UPSC Prelims 2026 · GS Paper 1 · Question 54
'X' was addressing a seminar on the meaning of the term 'law' as provided under Article 13 Part III of the Constitution of India. 'X' said that the meaning of the term 'law' in the Constitution of India was very comprehensive. It included ordinances orders and even rules and regulations. 'Y' pointed out that the term 'law' in Article 13 also included custom or usage having in the territory of India the force of law, to which 'X' was not convinced. Based on the above, select the correct conclusion from the options given below :
Correct answer: Option D
Polity
Options
- (a) 'X' is correct in the interpretation of law, including the view on non-inclusion of custom.
- (b) The view of 'Y' that 'law' included custom is not correct.
- (c) The views of both 'X' and 'Y' are correct.
- (d) The view of only 'Y' is correct.
Detailed solution
Answer
Option (D) — Only the view of Y is correct
Explanation
- Article 13 of the Indian Constitution declares that all laws inconsistent with or in derogation of the Fundamental Rights shall be void.
- Under Article 13 clause 3, the term law is defined very broadly to include any Ordinance, order, bye law, rule, regulation, notification, custom or usage having in the territory of India the force of law.
- Since custom and usage are explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, the refusal by X to accept this fact makes the overall view of X incorrect.
Statement Analysis
- Option A: Incorrect. X is wrong in the interpretation that custom or usage is excluded from the definition of law.
- Option B: Incorrect. The view of Y is actually correct because Article 13 explicitly includes custom or usage.
- Option C: Incorrect. Both cannot be correct because X does not agree with the valid constitutional provision pointed out by Y.
- Option D: Correct. Only the view of Y is correct as Y rightly stated that custom or usage having the force of law is included under Article 13.