365 previous year UPSC Prelims Polity questions are on this page, from 1996 to 2025, across 30 exam years and 29 chapters. Parliament is the largest chapter, followed by Miscellaneous, Fundamental Rights and the Higher Judiciary. Filter by chapter to practise one topic, or by year to see how a single paper treated Polity. Every option opens with its correct answer and a full explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 141–150 of 365 questions
Browse Polity chaptersBrowse by year
UPSC 2017Polity · Local Government: Panchayats and Municipalities
Q141. Local self-government can be best explained as an exercise in
Explanation
The main idea behind the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) or Local Self-Government is to promote grass root democracy and development. The main aim is to evolve a system of democratic decentralisation and people’s participation with a view to ensure rapid socio-economic progress and provide adequate justice. The phrase to emphasise here is "Best". Democratic decentralisation is the best description of Local self-government. Balwant Rai Mehta committee (on Community Development Program) in 1957 recommended the establishment of a scheme of Democratic decentralisation with 3-tiered structure of PRI.
UPSC 2017Polity · Constitutional Bodies
Q142. Consider the following statements: 1. The Election Commission of India is a five member body. 2. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the election schedule for the conduct of both general elections and bye-elections. 3. Election Commission resolves the disputes relating to splits/ mergers of recognized political parties. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: Strength of ECI is not specified in the Constitution, and it is determined by the President. Currently, there are 3 Members.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The most important function of the commission is to decide the election schedules for the conduct of periodic and timely elections, whether general or bye-elections.
Statement 3 is correct: It grants recognition to political parties & allot election symbols to them along with settling disputes related to splits/mergers of recognized political parties.
UPSC 2017Polity · Non-Constitutional Bodies
Q143. With reference to ’Quality Council of India (QCI)’, consider the following statements: 1. QCI was set up jointly by the Government of India and the Indian Industry. 2. Chairman of QCI is appointed by the Prime Minister on the recommendations of the industry to the Government. Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: QCI was established jointly by the Government of India and Indian industry associations-- ASSOCHAM, CII, and FICCI--to set up a national accreditation structure and drive the National Quality Campaign.
Statement 2 is correct: The Chairman of QCI is appointed by the Prime Minister, based on recommendations from the industry to the government. The Council governing QCI consists of 38 members, equally representing the government, industry, and other stakeholders. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, serves as the nodal ministry for QCI.
UPSC 2017Polity · Miscellaneous
Q144. With reference to the ’Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 (PBPT Act)’, consider the following statements: 1. A property transaction is not treated as a benami transaction if the owner of the property is not aware of the transaction. 2. Properties held benami are liable for confiscation by the Government. 3. The Act provides for three authorities for investigations but does not provide for any appellate mechanism. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: Under the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988, a transaction can still be considered a benami transaction even if the owner of the property is unaware of or denies knowledge of the ownership. The Act defines a benami transaction as one where the property is held by one person but paid for by another, irrespective of whether the ostensible owner is aware or not.
Statement 2 is correct: Benami properties are liable for confiscation by the government without compensation, as per Section 5 of the Act.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The Act establishes three authorities for investigation--Initiating Officer, Approving Authority, and Adjudicating Authority--but also provides for an appellate tribunal to handle disputes and appeals related to benami transactions.
Exam tip:
For S1, Law punishes the structure of concealment, not the mental awareness of the benamidar. Hence likely false. For S3, UPSC loves to trap with negative absolutes like: "does not provide...", "only", "never" Think practically: Would any modern law not have an appellate mechanism? That would violate natural justice. Hence likely false too.
UPSC 2016Polity · Parliament
Q145. The Parliament of India acquires the power to legislate on any item in the State List in the national interest if a resolution to that effect is passed by the:
Explanation
According to Article 249 of the Constitution.
Parliament can legislate on a matter enumerated in the State List if a resolution is passed by the Rajya Sabha.The resolution must be passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting. This means the majority is calculated based on the number of members present and voting, not the total membership of the Rajya Sabha. This is subject to the National Interest clause. The Parliament can legislate on State List matters when it is required in the national interest.
UPSC 2016Polity · Parliament
Q146. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. A Bill pending in the Lok Sabha lapses on its prorogation. 2. A Bill pending in the Rajya Sabha, which has not been passed by the Lok Sabha, shall not lapse on dissolution of the Lok Sabha. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: As per Article 107(3), No bill lapses on prorogation. Prorogation does not affect the bills pending before the House.
Statement 2 is correct: A Bill pending in the Rajya Sabha, which has not been passed by the Lok Sabha, shall not lapse on dissolution of the Lok Sabha. Conditions under which Bill lapses:
1. Bills pending in the Lok Sabha (whether originating in the Lok Sabha or transmitted to it by the Rajya Sabha)
2. Bills passed by the Lok Sabha but pending in the Rajya Sabha. (Note - A bill originating in Lok Sabha lapses) Conditions under which Bills does not lapse:
1. Bill not passed by the two Houses due to disagreement and if the president has notified the holding of a joint sitting before the dissolution of Lok Sabha
2. Bill pending in the Rajya Sabha but not passed by the Lok Sabha.
3. Bill passed by both Houses but pending assent of the president.
4. Bill passed by both Houses but returned by the president for reconsideration of Houses.
UPSC 2016Polity · Governor
Q147. Consider the following statements: 1. The Chief Secretary in a State is appointed by the Governor of that State. 2. The Chief Secretary in a State has a fixed tenure. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Chief Secretary is ‘chosen’ by the Chief Minister. As the appointment of Chief Secretary is an executive action of the Chief Minister, it is taken in the name of the Governor of the State.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Though the Administrative Reforms Commission, in its report on State Administration in 1969, had recommended that a Chief Secretary should have a minimum tenure of three to four years, there is no fixed tenure for the post of Chief Secretary of a State.
Exam tip:
S1 aligns with Function-person/organisation/ministry match trap as its easy to manipulate to make it false. Is it CM or Governor? For S2, "Fixed tenure", it can be negated by just real life observation of system around you. Such a top post bureaucratic having fixed tenure, wow!
UPSC 2016Polity · Local Government: Panchayats and Municipalities
Q148. Consider the following statements: 1. The minimum age prescribed for any person to be a member of Panchayat is 25 years. 2. A Panchayat reconstituted after premature dissolution continues only for the remainder period. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: Part IX of the Constitution deals with the Panchayati Raj System in India. The Panchayati Raj was constitutionalized in India through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992. As per the act, no person shall be disqualified on the ground that he is less than 25 years of ageif he has attained the age of 21 years. Therefore the minimum age is 21. The minimum age that a person should have to contest an election is 21 years.
Statement 2 is correct: Panchayat reconstituted after premature dissolution does not enjoy the full period of five years but remains in office only for the remaining period.
UPSC 2016Polity · Local Government: Panchayats and Municipalities
Q149. With reference to the ‘Gram Nyayalaya Act’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. As per the Act, Gram Nyayalayas can hear only civil cases and not criminal cases. 2. The Act allows local social activists as mediators/re-conciliators. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 was enacted to establish Gram Nyayalayas at the grassroots level, ensuring access to justice at citizens’ doorsteps and preventing denial of justice due to social, economic, or other barriers. The Gram Nyayalaya shall be a mobile court and shall exercise the powers of both Criminal and Civil Courts. The Gram Nyayalaya shall follow summary procedure in criminal trial.
Statement 2 is correct: The Court shall try to settle disputes via conciliation between the parties and the court can make use of the conciliators(social workers) to be appointed for this purpose.
Exam tip:
For S1, Ask yourself: If the rural population is to get complete justice, should the court handle only civil cases? Aren’t criminal issues (like petty theft, assault, domestic disputes) also common in villages? So logically, limiting Gram Nyayalayas to civil cases defeats their very purpose. Hence likely false. S2 is positive, general, logical and can be corrected by common observation.
UPSC 2015Polity · Salient Features of the Constitution
Q150. The provisions in the Fifth Schedule and Sixth Schedule in the Constitution of India are made in order to:
Explanation
The fifth and the sixth schedule of the Constitution of India deals with the provisions related to the protection of the interests of the Scheduled Tribes. Fifth Schedule: Deals with the provisions relating to the administration and control of scheduled areas and scheduled tribes in any state except 4 states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura & Mizoram. The Constitution defines Scheduled Areas as the areas defined so by the Presidential notification and are mentioned in the 5th schedule of the Constitution. Sixth Schedule: The 6th Schedule of the Indian Constitution provides special provisions for the administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. It provides for the organisation of autonomous district and regional councils to safeguard the rights and interests of indigenous tribal communities, with powers over local governance, land, and customary laws.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
141
2017
(b) Democratic decentralisation
142
2017
(d) 3 only
143
2017
(c) Both 1 and 2
144
2017
(b) 2 only
145
2016
(d) Rajya Sabha by a majority of not less than two-thirds of its members present and voting
146
2016
(b) 2 only
147
2016
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
148
2016
(b) 2 only
149
2016
(b) 2 only
150
2015
(a) protect the interests of Scheduled Tribes
What UPSC has tested in Polity
Parliament, Fundamental Rights, the Higher Judiciary and Local Government together account for the largest share of Polity questions in this set.
Recent papers test statements about institutions: the Governor, the President’s ordinance and pardoning powers, Lokpal, Scheduled Areas and the Speaker’s office.
Older papers lean on single-fact recall: which Article, which Amendment, which Schedule.
The 2025 paper’s Polity questions fall in Parliament, President, Governor, Constitutional Amendment, Schedules, Centre-State Relations, Local Government and non-constitutional bodies.
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Polity?
This page covers 365 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Polity, asked from 1996 to 2025. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
Which Polity chapters has UPSC asked about most?
In this set, Parliament has the most questions, followed by the Miscellaneous group, Fundamental Rights, the Higher Judiciary, Local Government, the Directive Principles and the constitutional bodies. Small chapters such as Citizenship and Judicial Review have only one question each.
How do I practise Polity PYQs chapter by chapter?
Use the Chapter filter on this page, or open a chapter link such as Preamble or Parliament. Each chapter page gives its own questions, answer key and the facts UPSC has tested, so you can finish one topic before moving to the next.
Does this page include the 2025 UPSC Prelims paper?
Yes. The 2025 paper’s Polity questions are included, and you can open them alone with the Year filter set to 2025. They cover Parliament, the President’s powers, the Governor, Schedules, Panchayats, Lokpal and Centre-State bodies.
Are cancelled or disputed UPSC questions included?
No. Questions UPSC cancelled, and questions where the available answer key is disputed, are left out so that every question here has a single correct answer with an explanation you can rely on.
