C
Explanation: Kesavananda restricted Parliament’s power.
47. Which doctrine ensures that essential features cannot be abrogated?
A) Doctrine of severability
B) Doctrine of eclipse
C) Doctrine of basic structure
D) Doctrine of prospective overruling
Answer: C
Explanation: Basic Structure Doctrine ensures essential features remain.
48. Which Amendment was partly struck down in Kesavananda?
A) 24th Amendment
B) 25th Amendment
C) 42nd Amendment
D) 44th Amendment
Answer: B
Explanation: 25th Amendment was partly struck down – primacy of DPSPs curtailed.
49. Which case upheld primacy of Constitution over Parliament?
A) Kesavananda
B) Golaknath
C) Shankari Prasad
D) Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain
Answer: A
Explanation: Kesavananda Bharati upheld supremacy of Constitution.
50. The Basic Structure Doctrine ensures:
A) Constitution remains flexible
B) Constitution remains rigid
C) Balance between flexibility and rigidity
D) Supremacy of Parliament
Answer: C
Explanation: It ensures balance—allowing amendments but preserving essentials.