Preamble, Features, Parts and Schedules PYQs – Polity, SSC & Railway

Answer: Option 1 — Sovereign, Secular, Socialist, Democratic Republic
The Preamble resolves to constitute India into a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic, and option 1 carries those same words.
Revision note — The Preamble
• Exact text: "WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC…"
• The words Socialist, Secular and Integrity were inserted by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, the "Mini Constitution".
• The four objectives it secures are Justice (social, economic and political), Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.
• Sovereign = free of any external control; Republic = the head of state is elected, never hereditary; Secular = the State has no religion of its own and treats all religions equally.
• The Preamble rests on the Objectives Resolution, moved by Jawaharlal Nehru on 13 December 1946 and adopted on 22 January 1947.
• The idea of a written preamble opening "We, the People" is borrowed from the United States.
• The date written into the Preamble is 26 November 1949.
• In Berubari Union (1960) the Supreme Court held the Preamble was not part of the Constitution; in Kesavananda Bharati (1973) it held that it is.
• One loose point: the option reads "Sovereign, Secular, Socialist", while the Preamble's own order is Socialist before Secular. Only the sequence is off.
Do not mix these up
• Berubari Union (1960) vs Kesavananda Bharati (1973) — Berubari said the Preamble is not a part of the Constitution; Kesavananda reversed that.
• Preamble vs Fundamental Rights — the Preamble is not enforceable in a court; it guides interpretation only.
Also asked from this topic: the amendment that added Socialist, Secular and Integrity (42nd Amendment Act, 1976);
the four objectives named in the Preamble (Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity); the term meaning an elected head of state (Republic);
the case that first held the Preamble to be part of the Constitution (Kesavananda Bharati, 1973);
the resolution the Preamble is based on (Objectives Resolution).

Topic: Preamble of Indian Constitution
The Preamble declares India as SOVEREIGN, SOCIALIST, SECULAR, DEMOCRATIC, REPUBLIC.
It explicitly mentionsfour objectivesto secure for all citizens:
1. JUSTICE— Social, Economic, Political
2. LIBERTY— Of thought, expression, belief, faith, worship
3. EQUALITY— Of status and opportunity
4. FRATERNITY— Assuring dignity of individual and unity of nation
Answer: Option 4 → Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

Secular State in Indian Constitution
The term 'Secular' was added to the Preamble by the42nd Amendment Act, 1976.
Meaning of Secular State:
• State hasno official religion
• State treatsall religions equally
• Citizens havefreedom to practice any religion
• State maintainsequal distance from all religions
India follows the principle ofSarva Dharma Sambhava(equal respect for all religions).
Answer: Option 2 → State protects all religions equally

Topic: Constitutional Law - Status of Preamble
Berubari Case, 1960:Supreme Court held that Preamble is NOT a part of the Constitution.
Kesavananda Bharati Case, 1973:Supreme Court overruled Berubari decision and declared that Preamble IS a part of the Constitution.
This landmark judgment established the Preamble as an integral part of the Constitution for the first time.
Answer: Option 3 → Kesavananda Bharati Case, 1973

Topic: Unitary vs Federal Features
Unitary Features→ Strong central government, single judiciary, single citizenship, All-India Services
Federal Features→ Dual government, supremacy of Constitution, bicameral legislature
Integrated Judiciary→ Single unified judicial system for Union and States
Supreme Court at top, High Courts and subordinate courts below
This is aunitary feature(unlike USA which has separate federal and state courts)
Answer: Option 4 → Integrated judiciary

Topic:Preamble of Indian Constitution
Republicmeans the head of state is elected by the people for a fixed term, not a hereditary monarch.
India's President is elected indirectly by an Electoral College, serving a 5-year term.
Other terms: Sovereign (independent), Socialist (social justice), Secular (no state religion).
Answer: Option 2 → Republic

Topic: Constitutional Framework of Parliament
Part V of the Constitution deals with'The Union'
Chapter II of Part V specifically coversParliament
Articles 79-122 describe Parliament's composition, powers, procedures
Part VI → States (State Legislature)
Part VII → Repealed (States in Part B)
Part VIII → Union Territories
Answer: Option 2 → Part V

Correct Answer: Parliamentary system (Option 2)
In a Parliamentary system of government, the Prime Minister is the real (de facto) executive who heads the Council of Ministers and exercises actual executive power. The President (or monarch) is the nominal/constitutional head. India follows a Parliamentary system where the Prime Minister leads the Cabinet and is responsible to the Lok Sabha.
Why others are wrong:
- Presidential system: In this system, the President is both the head of state and the real executive (e.g., USA); there is no Prime Minister.
- Unitary system: This describes the distribution of power between central and regional governments; it does not determine the role of the PM.
- Federal system: This also describes power distribution, not who holds real executive authority.

Correct Answer: 8 — Option (b)
The Indian Constitution originally had 8 Schedules when it was adopted on November 26, 1949 and came into effect on January 26, 1950. About the Schedules of the Indian Constitution: Original 8 Schedules (1950): First Schedule: Names of States and Union Territories; Second Schedule: Salaries, allowances and pensions of constitutional functionaries; Third Schedule: Oaths and affirmations; Fourth Schedule: Allocation of seats in Rajya Sabha; Fifth Schedule: Administration of Scheduled Areas; Sixth Schedule: Administration of Tribal Areas in NE states; Seventh Schedule: Distribution of powers (Union List, State List, Concurrent List); Eighth Schedule: Languages recognized by the Constitution (originally 14 languages); Subsequent additions: Ninth Schedule: Added by the 1st Constitutional Amendment, 1951 — protects laws from judicial review; Tenth Schedule: Added by the 52nd Amendment, 1985 — Anti-defection law; Eleventh Schedule: Added by the 73rd Amendment, 1992 — Powers of Panchayati Raj; Twelfth Schedule: Added by the 74th Amendment, 1992 — Powers of Urban Local Bodies; Current total: 12 Schedules; About the Eighth Schedule: Originally had 14 languages; Currently has 22 languages (after several additions through amendments); Languages: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani (added 1992), Malayalam, Manipuri (added 1992), Marathi, Nepali (added 1992), Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi (added 1967), Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo (added 2003), Dogri (added 2003), Maithili (added 2003), Santhali (added 2003).
Option (a) 7 — Incorrect: The Indian Constitution did NOT originally have 7 Schedules; it had 8 Schedules when adopted in 1949; no version of the Constitution had only 7 schedules.
Option (c) 10 — Incorrect: The Constitution originally had 8 Schedules — NOT 10; the 9th Schedule was added by the 1st Amendment (1951) and the 10th by the 52nd Amendment (1985); so 10 schedules came much later.
Option (d) 12 — Incorrect: The Constitution currently has 12 Schedules, but this is after later amendments; originally (at adoption in 1950), there were only 8 Schedules; the 11th and 12th Schedules were added by the 73rd and 74th Amendments respectively in 1992.

Correct Answer: First Schedule — Option (a)
The First Schedule of the Indian Constitution contains the names of all the States and Union Territories of India and their territorial descriptions. About the First Schedule: It lists all 28 States and 8 Union Territories of India (as of current count after J&K reorganization in 2019); Each state/UT's territory is described with reference to the areas and regions it comprises; This schedule is important because whenever a new state is created or boundaries are changed, it requires an amendment to the First Schedule; Historical changes: Telangana (29th state at time of creation, now 28th as Goa's reorganization changed count) was added in 2014; J&K was bifurcated into two UTs (J&K and Ladakh) in 2019; About other Schedules of the Indian Constitution: Second Schedule: Salaries, allowances, and pensions of constitutional functionaries (President, Vice President, Chief Justice, Judges of SC/HC, CAG, etc.); Third Schedule: Oaths and affirmations for various constitutional offices; Fourth Schedule: Allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha to States and UTs; Fifth Schedule: Provisions relating to administration of Scheduled Areas; Sixth Schedule: Provisions for administration of Tribal Areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram; Seventh Schedule: Division of powers between Centre and States — Union List, State List, and Concurrent List; Eighth Schedule: Languages recognized by the Constitution (currently 22 languages); Ninth Schedule: Laws protected from judicial review (added by 1st Amendment, 1951); Tenth Schedule: Anti-defection law (added by 52nd Amendment, 1985); Eleventh Schedule: Powers of Panchayati Raj institutions (73rd Amendment); Twelfth Schedule: Powers of Urban Local Bodies/Municipalities (74th Amendment).
Option (b) Second Schedule — Incorrect: The Second Schedule deals with the salaries, allowances, and pensions of important constitutional functionaries like the President, Vice President, Governors, Judges, Speaker, etc. — it has no relation to the names of states and UTs.
Option (c) Third Schedule — Incorrect: The Third Schedule contains the forms of Oaths and Affirmations for various constitutional offices (President, Vice President, Union Ministers, MPs, Supreme Court judges, etc.) — NOT the names of states and UTs. The candidate selected this incorrect option.
Option (d) Fourth Schedule — Incorrect: The Fourth Schedule deals with the allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) to each State and Union Territory — not the names and territories of states/UTs themselves.

Correct Answer: Chapter I — Option (a)
Part V of the Indian Constitution deals with 'The Union' (Articles 52–151). Part V is organised into the following chapters: Chapter I — The Executive (Articles 52–78): Covers the President, Vice-President, Council of Ministers, Attorney General; Chapter II — Parliament (Articles 79–122): Covers Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, legislative procedure; Chapter III — Legislative Powers of the President (Articles 123): Ordinance-making power; Chapter IV — The Union Judiciary (Articles 124–147): Covers the Supreme Court; Chapter V — Comptroller and Auditor General of India (Articles 148–151). Therefore, Chapter I of Part V specifically deals with the Executive.
Option (b) Chapter II — Incorrect: Chapter II of Part V deals with Parliament (the legislature), not the Executive.
Option (c) Chapter III — Incorrect: Chapter III of Part V covers the Legislative Powers of the President (Ordinance-making under Article 123), not the Executive structure.
Option (d) Chapter IV — Incorrect: Chapter IV of Part V deals with the Union Judiciary (Supreme Court), not the Executive.

Topic: Indian Constitution - Parts
Part Vof the Constitution deals withThe Union.
It covers Articles 52-151 which include:
• President, Vice-President
• Prime Minister and Council of Ministers
• Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha)
• Supreme Court and other Union institutions
Part VIdeals with State executive structure.
Part IIIdeals with Fundamental Rights.
Part IVdeals with Directive Principles.
Answer: Option 1 → Part V

Topic: Constitutional Amendments - Preamble
The42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976is known as the 'Mini Constitution'.
Key changes made to the Preamble:
Added three words:Socialist, Secular, and Integrity
Original Preamble: 'Sovereign Democratic Republic'
After 42nd Amendment: 'SovereignSocialist SecularDemocratic Republic'
This amendment was enacted during the Emergency period under Indira Gandhi's government.
Answer: Option 1 → 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act

Constitutional Amendment - Preamble
The42nd Amendment Act, 1976made significant changes to the Preamble.
Words added:
•Socialist- commitment to social and economic equality
•Secular- equal respect for all religions
•Integrity- replaced 'unity' with 'unity and integrity'
This amendment was passed during the Emergency period (1975-77).
Answer: Option 3 → 42nd Amendment Act

Topic: Indian Constitution - Preamble
The Preamble declares India as:
SOVEREIGN, SOCIALIST, SECULAR, DEMOCRATIC, REPUBLIC
Key Points:
•SocialistandSecularwere added by 42nd Amendment (1976)
• Original Preamble (1950) had: Sovereign, Democratic, Republic
• India is aUnion of States, not a Federation (Article 1)
Answer: Option 4 → Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic

Topic: Schedules of Indian Constitution
Fourth Scheduledeals with allocation of seats in Rajya Sabha to States and UTs.
Key Points:
• Total Rajya Sabha seats: 245 (238 States + 7 UTs)
• Seats allocated based on population
• Updated through Constitutional Amendments
Other Schedules:
First Schedule: List of States and UTs
Second Schedule: Salaries of officials
Sixth Schedule: Administration of Tribal Areas
Answer: Option 4 → Fourth Schedule

Topic: Preamble - Sovereign
Sovereignmeans India is a supreme and independent nation.
India is not subject to any external authority or control.
It has complete freedom in internal and external affairs.
No foreign power can dictate India's policies or decisions.
Answer: Option 1 → Independence from external control

42nd Amendment Act, 1976added three words to the Preamble:
1.Socialist
2.Secular
3.Integrity(added to 'unity')
Enacted during Emergency (1975-77) under Indira Gandhi government.
Called the 'Mini Constitution' due to extensive changes.
Answer: Option 1 → 42nd Amendment, 1976

Key Facts:
1. Preamble embodies basic philosophy and fundamental values of Constitution.
2. Supreme Court ( Kesavananda Bharati case): Preamble is part of Constitution but not enforceable in court.
3. It serves asguiding light for interpretationof constitutional provisions.
Answer: Option 3 → A guiding principle for interpretation

The Fourth Schedule of the Indian Constitution deals with the allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha to the States and Union Territories.
It specifies the distribution of seats among the different states based on their population.
Other options refer to different aspects: Sixth Schedule deals with tribal areas, Tenth Schedule with anti-defection law, and Eighth Schedule lists official languages.

The words 'Integrity', 'Socialist', and 'Secular' were added to the Preamble of the Constitution of India by the 42nd Amendment.
This amendment was enacted in 1976 during the Emergency period.
It is often called the 'Mini Constitution' due to the extensive changes it brought.
Hence, the correct answer is Option 2.
Option 2 is the final answer.

Correct Answer: 1 (Only I)
Verification of each pair:
- Statement I: 'The Panchayat - Part X' is INCORRECT. Panchayats are dealt with in Part IX (Articles 243-243O) of the Indian Constitution, inserted by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992. Part X deals with Scheduled and Tribal Areas.
- Statement II: 'Official Language - Part XVII' is CORRECT. Part XVII (Articles 343-351) of the Indian Constitution deals with Official Language.
Therefore, Only I is NOT correctly matched.

The correct answer is (c) 42nd.
The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act (1976), enacted during the Emergency period under PM Indira Gandhi, is called the 'Mini Constitution' because of the extensive changes it made. It added the words 'Socialist', 'Secular', and 'Integrity' to the Preamble of the Constitution, making India a 'Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic' with 'Integrity' in national unity.
(a) 24th Amendment (1971): Affirmed Parliament's power to amend Fundamental Rights; did not add Socialist and Secular to the Preamble.
(b) 31st Amendment (1973): Increased the number of Lok Sabha seats; not related to Preamble changes.
(d) 44th Amendment (1978): Enacted by the Janata government to undo some 42nd Amendment changes; restored certain fundamental rights but did not remove Socialist and Secular from the Preamble.

The correct answer is (a) Part XV.
Part XV of the Indian Constitution (Articles 324-329) deals with Elections. It contains provisions regarding the Election Commission of India and elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice-President.
(b) Part XVI: Deals with Special Provisions relating to certain classes (SC, ST, Anglo-Indians).
(c) Part XVII: Deals with the Official Language of the Union and States.
(d) Part XVIII: Deals with Emergency Provisions (Articles 352-360).

The Indian Constitution, when adopted on 26 November 1949 and enforced on 26 January 1950, originally contained 8 Schedules. Through various constitutional amendments, the total has grown to 12 Schedules currently.
(a) Incorrect: The original Constitution had 8 schedules, not 6.
(b) Incorrect: 7 is not the correct number of original schedules in the Constitution.
(c) Incorrect: 9 schedules is also incorrect; the 9th Schedule was added by the 1st Constitutional Amendment in 1951.

Part XIV of the Indian Constitution (Articles 308–323) deals with 'Services Under the Union and the States'. It contains provisions relating to the All India Services, recruitment, and conditions of service for government employees, including Articles 309–312 on service matters.
(a) Incorrect: Part IX of the Constitution deals with Panchayats (Local Self-Government in rural areas), not civil services.
(b) Incorrect: Part XV deals with Elections (Articles 324–329), not civil services.
(c) Incorrect: Part XVI deals with Special Provisions relating to certain classes (SC, ST, OBC), not civil services.

The correct answer is 395 (Option 1).
The Constitution of India, as adopted on 26 November 1949, originally had 395 Articles, 8 Schedules, and 22 Parts. Over time, through constitutional amendments, the number of articles increased to 448.
Option 2 - 387: Not the original number of articles in the Indian Constitution.
Option 3 - 410: Exceeds the original article count; the Constitution did not originally have 410 articles.
Option 4 - 385: Not the original number; the correct original count was 395.

The correct answer is Secular - Promotes one religion above others (Option 3).
This is the INCORRECT match. Secularism in the Indian Constitution means the state does not favour or discriminate against any religion; it maintains equal respect for all religions (Sarva Dharma Sambhava) and separation of religion from state affairs. 'Promotes one religion above others' is the definition of a theocratic or communal state, which is the opposite of secular.
Option 1 - Sovereign: Correctly matched; sovereignty means India is independent in both external (foreign policy) and internal matters.
Option 2 - Socialist: Correctly matched; socialism in the Preamble reflects commitment to social equality and reducing economic inequalities.
Option 4 - Democratic: Correctly matched; India's democracy is based on elected governments representing the people's will.

The Preamble of the Indian Constitution mentions the values in this order: JUSTICE (social, economic, and political); LIBERTY (of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship); EQUALITY (of status and opportunity); and FRATERNITY (assuring dignity of the individual and unity and integrity of the Nation). The sequence is Justice → Liberty → Equality → Fraternity. Option 4 is correct.
Option 1 is wrong: 'Justice, Equality, Liberty, Fraternity' places Equality before Liberty — this is incorrect; in the Preamble, Liberty comes before Equality.
Option 2 is wrong: 'Liberty, Justice, Equality, Fraternity' starts with Liberty, but in the Preamble, Justice is mentioned first before Liberty.
Option 3 is wrong: 'Equality, Liberty, Justice, Fraternity' starts with Equality, which is third in the actual Preamble sequence; the correct order begins with Justice, not Equality.

Dual citizenship is NOT a feature of Indian federalism. India provides for a single citizenship — every Indian is a citizen of India only, regardless of the state they live in. In contrast, countries like the USA have dual citizenship (both state and national). India's Constitution (Article 5-11) provides for single citizenship.
Option (b) is incorrect — i.e., Division of powers IS a feature of Indian federalism. Powers are divided among the Union, States, and Concurrent Lists (Seventh Schedule).
Option (c) is incorrect — i.e., Independent judiciary IS a feature of Indian federalism. The Supreme Court and High Courts are independent from the executive.
Option (d) is incorrect — i.e., Written Constitution IS a feature of Indian federalism. India has a detailed written Constitution unlike countries like the UK.

The Indian Constitution is often called "quasi-federal" because, though it has federal features like division of powers and bicameralism, it also grants strong unitary powers to the Union government . For example, under Articles 352, 356, and 360 , during emergencies, the Union can take complete control over states. Moreover, the Union List in the Seventh Schedule has more subjects than the State List, giving the Centre a dominant role. Therefore, the Constitution is "federal in form" but "unitary in spirit," emphasizing the centralizing power of the Union .

The correct answer is Centre and States . The Indian Constitution establishes a federal system where powers are divided between the Union (Centre) and the States. This division is clearly laid out in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, which contains three lists: Union List (subjects on which only the Centre can legislate), State List (subjects on which only states can legislate), and Concurrent List (subjects where both Centre and States can make laws, but Union law prevails in case of conflict). This structure ensures a balance of power, though India is often described as a “quasi-federal” system because the Centre holds more authority compared to the States, especially in times of emergency.

The correct answer is Socialist, Secular . The original Preamble of the Constitution (1950) described India as a Sovereign Democratic Republic . Later, during the Emergency period, the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 , added the words “Socialist” and “Secular” to highlight the commitment of the Indian state towards social and economic justice and equal treatment of all religions. Hence, since 1976, the Preamble declares India to be a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic . This amendment is sometimes referred to as the "Mini-Constitution" because it made many significant changes.

The correct answer is 395 Articles and 8 Schedules . When the Constitution of India was adopted on 26th November 1949 , it originally had 395 Articles, 22 Parts, and 8 Schedules . Over time, through various constitutional amendments, the Constitution has expanded significantly and today contains 470+ Articles, 25 Parts, and 12 Schedules . The original framework was drafted by the Constituent Assembly under the chairmanship of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar , who is known as the chief architect of the Indian Constitution .

The correct answer is Third Schedule . The Third Schedule of the Indian Constitution contains the forms of oaths and affirmations for various constitutional posts, including Union and State Ministers, Members of Parliament, Members of State Legislatures, Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. These oaths affirm loyalty to the Constitution and uphold its integrity. Other schedules deal with different aspects: the Second Schedule deals with emoluments, allowances, and privileges of officials; the Fourth Schedule relates to allocation of Rajya Sabha seats; and the Fifth Schedule deals with administration of Scheduled Areas and Tribes.

The correct answer is the Second Schedule of the Indian Constitution. This schedule deals with the provisions relating to the salaries, emoluments, allowances, and privileges of high constitutional functionaries such as the President, Vice-President, Governors, Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies . It ensures that these key functionaries are given adequate financial security and privileges so that they can perform their duties independently, without any financial pressure from the executive.

The correct answer is Eleventh Schedule – Powers and responsibilities of Panchayats . The Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution of India was added by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 , which came into effect in 1993 . It contains 29 subjects related to Panchayati Raj institutions, such as agriculture, rural housing, drinking water, health, sanitation, education, poverty alleviation, etc. The Twelfth Schedule actually deals with the powers, authority, and responsibilities of Municipalities , not the election of President and Vice-President. The Tenth Schedule deals with the anti-defection law , not languages. The Ninth Schedule was added by the First Amendment Act, 1951 and contains laws related to land reforms and agrarian reforms that cannot be challenged in courts. Thus, only Option 2 is correct .

The correct answer is Dual Citizenship . Indian federalism is unique and is often described as “quasi-federal” with a strong unitary bias. The key features of Indian federalism include: (1) Division of powers between the Union and the States (through Union, State, and Concurrent Lists in the Seventh Schedule); (2) Independent Judiciary to resolve disputes between Centre and States; and (3) a Written Constitution that clearly defines the structure of the federation. However, unlike the USA, India does not provide dual citizenship —there is only single citizenship of India . This ensures unity and integrity of the nation, as all Indians are recognized equally regardless of their state of residence. Hence, “Dual Citizenship” is not a feature of Indian federalism.

Correct Answer: Elections - Part XVII
Elections in the Indian Constitution are covered under Part XV (Articles 324-329), NOT Part XVII. Part XVII deals with Official Language (Articles 343-351). Therefore, the pair 'Elections - Part XVII' is incorrectly matched.
Correct matching of other parts:
- Fundamental Rights: Part III (Articles 12-35) - CORRECT
- Panchayats: Part IX (Articles 243-243O) - CORRECT
- Services Under the Union and States: Part XIV (Articles 308-323) - CORRECT
The correct part for Elections is Part XV, not Part XVII.

Correct Answer: Only I (Option 1)
Statement I is CORRECT: Part VIII of the Indian Constitution (Articles 239–242) deals with the administration of Union Territories.
Statement II is INCORRECT: Part IX deals with Panchayats (Articles 243–243O). Co-operative Societies are covered under Part IX-B (Articles 243ZH–243ZT), added by the 97th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2011.
Hence only Statement I is correct.

Correct Answer: Economic
The Preamble of the Indian Constitution mentions Justice in three dimensions: 'Justice - social, economic and political.' Therefore, 'Economic' is the word mentioned regarding 'Justice' in the Preamble.
The full phrase in the Preamble is: 'Justice, social, economic and political; Liberty...; Equality...; and to promote among them all Fraternity...'
Why other options are wrong:
- Secular: A descriptor for the state (added by 42nd Amendment); not listed under Justice.
- Socialist: Also added by 42nd Amendment; describes the nature of the state, not Justice.
- Sovereign: Describes India's independent status, not a dimension of Justice.

• Statement 1: Indian federalism is described as 'quasi-federal' with a strong tilt towards the Centre. Features like residuary powers with Centre, emergency provisions, centrally appointed Governors, and All-India Services confirm this. ✓
• Statement 2: The word 'federal' does NOT appear anywhere in the Indian Constitution. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar deliberately used 'Union' instead. Article 1 calls India 'a Union of States'. ✗
• Answer: Only 1

Correct Answer: Option 3 – Federal system
Federalism is the constitutional arrangement where governmental powers are divided between the national/central government and the constituent state governments, each having defined areas of jurisdiction. India's Constitution divides legislative powers through the Union List (97 subjects), State List (66 subjects), and Concurrent List (47 subjects) in the Seventh Schedule. India is described as a 'quasi-federal' state — federal in structure with unitary features (strong Centre).
Option 1 (Unitary system): In a unitary system, all power is concentrated in the central government; states/regions are subordinate. UK, France, Japan are examples. India is not purely unitary.
Option 2 (Confederal system): In a confederation, states retain sovereignty and delegate limited powers to a weak central government (e.g., original United States under Articles of Confederation). India is not a confederation.
Option 4 (Presidential system): Refers to the executive-legislative relationship (president vs. parliament as head of government); India follows a Parliamentary system, not Presidential. Separate from the federal/unitary distinction.

Correct Answer: Option 3 – Indian Constitution
The Indian Constitution is the supreme law of India. Article 13 of the Constitution explicitly states that any law that is inconsistent with or in derogation of the Fundamental Rights shall be void. The Constitution is the grundnorm (basic norm) from which all other laws derive their authority.
Option 1 (Supreme Court Judgment): Supreme Court judgments are binding but derive authority from the Constitution.
Option 2 (Parliament): Parliament can make laws but cannot override constitutional provisions; any law contrary to the Constitution is void.
Option 4 (President's Order): Presidential orders derive authority from constitutional provisions.

Correct Answer: Option 3 – The Union has overriding authority
India is described as a 'quasi-federal' or 'federal with strong unitary features' state. The Union (Central Government) has overriding authority in several key respects: (a) Article 356 (President's Rule) — Centre can dismiss state governments; (b) Residuary powers vest with the Centre (Article 248 + Entry 97 of Union List); (c) During national emergency (Article 352), Parliament can legislate on State List subjects; (d) The Rajya Sabha can pass a resolution to enable Parliament to legislate on State List matters (Article 249); (e) All-India Services (IAS, IPS) serve both Centre and States but are controlled by the Centre.
Option 1 (States can secede): India is an indestructible Union. No state has the constitutional right to secede. The Constitution (First Amendment, 1951) and Supreme Court rulings affirm India's territorial integrity.
Option 2 (Rigid division of powers): India's federal division is not rigid — the Centre can expand its powers during emergencies, and concurrent list subjects allow both to legislate.
Option 4 (States are sovereign entities): States are NOT sovereign in India. Sovereignty rests with 'We the People' as expressed through the Constitution. States are subordinate units of the Indian Union.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – 12
The Indian Constitution currently has 12 Schedules. The original Constitution (1950) had 8 schedules. Four more were added by amendments: 9th Schedule (1951, 1st Amendment — protects certain laws from judicial review), 10th Schedule (1985, 52nd Amendment — Anti-Defection Law), 11th Schedule (1992, 73rd Amendment — Panchayati Raj powers), 12th Schedule (1992, 74th Amendment — Municipal bodies powers).
Option 1 (10): The Constitution had 8 original schedules and now has 12; 10 is incorrect.
Option 3 (11): Incorrect count; the 12th Schedule was added in 1992.
Option 4 (9): The original Constitution had 8 schedules; 9 is also incorrect.