UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Can’t penalise refusal to sing National Song: SC

Q1. In Bijoe Emmanuel v. State of Kerala (1986), the Supreme Court tested the validity of the Kerala education authorities' instruction on singing during school assembly principally against which one of the following pairs of constitutional provisions?

  • A. Article 21 and Article 26 of the Constitution of India
  • B. Article 19(1)(a) and Article 29(1) of the Constitution of India
  • C. Article 19(1)(a) and Article 25 of the Constitution of India
  • D. Article 25 and Article 51A(a) of the Constitution of India

Q2. Which one of the following was the primary ground on which the Supreme Court in 1986 set aside the expulsion of the three Jehovah's Witness students from a Kerala school?

  • A. A departmental instruction is by itself sufficient in law to restrict a fundamental right where national honour is involved.
  • B. Freedom of conscience may be claimed only by a religious denomination as a body, and not by an individual student.
  • C. A duty listed in Part IV-A of the Constitution prevails over an inconsistent fundamental right of a citizen.
  • D. The freedom of speech and expression carries within it the freedom to remain silent on such an occasion.

Q3. As per the official orders governing India's National Anthem, the full version of the Anthem has a playing time of approximately how long?

  • A. About 20 seconds
  • B. About 1 minute and 10 seconds
  • C. About 52 seconds
  • D. About 3 minutes and 10 seconds

Q4. With reference to the status of India's National Anthem and National Song, consider the following statements: 1. Vande Mataram finds no mention in the text of the Constitution of India. 2. On 24 January 1950 the President of the Constituent Assembly declared Jana Gana Mana to be the National Anthem and stated that Vande Mataram should be honoured equally with it. 3. The National Anthem is the composition consisting of the words and music of the first stanza of Rabindranath Tagore's song. 4. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, as originally enacted, extended penal protection to the National Song along with the National Flag and the Constitution. Which of the statements given above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Vande Mataram finds no mention in the text of the Constitution of India.
  2. On 24 January 1950 the President of the Constituent Assembly declared Jana Gana Mana to be the National Anthem and stated that Vande Mataram should be honoured equally with it.
  3. The National Anthem is the composition consisting of the words and music of the first stanza of Rabindranath Tagore's song.
  4. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, as originally enacted, extended penal protection to the National Song along with the National Flag and the Constitution.
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q5. Which provision of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 was substituted by the amending Act of 2026 so as to extend penal protection to the National Song?

  • A. Section 2
  • B. Section 3A
  • C. Section 5
  • D. Section 3

Q6. Under the amended provision of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, the punishable act in relation to the National Anthem and the National Song consists precisely in which one of the following?

  • A. Failing to stand at attention at a public function while either composition is being played or sung by others
  • B. Intentionally preventing the singing of either composition, or causing disturbance to any assembly engaged in such singing
  • C. Performing an abridged or altered rendition of either composition at a public function without prior official sanction
  • D. Declining, when called upon at an official function, to join in the singing of either composition along with the assembly

Q7. With reference to the challenge to the amended Section 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 pending before the Supreme Court, consider the following statements: 1. The petition assails both the amended penal provision and the Union Home Ministry's directions on rendering the complete six-stanza version of Vande Mataram. 2. The Supreme Court has stayed the operation of the amended penal provision pending final hearing. 3. The petitioner's contention is that the last four stanzas expressly invoke devotion to deities, so that compelling their rendition offends the secular character of the nation. 4. The Court indicated that the penal consequences may be examined with reference to the freedom of religion guaranteed by Articles 25 and 26. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The petition assails both the amended penal provision and the Union Home Ministry's directions on rendering the complete six-stanza version of Vande Mataram.
  2. The Supreme Court has stayed the operation of the amended penal provision pending final hearing.
  3. The petitioner's contention is that the last four stanzas expressly invoke devotion to deities, so that compelling their rendition offends the secular character of the nation.
  4. The Court indicated that the penal consequences may be examined with reference to the freedom of religion guaranteed by Articles 25 and 26.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q8. With reference to the Vande Mataram matter being heard by the Supreme Court in 2026, consider the following statements: 1. The Bijoe Emmanuel precedent was invoked as governing the case of a conscientious objector who chooses not to recite one or all stanzas of the National Song. 2. The amendment under challenge was made to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. 3. The petition proceeds on the footing that it was the last four stanzas of Vande Mataram that the Indian National Congress had adopted in 1937 as the national song. 4. The Court observed that a person who, out of genuine conscientious objection, does not sing some or all of the stanzas should not face criminal action. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Bijoe Emmanuel precedent was invoked as governing the case of a conscientious objector who chooses not to recite one or all stanzas of the National Song.
  2. The amendment under challenge was made to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
  3. The petition proceeds on the footing that it was the last four stanzas of Vande Mataram that the Indian National Congress had adopted in 1937 as the national song.
  4. The Court observed that a person who, out of genuine conscientious objection, does not sing some or all of the stanzas should not face criminal action.
  • A. 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4

Q9. Consider the following statements comparing the Fundamental Rights with the Fundamental Duties in the context of national symbols: 1. Clause (a) of Article 51A names the National Flag and the National Anthem, but does not name the National Song. 2. The Fundamental Duties were placed in Part IV-A of the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment, whereas the freedom of conscience is located in Part III. 3. Unlike the Fundamental Rights, the Fundamental Duties in Part IV-A are directly enforceable by the Supreme Court under Article 32. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Clause (a) of Article 51A names the National Flag and the National Anthem, but does not name the National Song.
  2. The Fundamental Duties were placed in Part IV-A of the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment, whereas the freedom of conscience is located in Part III.
  3. Unlike the Fundamental Rights, the Fundamental Duties in Part IV-A are directly enforceable by the Supreme Court under Article 32.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. Consider the following statements regarding the constitutional provisions relevant to compelled patriotic expression: 1. Article 19(1)(a) has been judicially read as comprehending the freedom not to speak or sing on a given occasion. 2. Article 25 guarantees freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion, subject to public order, morality and health. 3. Article 51A was introduced on the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee. 4. Article 51A casts its duties upon every person residing within the territory of India, including foreign nationals. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Article 19(1)(a) has been judicially read as comprehending the freedom not to speak or sing on a given occasion.
  2. Article 25 guarantees freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion, subject to public order, morality and health.
  3. Article 51A was introduced on the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee.
  4. Article 51A casts its duties upon every person residing within the territory of India, including foreign nationals.
  • A. 1 and 4
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4

Q11. Consider the following statements about Vande Mataram: 1. It appeared first in the literary journal Bangadarshan several years before it was carried in Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's novel Anandamath. 2. The tune to which it was rendered at the Indian National Congress session of 1896 at Calcutta was set by Rabindranath Tagore. 3. The committee on whose recommendation the Congress in 1937 confined the national song to the first two stanzas included both Rabindranath Tagore and Jawaharlal Nehru. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It appeared first in the literary journal Bangadarshan several years before it was carried in Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's novel Anandamath.
  2. The tune to which it was rendered at the Indian National Congress session of 1896 at Calcutta was set by Rabindranath Tagore.
  3. The committee on whose recommendation the Congress in 1937 confined the national song to the first two stanzas included both Rabindranath Tagore and Jawaharlal Nehru.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. With reference to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs' 2026 orders relating to the National Song, consider the following statements: 1. The official version prescribed is the six-stanza rendition, with a playing time of about three minutes and ten seconds. 2. Where both the National Song and the National Anthem are rendered on the same occasion, the National Song is rendered first. 3. The occasions for the official version include civil investiture ceremonies and the arrival and departure of the President at formal state functions. 4. The orders make rendition of the official version compulsory at every private and commercial gathering anywhere in India, without any exception whatsoever. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The official version prescribed is the six-stanza rendition, with a playing time of about three minutes and ten seconds.
  2. Where both the National Song and the National Anthem are rendered on the same occasion, the National Song is rendered first.
  3. The occasions for the official version include civil investiture ceremonies and the arrival and departure of the President at formal state functions.
  4. The orders make rendition of the official version compulsory at every private and commercial gathering anywhere in India, without any exception whatsoever.
  • A. 1 and 4
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 4 only