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Prelims · Polity & governance · 36 questions

Making of the Constitution, Preamble & features

Every UPSC Prelims question on this topic, 2016–2026, newest first. Tap an option to check yourself; the answer and explanation open below it.

Making of the Constitution, Preamble & features questions per year: 2016: 0, 2017: 3, 2018: 2, 2019: 1, 2020: 2, 2021: 5, 2022: 1, 2023: 3, 2024: 4, 2025: 1, 2026: 1 Asked in 10 of 11 years · most in 2021 (5)

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Prelims 2024 · Q61

Easy

Who was the Provisional President of the Constituent Assembly before Dr. Rajendra Prasad took over?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (d) Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha

Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha presided over the first sitting of the Constituent Assembly on 9 December 1946 as its temporary Chairman, because he was its oldest member. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was then elected the permanent President on 11 December 1946.

  • ✓ (d) At the first sitting, J.B. Kripalani invited Dr. Sinha to take the chair as temporary Chairman, pointing out that he was the oldest member and the oldest parliamentarian in India.
  • ✗ (b) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is remembered as Chairman of the Drafting Committee, not as the presiding officer of the Assembly.
  • ✗ (a) C. Rajagopalachari was not the temporary Chairman at the first sitting on 9 December 1946.
  • ✗ (c) T.T. Krishnamachari was not the temporary Chairman at the first sitting on 9 December 1946.

Remember · First sitting 9 December 1946: Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha (oldest member) was temporary Chairman; Dr. Rajendra Prasad became permanent President on 11 December 1946.

Sources

  • Constituent Assembly Debates, Vol. I, 9 December 1946 (Sansad) ↗ “I invite, on your behalf, Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha to be the temporary Chairman of this Assembly. Dr. Sinha needs no introduction. You all know him. He is not only the oldest among us but also the oldest parliamentarian in India”
  • Backgrounder: Constitution Day, 26 November (PIB) ↗ “First meeting of the Constituent Assembly was attended by 205 members, including 9 women under the chairmanship of Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha -- 9 December 1946 … Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Chairman, Drafting Committee, Constituent Assembly (1946-1949)”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2024, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

Prelims 2024 · Q66

Easy

As per Article 368 of the Constitution of India, the Parliament may amend any provision of the Constitution by way of:

  1. 1.Addition
  2. 2.Variation
  3. 3.Repeal

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Answer & explanation

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Article 368(1) says in so many words that Parliament may, in exercise of its constituent power, amend any provision of the Constitution by way of addition, variation or repeal, following the procedure laid down in that article. All three modes are named, though the Supreme Court has held that the basic structure cannot be altered.

  • ✓ 1. Addition is the first mode listed in Article 368(1).
  • ✓ 2. Variation, that is changing the existing wording, is the second mode listed.
  • ✓ 3. Repeal, that is removing a provision, is the third mode listed.

Remember · Article 368(1): Parliament amends by addition, variation or repeal, through the prescribed procedure. The basic structure (Kesavananda Bharati, 1973) cannot be violated.

📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 11 Indian Constitution at Work, Ch 9 (practise this chapter) · Class 11 Indian Constitution at Work, Ch 6 (practise this chapter)

Sources

  • Constitution of India, Article 368(1) ↗ “Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, Parliament may in exercise of its constituent power amend by way of addition, variation or repeal any provision of this Constitution in accordance with the procedure laid down in this article.”
  • NCERT Class 11 · Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter 9 “Parliament may in exercise of its constituent power amend by way of addition, variation or repeal any provision of this Constitution in accordance with the procedure laid down in this article.”
  • NCERT Class 11 · Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter 6 “In this case, the Court ruled that there is a basic structure of the Constitution and nobody—not even the Parliament (through amendment)—can violate the basic structure.”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2024, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

Prelims 2024 · Q72

Medium

The Constitution (71st Amendment) Act, 1992 amends the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution to include which of the following languages?

  1. 1.Konkani
  2. 2.Manipuri
  3. 3.Nepali
  4. 4.Maithili

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Answer & explanation

Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 3

The Eighth Schedule itself shows that Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were inserted by the 71st Amendment (in force from 31 August 1992). Maithili came later, through the 92nd Amendment of 2003, along with Bodo, Dogri and Santhali.

  • ✓ 1. Konkani was inserted by the Constitution (Seventy-first Amendment) Act, 1992.
  • ✓ 2. Manipuri was inserted by the same 71st Amendment.
  • ✓ 3. Nepali was also inserted by the 71st Amendment.
  • ✗ 4. Maithili was inserted by the Constitution (Ninety-second Amendment) Act, 2003, in force from 7 January 2004.

Remember · 71st Amendment (1992): Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali. 92nd Amendment (2003): Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali. Sindhi was added by the 21st Amendment (1967).

Sources

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2024, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

Prelims 2024 · Q74

Easy

Which of the following statements are correct about the Constitution of India?

  1. 1.Powers of the Municipalities are given in Part IX A of the Constitution.
  2. 2.Emergency provisions are given in Part XVIII of the Constitution.
  3. 3.Provisions related to the amendment of the Constitution are given in Part XX of the Constitution.

Select the answer using the code given below:

Answer & explanation

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

All three statements match the Constitution's own arrangement. Part IXA is 'The Municipalities' (Articles 243P to 243ZG), Part XVIII is 'Emergency Provisions' (Articles 352 to 360), and Part XX is 'Amendment of the Constitution' (Article 368).

  • ✓ 1. Part IXA, 'The Municipalities', includes Article 243W on the powers, authority and responsibilities of Municipalities.
  • ✓ 2. Part XVIII, 'Emergency Provisions', begins with Article 352 (Proclamation of Emergency) and runs to Article 360 (financial emergency).
  • ✓ 3. Part XX contains a single article, Article 368, on the power of Parliament to amend the Constitution and the procedure for it.

Remember · Part IXA: Municipalities (243P-243ZG). Part XVIII: Emergency (352-360). Part XX: Amendment (368).

Sources

  • Constitution of India, Contents: Part IXA ↗ “PART IXA THE MUNICIPALITIES 243P. Definitions. 243Q. Constitution of Municipalities. 243R. Composition of Municipalities. … 243W. Powers, authority and responsibilities of Municipalities, etc.—Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Legislature of a State may, by law, endow … PART XVIII EMERGENCY PROVISIONS 352. Proclamation of Emergency. 353. Effect of Proclamation of Emergency. … PART XX AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION 368. Power of Parliament to amend the Constitution and procedure therefor.”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2024, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

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