UPSC Post-Independence India – Chapter 3: The Constitution and the Foundations of Democracy (20 MCQs)

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UPSC Post-Independence India – Chapter 3: The Constitution and the Foundations of Democracy (20 MCQs) – 20 questions, subject: History. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

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1.  

The first Chief Election Commissioner of India was:

Correct Answer: C [Sukumar Sen]

Explanation:

Sukumar Sen became the first Chief Election Commissioner in 1950 and conducted the first general elections of 1951–52.

2.  

The Election Commission of India was set up on:

Correct Answer: A [25 January 1950]

Explanation:

The Election Commission was set up on 25 January 1950, a day before the Constitution came into force; the date is now National Voters' Day.

3.  

How many Lok Sabha seats did the Congress win in the first general elections?

Correct Answer: C [364]

Explanation:

In 1951–52 the Congress won 364 of the 489 Lok Sabha seats, a clear majority.

4.  

The first Speaker of the Lok Sabha was:

Correct Answer: B [G.V. Mavalankar]

Explanation:

G.V. Mavalankar was elected the first Speaker when the first Lok Sabha met in May 1952.

5.  

Patel called the civil services the "steel frame" of India in an address on:

Correct Answer: B [21 April 1947]

Explanation:

On 21 April 1947 Patel addressed the first IAS probationers at Metcalfe House, Delhi; the day is now Civil Services Day.

6.  

The Bharatiya Jana Sangh was founded in 1951 by:

Correct Answer: C [Syama Prasad Mookerjee]

Explanation:

Syama Prasad Mookerjee founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in October 1951, before the first general elections.

7.  

The Ninth Schedule was added to the Constitution by the:

Correct Answer: D [First Amendment]

Explanation:

The First Amendment (1951) created the Ninth Schedule to shield land reform laws from challenge in the courts.

8.  

The constitutional article that allows Parliament to create All India Services is:

Correct Answer: A [Article 312]

Explanation:

Article 312 lets Parliament create new All India Services if the Rajya Sabha so resolves by a two-thirds majority.

9.  

The first general elections were held between:

Correct Answer: D [October 1951 and February 1952]

Explanation:

Polling for the first general elections ran from October 1951 to February 1952, spread over about four months.

10.  

Consider the following statements:

1. The voting age in the first general elections was 21.
2. Each candidate had a separate ballot box marked with a symbol.
3. The first general elections used electronic voting machines.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

The voting age was 21 and each candidate had a symbol-marked ballot box; paper ballots, not EVMs, were used.

11.  

Assertion (A): Party symbols were essential in the first general elections.

Reason (R): Most voters could not read or write.

Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]

Explanation:

Both are true, and because most voters could not read, symbols let them identify their candidate, so R explains A.

12.  

Which party was the largest opposition group in the first Lok Sabha?

Correct Answer: D [Communist Party of India]

Explanation:

The Communist Party of India won 16 seats in 1951–52, the most of any opposition party.

13.  

The Swatantra Party was founded in 1959 by:

Correct Answer: A [C. Rajagopalachari]

Explanation:

C. Rajagopalachari founded the Swatantra Party in 1959 with Minoo Masani and others to oppose statist economic policies.

14.  

Which of the following was NOT a feature of the First Amendment (1951)?

Correct Answer: B [Lowering of the voting age]

Explanation:

Lowering the voting age was not part of the First Amendment (1951); it came through the 61st Amendment (1988).

15.  

The first Vice-President of India was:

Correct Answer: B [S. Radhakrishnan]

Explanation:

S. Radhakrishnan became the first Vice-President in 1952 and later the second President in 1962.

16.  

Which Act gave a statutory basis to the IAS and IPS?

Correct Answer: A [All India Services Act, 1951]

Explanation:

Under Article 312, the All India Services Act, 1951 gave the IAS and IPS their statutory basis.

17.  

Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. First general elections begin
2. Election Commission set up
3. Constitution adopted
4. First Amendment enacted

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [3-2-4-1]

Explanation:

November 1949, January 1950, June 1951, October 1951.

18.  

Civil Services Day is observed on:

Correct Answer: C [21 April]

Explanation:

Civil Services Day falls on 21 April, marking Patel's 1947 address to the first IAS probationers.

19.  

Which of the following joined the Drafting Committee later, and was not one of its first members?

Correct Answer: D [T.T. Krishnamachari]

Explanation:

T.T. Krishnamachari joined the Drafting Committee later, replacing D.P. Khaitan, who died in 1948.

20.  

On 21 April 1947 Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the first batch of IAS probationers at:

Correct Answer: D [Metcalfe House, Delhi]

Explanation:

Patel addressed the first batch of IAS probationers at Metcalfe House, Delhi, on 21 April 1947, a day now observed as Civil Services Day.

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