Miscellaneous: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Polity)
3 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Miscellaneous (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 1–3 of 3 questions
UPSC 1999Polity · Miscellaneous
Q1. Consider the following statements about the recent amendments to the elections law by the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act 1996: 1. Any conviction for the offence of insulting the Indian National flag or the Constitution of Indian shall entail disqualification for contesting elections to Parliament and State Legislatures for six year from the date of conviction 2. There is an increase in the security deposit which a candidate has to make to contest the election to the Lok Sabha 3. A candidate cannot now stand for election from more than one Parliament Constituency 4. No election will now be countermanded on the death of a contesting candidate Which of the above statements are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: The Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 1996, specifies that a person convicted of the offence of insulting the Indian National Flag or the Constitution of India is disqualified from contesting elections for six years from the date of conviction.
Statement 2 is correct: The security deposit amount for candidates contesting elections was increased to discourage non-serious candidates.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The law does not restrict a candidate from contesting elections from more than one Parliamentary constituency, but if a candidate wins both, they must vacate one.
Statement 4 is correct: The amendment removed the provision requiring elections to be countermanded in the event of the death of a contesting candidate, ensuring that the electoral process is not delayed. The only exception would be if the candidate had already secured the maximum number of votes.
UPSC 1999Polity · Miscellaneous
Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the National Human Rights Commission of India: 1. Its Chairman must be a retired Chief Justice of India 2. It exists in each state as State Human Rights Commission 3. Its powers are only recommendatory in nature 4. It is mandatory to appoint a woman as a member of the commission Which of the above statements are correct?
Explanation
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is a statutory body established under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
Statement 1 is Correct: The Chairman of the NHRC must be a retired Chief Justice of India, as per the original Act. However, the 2019 amendment provided that a person who has been a Judge of the Supreme Court is also made eligible to be appointed as Chairperson of the Commission in addition to the person who has been the Chief Justice of India.
Statement 2 is incorrect: While State Human Rights Commissions exist, they are not present in every state; their establishment depends on state governments.
Statement 3 is Correct: The powers of the NHRC are primarily recommendatory in nature. It can suggest measures for relief or improvement, but its recommendations are not legally binding.
Statement 4 is Incorrect: There is no mandatory provision in the original Act requiring the appointment of a woman as a member of the NHRC. However The 2019 act amends this to allow at least one member to be a woman.
UPSC 1999Polity · Miscellaneous
Q3. Which one of the following legislations does not deal with the protection of the environment?
Explanation
The Water (Cess) Act, 1977: This act is aimed at the conservation and sustainable use of water resources. It imposes a cess on water consumed by industries to promote efficient water usage, indirectly contributing to environmental protection. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980: This act focuses on the preservation and protection of forests in India. It prevents the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes, which helps in conserving biodiversity and mitigating climate change. The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991: This act ensures that industries that deal with hazardous substances have insurance to compensate victims of accidents, promoting environmental and public safety. The Port Laws Amendment Act, 1997: This act deals with port management and administration but does not have a direct focus on environmental protection or conservation.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
1999
(b) 1, 2 and 4
2
1999
(d) 1 and 3
3
1999
(d) The Port Laws Amendment Act, 1997
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Miscellaneous?
This page covers 3 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Miscellaneous (Polity), asked from 1997 to 2025. 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 Miscellaneous?
Questions on Miscellaneous (Polity) are available for 19 years, from 1997 to 2025. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
