This page lists 6 previous year UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination (General Studies Paper-I) questions on Historical Background (Polity), asked between 2003 to 2024. Choose an option to see the correct answer and the full explanation on the same page.
Showing 1–6 of 6 questions
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The Constituent Assembly convened its inaugural meeting on December 9, 1946. In accordance with French tradition, Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha, the eldest member, was chosen as the interim President of the Assembly. Subsequently, Dr Rajendra Prasad was elected as the Assembly’s President.
The Charter Act of 1833 marked the final step towards the centralization of British power in India. It elevated the Governor-General of Bengal to the position of Governor-General of India, granting him full civil and military authority over the entire British-ruled territory in India, with Lord William Bentinck becoming the first Governor-General of India.
The Act also stripped the Governors of Bombay and Madras of their legislative powers. Under this Act, laws were referred to as "Acts" instead of "Regulations," as was the case under previous acts. Additionally, it ended the East India Company’s role as a commercial entity, transforming it into a purely administrative body.
The Government of India Act 1919 introduced the system of ‘dyarchy’ in provincial governance. It divided subjects into two categories: reserved and transferred. Reserved subjects like law and order, land revenue, administration of justice, finance, and police were controlled by the governor and his executive council of bureaucrats. Transferred subjects like education, health, and local self-government were managed by ministers elected from the legislative council. This was aimed at increasing Indian representation in the government, though real power remained with the British. The Act came into effect in 1921.
Key Features of the Government of India Act 1919 Act Bicameral Legislature: The Indian legislature was now composed of:
Council of State (Upper House): Partially elected.
Legislative Assembly (Lower House): Majority elected, but with limited powers. Increased Participation of Indians: The number of Indians in government increased, but British officials retained veto power. Separate Electorates Extended: More communities (such as Sikhs, Anglo-Indians, and Europeans) were given separate electorates, deepening communal divisions. Limited Franchise: Only a small section of Indians (wealthy, property-owning men) were allowed to vote.
Reserved = retained by British officials, Transferred = handed over to Indian ministers. If we find: Which sub-jects would the British be most willing to give to Indians among given subjects? Then removing that will directly give us correct option. Local Self-Government S2, These are small-scale, non-threatening, ODD ONE OUT -- it’s least likely to be "Reserved". Hence eliminate that to reach option C.
The distribution of powers between the Centre and the States in the Indian Constitution is primarily based on the Government of India Act, 1935. This Act introduced a three-list system (Federal, Provincial, and Concurrent Lists), which was later adopted in the Indian Constitution with some modifications as the Union List, State List, and Concurrent List under the Seventh Schedule(under Article 246).
Other Major Points of the Government of India Act, 1935 Federal Structure: Introduced a three-list system (Federal, Provincial, and Concurrent Lists) for power distribution. However, the federation never materialized. Provincial Autonomy: Dyarchy was abolished in provinces, giving more power to elected ministers, but Governors retained overriding authority. Dyarchy at the Centre: Introduced Reserved and Transferred subjects, but ultimate control remained with the British. Federal Court: Established to resolve Centre-State disputes (precursor to the Supreme Court). Bicameral Legislature: Expanded legislature with more Indian participation, but British control remained. Governor-General’s Powers: Could override elected governments, especially in emergencies. Separate Electorates: Continued communal representation, deepening divisions. Princely States: Given the option to join the federation, but most refused.
The Constituent Assembly of India, tasked with drafting the Constitution, formed several committees to address specific aspects of the Constitution. One of these was the Union Constitution Committee, which focused on defining the federal structure and relationship between the union and the states. Jawaharlal Nehru was appointed as the Chairman of the Union Constitution Committee. B.R. Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, which was responsible for the final wording of the Constitution. J. B. Kripalani and Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar were also influential members of the Constituent Assembly but did not chair this committee.
| List-I (Items in the Indian Constitution) | List-II (Country from which it was derived) |
|---|---|
| A. Directive Principles of State Policy | 1. Australia |
| B. Fundamental Right | 2. Canada |
| C. Concurrent List in Union-State Relations | 3. Ireland |
| D. India as a Union of States with greater powers to the Union | 4. United Kingdom |
| | 5. United States of America |
The Indian Constitution is a unique blend of influences from various countries, incorporating their best practices into its framework. Directive Principles of State Policy were inspired by Ireland. The Irish Constitution provided the model for including socio-economic rights in the form of guiding principles for state policy. Fundamental Rights were borrowed from the United States of America. The American Bill of Rights served as the inspiration for ensuring basic human rights in India. The Concurrent List in Union-State Relations was influenced by Australia, reflecting their federal structure. The concept of India as a Union of States with greater powers to the Union was derived from Canada, which has a strong federal system with residual powers vested in the central government. List-I (Items in the Indian Constitution) List-II (Country from which it was derived Parliamentary System of Government United Kingdom President as Supreme Commander of Armed Forces United States of America Procedure for Amendment of the Constitution South Africa Emergency Provisions (National Emergency) Germany (Weimar Constitution)
| Q | UPSC year | Correct answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2024 | (d) Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha |
| 2 | 2023 | (d) The Charter Act of 1833 |
| 3 | 2022 | (c) 1, 3 and 4 |
| 4 | 2012 | (c) Government of India Act, 1935 |
| 5 | 2005 | (c) Jawaharlal Nehru |
| 6 | 2003 | (d) A-3, B-5, C-1, D-2 |
This page covers 6 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Historical Background (Polity), asked between 2003 to 2024. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
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.
Questions on Historical Background (Polity) are available for 6 years, from 2003 to 2024. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
