Day 1

• 20 Jul 2020

Welcome to the Prelims Refresher Programme 2020 - Article Page. On this page, we will provide you with 3 things:

• A list of topics for revision.
• A brief discussion of the topics if needed.
• Links to various sources for preparing these topics.

In the comments, you can ask us to clear your doubts regarding any of the topics listed on the page. We will do our best to explain and clarify your doubts. Further, we may also share links to other web based learning sources like websites or videos, or may refer to you, books, documents etc. Please be cordial to your fellow aspirants and use these doubt-clearing conversations strictly to its stated purpose.

Citizenship

This is an important topic for this year's prelims, as it has remained in the news because of the controversy over the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 & National Register of Citizens (NRC). Apart from it, many questions have been asked on aspects related to citizenship. One can find all streamlined and exam oriented information in the following links:

• Constitutional Provisions for Citizenship
• Citizenship by Registration
• Salient features of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019
• Arguments in favour and against of Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019
• National Register of Citizens (NRC). Overseas Citizenship of India
• Class XI NCERT: Indian Constitution At Work

Previous Year Question on Citizenship

Q. Consider the following statements: (2018)

1. Aadhaar card can be used as a proof of citizenship or domicile.
2. Once issued, Aadhaar number cannot be deactivated or omitted by the Issuing Authority.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Preamble

This is an all time favourite topic for UPSC, as a lot of questions have been asked over the years. By analyzing the kind of questions asked on this topic, one can have a fair idea on what can be expected in the prelims.

Class XI NCERT: Indian Constitution At Work

Previous Year Question on Preamble

Q. In the context of polity, which one of the following would you accept as the most appropriate definition of liberty? (2019)

(a) Protection against the tyranny of political rulers

(b) Absence of restraint

(c) Opportunity to do whatever one likes

(d) Opportunity to develop oneself fully

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Q. The mind of the makers of the Constitution of India is reflected in which of the following? (2017)

(a) The Preamble

(b) The Fundamental Rights

(c) The Directive Principles of State Policy

(d) The Fundamental Duties

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Q. Which one of the following objectives is not embodied in the Preamble to the Constitution of India? (2015)

(a) Liberty of thought

(b) Economic liberty

(c) Liberty of expression

(d) Liberty of belief

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Q. ‘Economic Justice’ as one of the objectives of the Indian Constitution has been provided in: (2013)

(a) the Preamble and the Fundamental Rights

(b) the Preamble and the Directive Principles of State Policy

(c) the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles of State Policy

(d) None of the above

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Charter Acts

It remains a very important topic for UPSC. A lot of questions have been asked over the years.

Questions on Charter Act 1813, have been asked in the successive years. So there is a fair bit of chance that the question can be asked on Charter Act 1833, 1853 or on Act of Good Governance 1858.

Previous Year Questions on Charter Act

Q. Consider the following statements about ‘the Charter Act of 1813: (2019)

1. It ended the trade monopoly of the East India Company in India except for trade in tea and trade with China.
2. It asserted the sovereignty of the British Crown over the Indian territories held by the Company.
3. The revenues of India were now controlled by the British Parliament.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

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Q. Which of the following led to the introduction of English Education in India? (2018)

1. Charter Act of 1813
2. General Committee of Public Instruction, 1823
3. Orientalist and Anglicist Controversy

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Latest Constitutional Amendment Acts

There has been a trend that quite often UPSC asks about the latest Constitutional Amendment Acts. This can be depicted from the previous year questions. Thus, in this context, 100 to 103^rd constitutional amendments become very important for this year's prelims.

100^th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2015

• Land Boundary Agreement Between India And Bangladesh

101^st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016

• Goods and Services Tax (GST)

102^nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2018

• National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)

103^rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019

• Reservation to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS)
• Analysis of EWS Reservation

Previous Year questions on Constitutional Amendment Acts.

Q. Consider the following statements: (2019)

1. The 44^th Amendment to the Constitution of India introduced an Article placing the election of the Prime Minister beyond judicial review.
2. The Supreme Court of India struck down the 99^th Amendment to the Constitution of India as being violative of the independence of the judiciary.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Apart from it, one can also go through:

Major Constitutional Amendment: Part 1

Major Constitutional Amendments: Part-2

Major Constitutional Amendments: Part-3

Fundamental Rights and Duties

One can always expect at least one question on Fundamental Rights which is provisioned under Part-III (Article 12 to Article 35) of the Constitution of India. Moreover, questions from this topic can come from static as well as from the current affairs portion.

• Article 15 & 16: Debate on Reservation in India, Reservation: Not a Right, Reservations in promotion is not a fundamental right SC
• Article 19: Sedition Law, Freedom of speech and expression on social media
• Article 21: Right to Privacy
• Fundamental Duties
• Difference Between Rights and duties
• Fundamental Rights and oci cardholders
• Class XI NCERT: Indian Constitution At Work

Previous Year questions on Fundamental Rights and Duties

Q. Right to Privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of Right to Life and Personal Liberty. Which of the following in the Constitution of India correctly and appropriately imply the above statement? (2018)

(a) Article 14 and the provisions under the 42^nd Amendment to the Constitution.

(b) Article 17 and the Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV.

(c) Article 21 and the freedoms guaranteed in Part III.

(d) Article 24 and the provisions under the 44^th Amendment to the Constitution.

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Q. Which of the following are envisaged by the Right against Exploitation in the Constitution of India? (2017)

1. Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour
2. Abolition of untouchability
3. Protection of the interests of minorities
4. Prohibition of employment of children in factories and mines

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 4 only

(b) 2, 3 and 4 only

(c) 1 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

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Q. Right to vote and to be elected in India is a (2017)

(a) Fundamental Right

(b) Natural Right

(c) Constitutional Right

(d) Legal Right

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Q. In the context of India, which one of the following is the correct relationship between Rights and Duties? (2017)

(a) Rights are correlative with Duties.

(b) Rights are personal and hence independent of society and Duties.

(c) Rights, not Duties, are important for the advancement of the personality of the citizen.

(d) Duties, not Rights, are important for the stability of the State.

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Q. “To uphold and protect the Sovereignty, Unity and Integrity of India” is a provision made in the (2015)

(a) Preamble of the Constitution

(b) Directive Principles of State Policy

(c) Fundamental Rights

(d) Fundamental Duties

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