Constitutional Bodies: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Polity)
2 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Constitutional Bodies (Polity). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–2 of 2 questions
UPSC 2012Polity · Constitutional Bodies
Q1. In India, other than ensuring that public funds are used efficiently and for the intended purposes, what is the importance of the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)? 1. CAG exercises exchequer control on behalf of the Parliament when the President of India declares a national emergency/ financial emergency. 2. CAG reports on the execution of projects or programmes by the ministries are discussed by the Public Accounts Committee. 3. Information from CAG reports can be used by investigating agencies to press charges against those who have violated the law while managing public finances. 4. While dealing with the audit and accounting of government companies, CAG has certain judicial powers for prosecuting those who violate the law. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: The CAG does not exercise exchequer control during emergencies (whether national or financial). The Finance Ministry and the Department of Economic Affairs are responsible for the management of the exchequer during such emergencies. The CAG’s role remains to audit and report on the use of public funds, but it does not have direct control over financial matters during an emergency.
Statement 2 is correct: PAC’s chief function is to examine the audit report of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) after it is laid in the Parliament. CAG acts as a guide, friend and philosopher of the Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament.
Statement 3 is correct: Information from CAG reports can be used by investigating agencies to press charges against those who have violated the law while managing public finances.
Statement 4 is incorrect: While dealing with the audit and accounting of government and PSUs, CAG does not have certain judicial powers for prosecuting those who violate the law. CAG is merely an advisory body and has some quasi-judicial powers.
UPSC 2012Polity · Constitutional Bodies
Q2. Which of the following is/are among the noticeable features of the recommendations of the Thirteenth Finance Commission? 1. A design for the Goods and Services Tax, and a compensation package linked to adherence to the proposed design. 2. A design for the creation of lakhs of jobs in the next ten years in consonance with India’s demographic dividend. 3. Devolution of a specified share of central taxes to local bodies as grants. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: One of the notable recommendations made by the Thirteenth Finance Commission was related to the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The Commission recommended the introduction of a GST system as a comprehensive indirect tax reform. Additionally, it proposed a compensation mechanism for states that would face revenue losses during the implementation of the GST. The compensation package was meant to ensure that states did not suffer a revenue shortfall when transitioning from the existing system of sales tax and other taxes to the unified GST. The implementation of GST was linked to a timeline, and the Commission suggested setting up a GST compensation fund.
Statement 2 is incorrect: While the Thirteenth Finance Commission did acknowledge the importance of utilizing India’s demographic dividend (the large working-age population), it did not specifically design a detailed job creation strategy or suggest a mechanism for creating lakhs of jobs in the next decade. The Commission focused more on fiscal and financial management, including issues related to devolution of funds, and did not specifically lay out detailed employment schemes.
Statement 3 is correct: The Thirteenth Finance Commission recommended a specified share of central taxes to be devolved to local bodies (i.e., rural and urban local bodies) as part of the decentralization process. This was aimed at strengthening local governance and ensuring that local bodies had sufficient funds to implement schemes for development and welfare at the grassroots level.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2012
(c) 2 and 3 only
2
2012
(c) 1 and 3 only
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Constitutional Bodies?
This page covers 2 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Constitutional Bodies (Polity), asked from 2000 to 2023. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Constitutional Bodies?
Questions on Constitutional Bodies (Polity) are available for 13 years, from 2000 to 2023. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
