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Topic Basic structure doctrine
Asked 7 times across 4 UPSC exams over 42 years (1981–2023), peaking in 2023.
Key insights
- Most tested in CSE — 3 of 7 PYQs
- Most asked in 2023
- Recurs across 6 years (1981–2023)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 1981 → CDS 2019 → GEO 2022 → LDCE 2023
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (4 of 7) are since 2016.
Related concepts
Ideas UPSC tests alongside this one — keep exploring.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
CDS2023
The landmark Supreme Court judgment in the case Subhash Sharma v. Union of India (1991) refers to which one of the following basic features of the Constitution of India ?
- A Judicial Review ✓
- B Rule of Law
- C Free and fair elections
- D Fundamental Rights
✓ Correct answer: (A)
Polity & Governance › Judiciary
LDCE2023
Which of the following are included in the basic structure of the Constitution of India?
- Supremacy of the Constitution
- Judicial Review
- Principle of equality
- Free and fair elections
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A 1 and 2 only
- B 1 and 3 only
- C 1, 2 and 3 only ✓
- D 1, 2, 3 and 4
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Polity & Governance › Constitutional Framework
GEO2022
Which among the following Supreme Court Judgements established the principle that the 'basic structure' of the Constitution of India was unamendable?
- A Golaknath vs State of Punjab
- B Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala ✓
- C Sankari Prasad vs Union of India
- D Sajjan Singh vs State of Rajasthan
✓ Correct answer: (B)
Polity & Governance › Judiciary
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