Legal GK | Updated 4 September 2026

Legal General Knowledge for CLAT, AILET & LLB Entrance Exams

Important legal terms, constitutional principles, landmark Supreme Court decisions and statutory concepts for law entrance examinations, law students and general legal awareness.

Current-law note: Criminal-law terminology in India changed substantially from 1 July 2024 with the commencement of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA). Historical questions concerning the IPC, CrPC or Evidence Act remain useful where the question itself concerns those enactments or older judgments.

Legal General Knowledge Questions and Answers

This revision retains the useful question-and-answer format while correcting entries that had become outdated, incomplete or misleading. For examination preparation, always check the latest syllabus and the current text of the relevant statute.

Indian Legal GK: Constitution, courts, landmark cases and statutes
No.	Legal Term / Question	Answer
1	What are the five constitutional writs issued by the Supreme Court and High Courts?	Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Certiorari and Quo Warranto.
2	Legal Advisor to the Government of a State in India	The Advocate General
3	Issues did D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal deal with	Safeguards for arrested persons
4	The age of retirement of a Judge of a High Court in India	62 Years
5	In law, the term 'neighbour' means	People who might be affected by your actions
6	Supreme Court directed the compulsory registration of all marriages in India in	Seema vs Ashwini Kumar
7	Principle applicable for the purpose of reducing multiplicity of proceedings in court	Res judicata
8	Legal phrase amicus curiae means	friend of the court
9	In which case did the Supreme Court emphasise harmony and balance between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles, while applying the basic-structure doctrine?	Minerva Mills Ltd. v. Union of India (1980).
10	Writs can be used against a person believed to be holding a public office he is not entitled to hold	Quo Warranto
11	Statutory duty of laying down the standards of professional conduct and etiquette for advocates in India is entrusted with	Bar Council of India
12	A person has designed a new type of automatic motor pump. Under which act can he seek protection of his invention	The Patents Act
13	Laws deal with intellectual property protection for horticultural products	Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Act
14	What is the ordinary limitation period for filing a consumer complaint from the date the cause of action arises?	Two years under Section 69 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, subject to condonation of delay for sufficient cause.
15	Under which law a minor is incapable of entering into contract	Indian Contract Act, 1872
16	Which writ is traditionally regarded as the principal constitutional remedy for unlawful detention?	Habeas Corpus.
17	Which is the oldest High Court in India	High Court of Calcutta
18	The power to issue writs has been envisaged under the provisions of which fundamental rights	Right to Constitutional Remedies
19	Rule of Law means	all persons are equal in the eyes of law
20	The writ to force a public authority to perform a public or statutory duty	Mandamus
21	In which landmark judgment did the Supreme Court of India lay down guidelines against sexual harassment of women at workplace	Vishakha vs. State of Rajasthan
22	Under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, what is the general legal status of a child marriage?	It is generally voidable at the option of the contracting party who was a child, subject to situations where the Act makes it void.
23	legal term Caveat Emptor refer to	Let the buyer beware
24	First woman judge appointed to the Supreme Court of India	Justice Smt M. Fathima Beevi
25	The first woman judge appointed as Chief Justice of a High Court	Justice Smt Leila Seth
26	Which Supreme Court case is the principal modern authority on withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining medical treatment and advance directives?	Common Cause (A Regd. Society) v. Union of India (2018); the framework has since been clarified and streamlined by later Supreme Court decisions.
27	How many High Courts are there in India?	25 High Courts.
28	Andaman and Nicobar islands come under the jurisdiction of which High Court	Calcutta High Court
29	Sharda Act deals with	Child Marriage
30	Who chaired the First Law Commission and is closely associated with drafting the Indian Penal Code, 1860?	Thomas Babington Macaulay.
31	Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court of India, the 'rarest of rare' principle in the award of death penalty was first laid down through the Judgment of	Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab (1980)
32	Constitutional validity of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights of Divorce) Act 1986, was upheld by the Supreme Court in	Danial Latifi v. Union of India
33	Under the Constitution of India, Freedom of religion does not give the power to	Regulate Law and order
34	Which among the following is not a part of the Directive Principles of State Policy? Provisions for Work and maternity relief Village panchayats Adult education International Peace and Security	Adult education
35	Parliament of India consists of	Upper House, Lower House and President
36	Power to summon the house of the Parliament is vested with	President
37	Right to Pollution free Environment comes under	Article 21 Right to Life
38	In which case was Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 struck down?	Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015).
39	In which case did the Supreme Court recognise the rights of transgender persons, including recognition of a third gender?	National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) v. Union of India (2014).
40	In which case did the Supreme Court invalidate parts of the 42nd Constitutional Amendment that damaged the basic structure?	Minerva Mills Ltd. v. Union of India (1980).
41	In which case was the basic structure doctrine laid down?	Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973).
42	In which landmark case the Supreme Court held that the Second marriage of Hindu man is invalid even if he converts to Islam before marriage	Sarla Mudgal vs. Union Of India
43	Which case originally stated that the Preamble was not a part of the Constitution, a view later displaced by Kesavananda Bharati?	In Re: Berubari Union (1960).
44	Supreme Court held that Parliament has the right to amend the Fundamental Rights enshrined in the Constitution in	Shankari Prasad v. Union of India
45	Fundamental Rights were considered as Inviolable part of the Indian Constitution in	Golak Nath vs. the State of Punjab
46	In which case did the Supreme Court hold that judicial review under Articles 32 and 226 is part of the basic structure?	L. Chandra Kumar v. Union of India (1997).
47	Can narco-analysis, polygraph or similar techniques be administered involuntarily to an accused person?	No. Involuntary administration violates constitutional protections. Voluntary testing is subject to safeguards, and the test report itself is not directly admissible merely because the test was voluntary.
48	Is Trafficking of human beings is Prohibited in the Constitution of India.	Yes
49	Writ of habeas corpus is a	Constitutional Remedy
50	A writ by which the decision of the lower court is quashed by higher Court because it was based on irregular procedure is known as	Certiorari
51	"Directive Principle of State Policy is the conscience of the Constitution which embody the social philosophy of the constitution" was said by:	Granville Austin
52	Former chief of Police of a state was held guilty of Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty in case of..	Shri K.P.S Gill vs. Rupan Deol Bajaj
53	In which case did the Supreme Court hold that receiving State aid does not by itself destroy the minority character of an educational institution?	St. Stephen's College v. University of Delhi (1992).
54	In which case did the Supreme Court deal with restrictions on exhibition of a film depicting violence in the context of freedom of expression?	Ramesh v. Union of India (1988) (the 'Tamas' case).
55	In which case was the first one in which conviction happened under the I.T Act 2000	Tamil Nadu v. Suhas Katti 2004
56	Which case held that the State could not impose its reservation policy on unaided private professional educational institutions, subject to later constitutional changes?	P.A. Inamdar v. State of Maharashtra (2005).
57	The National Emblem and the Seal of the Government of India is a replica of the Capital of Ashoka's pillar at	Sarnath
58	The National Emblem and Seal was adopted on	January 26, 1950
59	The design of the Dharma Chakra is of the wheel which appears on the abacus of the Sarnath Lion Capital. The Dharma Chakra has	24 spokes
60	The Directive Principles of State Policy are directly concerned with	Social Justice, Economic Justice and Political Justice
61	When was the Constitution passed and accepted by the Constituent assembly	26th November, 1949
62	Contempt of court means	Both civil contempt and criminal contempt
63	The Constituent Assembly met for the first time on	December 9, 1946
64	The Constituent Assembly was not a sovereign body in the beginning but it became a sovereign body after	15th August 1947
65	Who was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee to prepare a Draft Constitution of India	Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
66	What did the Constitution (Ninety-third Amendment) Act, 2005 principally enable?	It inserted Article 15(5), enabling special provisions for advancement of socially and educationally backward classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in admissions to educational institutions, including private institutions, except minority educational institutions under Article 30(1).
67	June 3 Plan was also known as the	Mountbatten Plan
68	Which was the original due date announced by Mr. Attlee, Prime Minister of England, for transfer of power to the Indians	June 1948
69	How is the Constitution of India commonly described?	A written Constitution combining federal features with a strong Union, and containing both rigid and flexible amendment features.
70	Which is the major source of the Indian Constitution	Government of India Act, 1935
71	From which constitutional system was the idea of judicial review principally influenced?	The United States of America.
72	From which constitutional tradition were concepts such as rule of law, parliamentary government and single citizenship principally drawn?	The United Kingdom.

Legal General Knowledge for CLAT, AILET & LLB Entrance Exams

Legal General Knowledge Questions and Answers

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