Salient Features of the Indian Constitution: PSIR Optional PYQs

Salient Features of the Indian Constitution: The Preamble, Fundamental Rights and Duties, Directive Principles; Parliamentary System and Amendment Procedures; Judicial Review and Basic Structure doctrine.

Salient Features of the Indian Constitution: The Preamble, Fundamental Rights and Duties, Directive Principles

YearQuestionAnswer
2026Answer in about 150 words: The Constitution of India was secular even before the word was included in the Preamble. Comment. (10 marks)View answer
2025Land Reforms programmes led to some constitutional amendments. Comment.View answer
2024Write approximately 150 words on Constitutional morality in the Indian Constitution.View answer
2024Write approximately 150 words on Legal remedies in Part III of the Constitution of India.View answer
2024How far do you agree that the Directive Principles of State Policy are more fundamental than the Fundamental Rights in meeting socio-economic justice as mentioned in the Preamble of the Constitution?View answer
2023The main goal of the fundamental duties in the Indian Constitution is to generate civic responsibility among the citizen. Explain.View answer
2022The Preamble of the Indian Constitution reflects itself as a ‘social contract’. Elucidate.View answer
2021Mention the founding principles that define India's Constitution. (150 words)View answer
2021"Constitutionally reconciling the Fundamental Rights with the Directive Principles of State Policy has led to frequent amendments of the· Constitution and judicial interventions." Comment.View answer
2020Answer in 150 words: Right to Constitutional remedies in India.View answer
2019Comment on the relevance of the Directive Principles of State Policy in an era of liberalization and globalization.View answer
2018Comment in 150 words: Indian Constitution is a 'Lawyers' Paradise'. – Ivor Jennings.View answer
2017Right to privacy is an intrinsic part of the right to life. Comment.View answer
2016Critically examine the provisions made in the Constitution for the protection of Environment.View answer
2015Comment in 150 words: Secularism in the Indian Constitution.View answer
2015In the light of neo-economic policies adopted since 1991, examine the relevance of the term 'socialist' in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.View answer
2015Discuss the 'Right to Education' and the concerns raised by it.View answer
2014Comment in 150 words: Increasingly higher focus on Directive Principles of State Policy.View answer
2014What are the provisions for constitutional protection of right to freedom of religion and how far have they succeeded in promoting secularism in India?View answer
2013Comment in 150 words: Significance of the Preamble.View answer
2013Analyse the significance of Article 32 of the Indian Constitution.View answer
2013Examine the significance of the verdicts of the Supreme Court in the Golaknath and Kashavananda Bharati cases for an understanding of the scope of Article 368 in regard to Fundamental Rights.View answer
2012Discuss the extent to which the Indian Constitution reflects successful reconciliation of alternative perspectives.View answer
2012Examine the relevance of Directive Principles in the era of liberalisation and globalization.View answer
2011Examine the significance of the Directive Principles of State Policy in achieving the goal of socio-economic justice.View answer
2011Critically examine and comment on the assertion in about 200 words: Secularism in Indian politics is a myth.View answer
2010"Minorities are the natural custodians of the secular state [ D.E. Smith] Discuss.View answer
2010In what ways do civil liberties and human rights movements influence the working of Indian democracy? Give your answer with suitable examples.View answer
2008Comment: The type of Government enshrined in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.View answer
2007Comment: The Directive Principles of State Policy are not mere pious declarations but clear directions for the guidance of state policy.View answer
2005Comment: Fundamental Duties under Article 51A of the Constitution of India.View answer
2005Do you agree with the view that Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Polity constitute the 'Core and Conscience' of the Indian Constitution? Comment on the emerging trends in their interrelationship.View answer
2004Comment: Fundamental Duties in the Indian Constitution.
2004Explain the main principles embodied in the Preamble to the Constitution of India. What is their significance? Do you think that they are the political horoscope of the country? Discuss.View answer
2003Comment: 'Right against exploitation' under the Indian Constitution.View answer
2003"The Directive Principles of State Policy are not mere pious declarations but clear directions for the guidance of State Policy." Comment and show how far they have been applied in practice.View answer
1999Comment: Right to Constitutional Remedies under Article 32 of the Indian Constitution and application of the principle of Res Judicata.View answer
1996Comment: Kesavananda Bharathi Case.View answer
1994Comment: Reverse discrimination.View answer

Salient Features of the Indian Constitution: Parliamentary System

YearQuestionAnswer
2025Parliamentary Committees are a strong tool of Parliamentary Democracy. It provides for the opportunity for cross-pollination of ideas among members of the Parliament. Discuss.View answer
2017Differentiate parliamentary supremacy from parliamentary sovereignty. Would you consider the Indian Parliament as a Sovereign Parliament, Examine.View answer
1997Discuss the patterns of legislative-executive relationship prevalent in the world today What factors and forces have enabled the executive to overpower the legislature, in most countries?View answer
1993Examine the case for formation of small states in India.View answer
1992Majority in legislatures does not necessarily contribute to the stability of the state Government in India. Discuss.View answer

Salient Features of the Indian Constitution: Amendment Procedures; Judicial Review and Basic Structure doctrine

YearQuestionAnswer
2022The Doctrine of Basic Structure of the Constitution has enhanced the power of judicial review of the Supreme Court. Examine.View answer
2021Underline the significance of the first constitutional amendment. (150 words)View answer
2019"The basic structure doctrine is implicit in the Indian Constitution; the Supreme Court has only given it an explicit for." Comment.View answer
2016Comment: 'Article 368 does not enable Parliament to alter the basic structure or framework of the Constitution'.View answer
2016Comment: The purpose of the 42nd Constitutional Amendment was to make the economic and social democracy explicitly visible.View answer
2015Comment in 150 words: 99th Amendment of the Indian Constitution.View answer
2015Discuss the efficacy of judicial review in India.View answer
2012Comment on Doctrine of Basic Structure of the Indian Constitution. (150 words)View answer
1992Comment: The 42nd amendment to the Constitution of India.View answer

PSIR Optional study material from LotusArise IAS

Two ways to prepare with us — the full self-study system, or just the notes you need right now.

What you getPSIR Mains Master Kit 2027PSIR Complete Notes (Store)
Paper 1 notes — Political Theory + Indian Government and PoliticsIncludedIncluded — Section A and Section B
Paper 2 notes — Comparative Politics and India and the WorldIncludedIncluded — Section A and Section B
Topic-wise PYQ bank1986–2026, with trend analysis and probables by Dec 20261991–2025 question papers, free with every notes pack
Practice question set for timed answer writing✅ Available now❌
Answer toolkit — intros, conclusions, frameworks, thinker and example banksBy Dec 2026❌
Revision booklets for the last 60 days✅ Available now❌
FormatOnline articles + PDFPDF download
AccessValid until UPSC CSE Mains 2027Instant download after payment
Price₹1,770 (regular ₹5,000)₹1,180 for all four sections · ₹599 a paper · ₹354 a section
Best forAspirants who want the whole system in one placeAspirants who want the notes now, in the parts they need

guest
2 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
kiran

thanks for your efforts

KISHAN SRIVASTAVA

thanks