Which one of the following is not a feature of the Constitution of India?
- (a)It provides a set of basic rules.
- (b)It specifies the power of the Government.
- (c)It is the supreme law of the land.
- (d)It specifies the supremacy of the judiciary.
Correct — D, It specifies the supremacy of the judiciary. The Constitution does provide a set of basic rules, defines and limits the powers of government, and is the supreme law of the land — so options (a), (b) and (c) are all genuine features. What it does not do is declare the judiciary supreme. India follows a synthesis between British-style parliamentary sovereignty and American-style judicial supremacy, balancing the powers of Parliament and the courts rather than making either one supreme.
- (a)It provides a set of basic rules. — Providing a set of basic rules for governance is a defining feature of any constitution, including India's.
- (b)It specifies the power of the Government. — The Constitution defines and limits the powers of the legislature, executive and judiciary, which is one of its core functions.
- (c)It is the supreme law of the land. — The Constitution is indeed the supreme law of the land, and laws inconsistent with it are void, so this is a genuine feature.
A constitution lays down the basic rules by which a country is governed — it defines the organs of government and their powers, guarantees rights and stands as the supreme law. India's Constitution blends parliamentary sovereignty with judicial review, so it does not vest supremacy in the judiciary alone.
Three options describe standard constitutional functions. The exception must be the statement that overstates one organ's position. The claim of judicial supremacy is that overstatement, because India balances Parliament and the courts instead of declaring either one supreme.
- The Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and inconsistent laws are void.
- It defines and limits the powers of the legislature, executive and judiciary.
- India adopts a synthesis of parliamentary sovereignty and judicial review, not outright judicial supremacy.
- It guarantees Fundamental Rights and lays down Directive Principles for governance.
- Assuming India grants the judiciary supremacy like the USA — India balances it with parliamentary authority.
- Confusing the supremacy of the Constitution, which is true, with supremacy of the judiciary, which is not a stated feature.
Asked as an odd-one-out among genuine features of the Constitution.
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Indian Constitution establishes the supremacy of
- (a)the judiciary
- (b)the Parliament
- (c)the Constitution itself
- (d)the executive
Answer(c) the Constitution itself — it is the supreme law of the land.
- practice — not a real PYQ
India's Constitution is best described as a blend of
- (a)parliamentary sovereignty and judicial supremacy
- (b)pure judicial supremacy
- (c)pure parliamentary sovereignty
- (d)military rule
Answer(a) parliamentary sovereignty and judicial supremacy.