RRB NTPC History and Polity of India 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The Indian Constitution came into force on which date?
- 15 August 1947
- 26 November 1949
- 26 January 1950 (Correct answer)
- 30 January 1948
Correct answer: 26 January 1950
The Indian Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 but came into force (enacted) on 26 January 1950, which is celebrated as Republic Day.
India's Constitution was drafted by the Constituent Assembly, which held its first meeting on December 9, 1946. The Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949 (celebrated as Constitution Day/National Law Day), but it came into effect on January 26, 1950 — making India a sovereign democratic republic. January 26 was chosen because on this date in 1930, the Indian National Congress declared Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence). Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee and is called the 'Father of the Indian Constitution.'
Question 2: Who was the Viceroy of India during the Partition of Bengal in 1905?
- Lord Ripon
- Lord Minto
- Lord Curzon (Correct answer)
- Lord Dufferin
Correct answer: Lord Curzon
Lord Curzon was the Viceroy of India who partitioned Bengal in 1905, dividing it into East Bengal (Muslim majority) and West Bengal (Hindu majority).
Lord Curzon (Viceroy 1899-1905) partitioned Bengal on July 19, 1905, which came into effect on October 16, 1905. The official reason given was administrative convenience (Bengal was too large), but the real motive was to weaken the Bengali nationalist movement by creating a religious divide. The partition created East Bengal (Muslim majority, capital: Dacca) and West Bengal (Hindu majority, capital: Calcutta). This triggered the Swadeshi Movement — the first mass movement against British rule — and was eventually revoked in 1911 by Lord Hardinge.
Question 3: Which Article of the Indian Constitution deals with the Right to Equality?
- Article 12-18 (Correct answer)
- Article 19-22
- Article 23-24
- Article 25-28
Correct answer: Article 12-18
Articles 14-18 deal with the Right to Equality (part of Fundamental Rights). Articles 12-13 are general definitions for Part III.
The Fundamental Rights are enshrined in Part III (Articles 12-35) of the Indian Constitution. Right to Equality: Articles 14-18 (Equality before law, No discrimination on grounds of religion/race/caste/sex, Equality of opportunity in public employment, Abolition of untouchability, Abolition of titles). Right to Freedom: Articles 19-22. Right against Exploitation: Articles 23-24. Right to Freedom of Religion: Articles 25-28. Cultural and Educational Rights: Articles 29-30. Right to Constitutional Remedies: Article 32 (Dr. Ambedkar called it the 'heart and soul' of the Constitution).
Question 4: The Dandi March of 1930 was a protest against which British law?
- Rowlatt Act
- Salt Laws (Correct answer)
- Vernacular Press Act
- Arms Act
Correct answer: Salt Laws
The Dandi March (March 12 to April 6, 1930) was led by Gandhi to protest the British monopoly on salt production and the Salt Tax imposed through the Salt Laws.
The Dandi March (Salt March) was led by Mahatma Gandhi from March 12 to April 6, 1930 — a 240-mile march from Sabarmati Ashram (Ahmedabad) to Dandi (a coastal village in Gujarat). Gandhi and his followers marched to make salt from seawater, defying the British Salt Laws which gave the colonial government a monopoly on salt production and imposed a salt tax. This act of civil disobedience launched the broader Civil Disobedience Movement. The march was a turning point in the Indian independence movement, garnering worldwide media attention.
Question 5: How many Schedules does the Indian Constitution currently have?
- 8
- 10
- 12 (Correct answer)
- 14
Correct answer: 12
The Indian Constitution currently has 12 Schedules. It originally had 8 Schedules when enacted in 1950; 4 more were added later.
The Indian Constitution originally had 8 Schedules (1950). Over time, 4 more were added: 9th Schedule (1951, by 1st Amendment) — protects land reform laws from judicial review; 10th Schedule (1985, by 52nd Amendment) — Anti-Defection Law; 11th Schedule (1992, by 73rd Amendment) — Powers of Panchayats (29 subjects); 12th Schedule (1992, by 74th Amendment) — Powers of Municipalities (18 subjects). Currently 12 Schedules total. The Constitution also originally had 395 Articles and 22 Parts, and has been amended over 100 times.
Question 6: Who was the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army after independence?
- General K.M. Cariappa
- General Roy Bucher (Correct answer)
- General Nathu Singh
- Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw
Correct answer: General Roy Bucher
General Sir Frank Walter Messervy was the first Commander-in-Chief, followed by General Sir Rob Lockhart, and then General Roy Bucher. General K.M. Cariappa was the first Indian Commander-in-Chief.
After Indian independence on August 15, 1947, the Commander-in-Chief posts were still held by British officers briefly. General Sir Rob Lockhart was C-in-C from August 15, 1947; General Sir Roy Bucher succeeded him. General K.M. Cariappa became the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army on January 15, 1949 (now celebrated as Army Day). He later became India's first Field Marshal in 1986. General Nathu Singh was the first Indian Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Air Force.
RRB NTPC History and Polity of India 1
The Indian Constitution came into force on which date?