Art. 48A and Art. 51A(g) of the Constitution of India — MCQs

All questions with answers and explanations

Read the full set here, or use the practice card above to test yourself one question at a time.

1. Which Part of the Constitution contains Article 48A?

   • Part III (Fundamental Rights)
   • Part IV (Directive Principles of State Policy) (correct answer)
   • Part IVA (Fundamental Duties)
   • Part V (The Union)

   Explanation. Article 48A is a Directive Principle of State Policy, located in Part IV of the Constitution.

2. Article 51A(g) is found in which Part of the Constitution?

   • Part III
   • Part IV
   • Part IVA (Fundamental Duties) (correct answer)
   • Part XX

   Explanation. Article 51A(g) is one of the Fundamental Duties listed in Part IVA of the Constitution.

3. Which constitutional amendment inserted both Article 48A and Article 51A(g)?

   • 24th Amendment, 1971
   • 42nd Amendment, 1976 (correct answer)
   • 44th Amendment, 1978
   • 73rd Amendment, 1992

   Explanation. Both provisions were inserted by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976.

4. With effect from which date did the 42nd Amendment's environmental provisions come into force?

   • 26 January 1950
   • 3 January 1977 (correct answer)
   • 26 November 1976
   • 1 April 1974

   Explanation. The 42nd Amendment's environmental provisions, Articles 48A and 51A(g), came into effect on 3 January 1977.

5. Article 48A places an obligation on:

   • Every citizen
   • The State (correct answer)
   • The judiciary alone
   • Foreign investors

   Explanation. Article 48A directs the State to endeavour to protect and improve the environment and safeguard forests and wildlife.

6. Article 51A(g) places a duty on:

   • The State
   • Every citizen (correct answer)
   • Parliament alone
   • The President

   Explanation. Article 51A(g) makes it the duty of every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment and show compassion to living creatures.

7. Why can neither Article 48A nor Article 51A(g) be enforced directly in a court on their own?

   • Article 37 bars enforcement of Directive Principles, and Fundamental Duties carry no penalty clause (correct answer)
   • They were repealed by a later amendment
   • Only High Courts, not the Supreme Court, can enforce them
   • They apply only to Union Territories

   Explanation. Article 37 makes Directive Principles unenforceable by any court, and Fundamental Duties carry no express constitutional penalty for non-observance.

8. Article 51A(g) asks every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment, including:

   • Only mining areas
   • Forests, lakes, rivers and wild life (correct answer)
   • Only cities
   • Only coastal waters

   Explanation. Article 51A(g) makes it the duty of every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures.

9. Does the Constitution of India contain a separate fundamental right called the "right to development"?

   • Yes, in Article 21A
   • Yes, as a Directive Principle in Article 39A
   • No. The idea comes from international law and is balanced against the environment through sustainable development (correct answer)
   • Yes, as a Fundamental Duty in Article 51A(h)

   Explanation. The Constitution has no separate fundamental right by that name. The idea comes from international law, and Indian courts weigh it against the environment through sustainable development.

10. The UN Declaration on the Right to Development, 1986 describes development as:

    • An inalienable human right (correct answer)
    • A Directive Principle of State Policy
    • A duty of citizens only
    • A treaty obligation of India alone

    Explanation. The 1986 Declaration describes development as an inalienable human right.

11. Principle 3 of the Rio Declaration, 1992 says the right to development must be fulfilled so as to:

    • Override the environmental laws of developing countries
    • Meet the developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations equally (correct answer)
    • Apply only to developed countries
    • Replace the right to life under Article 21

    Explanation. Rio Principle 3 links the right to development to the developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations.

12. In Narmada Bachao Andolan v. Union of India (2000), the Supreme Court allowed the dam project to continue on the condition that:

    • The height of the dam was halved
    • Parliament passed a new Act
    • Every displaced family received cash within a week
    • Rehabilitation and resettlement of the displaced people was secured (correct answer)

    Explanation. The majority applied sustainable development as a principle of reconciliation. The project could go on if rehabilitation of the displaced was properly secured.

13. Which provision allows reasonable restrictions on the right to carry on a trade or business "in the interests of the general public"?

    • Article 14
    • Article 21A
    • Article 19(6) (correct answer)
    • Article 32

    Explanation. Article 19(6) lets the State make laws that impose reasonable restrictions on the freedom in Article 19(1)(g) in the interests of the general public. Environmental protection is such an interest.

14. Article 19(1)(g) guarantees the right to:

    • Form associations or unions
    • Practise any profession, or carry on any occupation, trade or business (correct answer)
    • Move freely throughout India
    • Reside and settle in any part of India

    Explanation. Article 19(1)(g) is the freedom of profession, occupation, trade or business.

15. Which of the following is NOT a test for a valid environmental restriction on trade or business?

    • It must be approved by a referendum (correct answer)
    • It must be made by a law
    • It must be in the interests of the general public
    • It must be reasonable

    Explanation. The restriction must be made by a law, be in the interests of the general public and be reasonable. No referendum is needed.

16. In the Ganga Pollution Case (12 January 1988), on which provision did the Supreme Court rely to direct the Central Government to have environment lessons taught in schools?

    • Article 21A
    • Article 51A(g) (correct answer)
    • Article 19(1)(g)
    • Article 14

    Explanation. The Court cited Article 51A(g), the fundamental duty to protect and improve the natural environment, for its direction on environment lessons in schools.