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General Studies 2021 GS Paper II 10 marks 150 words Compulsory Explain

GS Paper II — Q1

'Constitutional Morality' is rooted in the Constitution itself and is founded on its essential facets. Explain the doctrine of…

'Constitutional Morality' is rooted in the Constitution itself and is founded on its essential facets. Explain the doctrine of 'Constitutional Morality' with the help of relevant judicial decisions. (Answer in 150 words) 10 marks

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

'संवैधानिक नैतिकता' की जड़ संविधान में ही निहित है और इसके तात्विक फलकों पर आधारित है। 'संवैधानिक नैतिकता' के सिद्धांत की प्रासंगिक न्यायिक निर्णयों की सहायता से विवेचना कीजिए। (उत्तर 150 शब्दों में दीजिए)

Q1 of the 2021 UPSC Mains General Studies GS Paper II, as printed
The question as printed in the 2021 General Studies paper
Evaluate your answer to this question → See all 2021 General Studies questions

Model answer

Written by UPSC Answer Check against this question's marking rubric, to the 150-word length. UPSC does not publish answers for Mains — this is one way to score well, not an official key.

The doctrine of constitutional morality, as Ambedkar conceived, is fidelity to the Constitution’s essential facets, transcending popular or majoritarian morality. It is rooted in the Preamble’s ideals, Fundamental Rights (Articles 14, 15, 19, 21), DPSPs and the Basic Structure. In K.S. Puttaswamy (2017), the Supreme Court held privacy intrinsic to Article 21 and human dignity, invoking constitutional morality to protect individual autonomy. In Navtej Singh Johar (2018), it decriminalised Section 377, holding that dignity and privacy cannot be sacrificed to majoritarian morality, and that equality under Article 14 demands inclusion. In Indian Young Lawyers Association v. State of Kerala (Sabarimala, 2018), the Court upheld Articles 14, 15 and 25 (with Article 26) against exclusionary religious custom, prioritising constitutional equality over gender-based restriction. Thus, constitutional morality safeguards minority rights, counters populism, prevents rights from being diluted by transient public opinion, and secures inclusive constitutionalism.

What "Explain" is asking you to do

Make the working of something clear — what sets it off, what follows from what, and what it produces. Explain is the Commission's mechanism word: it dominates the technical papers and the “explain why” stems, where the marks sit in the causal chain and not in the label.

Structure that answers it

State what it is → the initiating condition → the chain of cause, step by step → an instance where it plays out → what the chain produces

Where marks are lost

Describing what something looks like instead of why it works that way. Naming the stages without linking them reads as description too.

All UPSC directive words, compared →

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

Framework: GS2 Paper 2: Constitutional Morality. explain: definition/context > points in order > small example > short close Full marks: Precise definition with 2+ landmark judgments (Kesavananda, Navtej) and clear link to constitutional facets.

Key points expected

  • Define Constitutional Morality as rooted in the Constitution
  • Cite Kesavananda Bharati judgment (1973)
  • Cite Navtej Singh Johar judgment (2018)
  • Link doctrine to essential facets of the Constitution

Evaluation rubric

Each sub-part is marked on its own, against the marks and word limit printed on the paper.

  1. The answer Define Constitutional Morality and substantiate with judicial precedents. 10 marks · 150 words

    explain— definition/context → points in order → small example → short close

    Must cover

    • Define Constitutional Morality as rooted in the Constitution
    • Cite Kesavananda Bharati judgment (1973)
    • Cite Navtej Singh Johar judgment (2018)
    • Link doctrine to essential facets of the Constitution

    Loses marks

    • Reciting Articles without linking to judicial interpretation
    • Confusing Constitutional Morality with Social Morality
    • Lack of specific case law citations

    Earns more

    • Mention Puttaswamy judgment (Right to Privacy)
    • Reference Article 14 (Equality) or Article 21 (Life & Liberty)
    • Mention Article 13 (Constitutional validity of laws)

    Extra mark

    • Cite 42nd Amendment context
    • Reference 2nd ARC or Law Commission on morality

Practice this exact question

Write your answer and it is marked point by point against the model answer above — what you covered, what you missed, what you got wrong.

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