Indian Polity – UPSC Prelims PYQs

423 questions · 1995–2026 · answers as per the UPSC key · page 9 of 9

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Topics: Parliament & State Legislatures (68)Constitutional Framework & Development (58)Union & State Executive (50)Judiciary (46)Constitutional & Statutory Bodies (31)Local Government & Panchayati Raj (24)Elections & Electoral Reforms (23)Social Justice & Vulnerable Sections (23)Federalism & Centre–State Relations (21)Fundamental Rights (20)Directive Principles Of State Policy (16)Political Theory & Concepts (16)Public Finance & Finance Commission (13)Emergency Provisions (4)Fundamental Duties (4)Governance – Advisory/Executive Councils & Committees (1)Institutions & Organisations (1)International Relations & Treaties (1)National Symbols (1)Political Parties (1)Social Issues – Euthanasia & Bio-ethics (1)
UPSC 1996 · Q59 · Indian Polity › Union & State Executive · Save

Which one of the following is part of the electoral college for the election of the President of India but does not form part of the forum for his impeachment?

(a) Lok Sabha
(b) Rajya Sabha
(c) State Legislative Councils
(d) State Legislative Assemblies
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Answer: (d) State Legislative Assemblies
UPSC 1996 · Q60 · Indian Polity › Local Government & Panchayati Raj · Save

What is the system of governance in the Panchayati Raj setup?

(a) Single tier structure of local self-government at the village level
(b) Two-tier system of local self-government at the village and block levels
(c) Three tier structure of local self-government, at the village, block and district levels
(d) Four tier system of local self-government at the village, block, district and state levels
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Answer: (c) Three tier structure of local self-government, at the village, block and district levels
UPSC 1996 · Q64 · Indian Polity › Fundamental Rights · Save

Consider the following statements: No one can be compelled to sing the National Anthem since I. It will be violative of the Right to freedom of speech and expression. II. It will be violative of the Right to freedom of conscience and practise and propagation of religion. III. There is no legal provision obliging any one to sing the National Anthem. Of these statements

(a) I and II are correct
(b) II and III are correct
(c) I, II and III are correct
(d) None is correct
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Answer: (c) I, II and III are correct
UPSC 1996 · Q69 · Indian Polity › Union & State Executive · Save

Which one of the following statements is correct? The Prime Minister of India

(a) is free to choose his ministers only from among those who are members of either House of the Parliament
(b) can choose his cabinet colleagues after due counselling by the President of India in this regard
(c) has full discretion in the choice of persons who are to serve as ministers in his cabinet
(d) has only limited powers in the choice of his cabinet colleagues because of the discretionary power vested with the President of India
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Answer: (c) has full discretion in the choice of persons who are to serve as ministers in his cabinet
UPSC 1996 · Q82 · Indian Polity › Social Justice & Vulnerable Sections · Save

Assertion (A): The word ‘minority’ is not defined in the Constitution of India.

Reason (R): The Minorities Commission is not a constitutional body. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
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Answer: (b) Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A
UPSC 1996 · Q85 · Indian Polity › Political Theory & Concepts · Save

Which one of the following countries has more or less evolved a two-party system?

(a) Sri Lanka
(b) Bangladesh
(c) Pakistan
(d) Myanmar
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Answer: (b) Bangladesh
UPSC 1995 · Q5 · Indian Polity › Elections & Electoral Reforms · Save

Consider the table given below providing some details of the results of the election to the Karnataka State Legislative Assembly held in December, 1994. In terms of electoral analysis, the voter-seat distortion is to be explained as the result of the adoption of the

(a) Hare system
(b) Cumulative vote system
(c) First-past-the-post system
(d) Plural vote system
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Answer: (c) First-past-the-post system
This question uses a table or figure from the original paper that is not reproduced here.
UPSC 1995 · Q9 · Indian Polity › Elections & Electoral Reforms · Save

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the commencement of the election process in India?

(a) The recommendation for election is made by the government and the notification for election is issued by the Election Commission
(b) The recommendation for election is made by the Election Commission and the notification for election is issued by the Home Ministry at the Centre and Home Departments in the States
(c) The recommendation for election is made by the Election Commission and the notification for election is issued by the President and Governors of the States concerned
(d) Both the exercises of making a recommendation for election and that of issuing a notification in respect of it are done by the Election Commission
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Answer: (c) The recommendation for election is made by the Election Commission and the notification for election is issued by the President and Governors of the States concerned
UPSC 1995 · Q13 · Indian Polity › Federalism & Centre–State Relations · Save

Which of the following is/are extra-constitutional and extra-legal device(s) for securing cooperation and coordination between the States in India? I. The National Development Council II. The Governors’ Conference III. Zonal Councils IV. The Interstate Council

Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:

(a) I, II and III
(b) I, III and IV
(c) III and IV
(d) IV only
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Answer: (a) I, II and III
UPSC 1995 · Q17 · Indian Polity › Constitutional Framework & Development · Save

Which of the following are matters on which a constitutional amendment is possible only with the ratification of the legislatures of not less than one-half of the States? I. Election of the President II. Representation of States in Parliament III. Any of the Lists in the 7th Schedule IV. Abolition of the Legislative Council of a State

Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:

(a) I, II and III
(b) I, II and IV
(c) I, III and IV
(d) II, III and IV
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Answer: (a) I, II and III
UPSC 1995 · Q20 · Indian Polity › Parliament & State Legislatures · Save

Consider the table given below: Parliament of India (extract shown)

Which one of the following will fit in the place marked ‘X’?

(a) Ministers who are not Members of Parliament but who have to get themselves elected to either House of Parliament within six months after assuming office
(b) Not more than 20 nominated members
(c) Not more than 20 representatives of Union Territories
(d) The Attorney General who has the right to speak and take part in the proceedings of either House of Parliament
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Answer: (c) Not more than 20 representatives of Union Territories
This question uses a table or figure from the original paper that is not reproduced here.
UPSC 1995 · Q23 · Indian Polity › Parliament & State Legislatures · Save

Who among the following have the right to vote in the elections to both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha?

(a) Elected members of the Lower House of the Parliament
(b) Elected members of the Upper House of the Parliament
(c) Elected members of the Upper House of the State Legislature
(d) Elected members of the Lower House of the State Legislature
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Answer: (d) Elected members of the Lower House of the State Legislature
UPSC 1995 · Q28 · Indian Polity › Parliament & State Legislatures · Save

Which one of the following States of India does not have a Legislative Council so far even though the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956 provides for it?

(a) Maharashtra
(b) Bihar
(c) Karnataka
(d) Madhya Pradesh
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Answer: (d) Madhya Pradesh
UPSC 1995 · Q36 · Indian Polity › Union & State Executive · Save

Article 156 of the Constitution of India provides that a Governor shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office.

Which of the following can be deduced from this? I. No Governor can be removed from office till completion of his term. II. No Governor can continue in office beyond a period of five years.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

(a) I only
(b) II only
(c) Both I and II
(d) Neither I nor II
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Answer: (d) Neither I nor II
UPSC 1995 · Q39 · Indian Polity › Fundamental Rights · Save

Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, etc. (Article 15 of the Constitution of India) is a Fundamental Right classifiable under

(a) the Right to Freedom of Religion
(b) the Right against Exploitation
(c) the Cultural and Educational Rights
(d) the Right to Equality
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Answer: (d) the Right to Equality
UPSC 1995 · Q47 · Indian Polity › Social Justice & Vulnerable Sections · Save

In which one of the following States of India is it legal for a Hindu male and illegal for a Muslim male to have more than one living wife?

(a) Nagaland
(b) Mizoram
(c) Goa
(d) Arunachal Pradesh
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Answer: (c) Goa
UPSC 1995 · Q51 · Indian Polity › Public Finance & Finance Commission · Save

Agricultural income tax is assigned to the State Governments by

(a) the Finance Commission
(b) the National Development Council
(c) the Inter-State Council
(d) the Constitution of India
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Answer: (d) the Constitution of India
UPSC 1995 · Q57 · Indian Polity › Elections & Electoral Reforms · Save

The Dinesh Goswami Committee was concerned with

(a) de-nationalisation of banks
(b) electoral reforms
(c) steps to put down insurgency in the North-east
(d) the problem of the Chakmas
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Answer: (b) electoral reforms
UPSC 1995 · Q61 · Indian Polity › Union & State Executive · Save

Which one of the following is not explicitly stated in the Constitution of India but followed as a convention?

(a) The Finance Minister is to be a member of the Lower House
(b) The Prime Minister has to resign if he loses majority in the Lower House
(c) All the parts of India are to be represented in the Council of Ministers
(d) In the event of both the President and the Vice-President demitting office simultaneously before the end of their tenure, the Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament will officiate as the President
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Answer: (c) All the parts of India are to be represented in the Council of Ministers
UPSC 1995 · Q65 · Indian Polity › Constitutional & Statutory Bodies · Save

Which of the following are the States in which the Lok Ayukta Act includes the Chief Minister in its ambit?

(a) West Bengal and Kerala
(b) Gujarat and Maharashtra
(c) Madhya Pradesh and Orissa
(d) Rajasthan and Karnataka
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Answer: (b) Gujarat and Maharashtra
UPSC 1995 · Q89 · Indian Polity › Local Government & Panchayati Raj · Save

Which one of the following is incorrect in respect of Local Government in India?

(a) According to the Indian Constitution, local government is not an independent tier in the federal system
(b) 30% of the seats in local bodies are reserved for women
(c) Local government finances are to be provided by a Commission
(d) Elections to local bodies are to be determined by a Commission
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Answer: (b) 30% of the seats in local bodies are reserved for women
UPSC 1995 · Q92 · Indian Polity › Elections & Electoral Reforms · Save

Which of the following political parties is/are national political parties? I. Muslim League II. Revolutionary Socialist Party III. All India Forward Block IV. Peasants and Workers Party of India

Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:

(a) I, II and III
(b) II and IV
(c) III only
(d) None of the above
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Answer: (d) None of the above
UPSC 1995 · Q99 · Indian Polity › Elections & Electoral Reforms · Save

If in an election to a State Legislative Assembly the candidate who is declared elected loses his deposit, it means that

(a) the polling was very poor
(b) the election was for a multi-member constituency
(c) the elected candidate’s victory over his nearest rival was very marginal
(d) a very large number of candidates contested the election
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Answer: (d) a very large number of candidates contested the election