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 241–250 of 365 questions
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UPSC 2007Polity · Constitutional Amendment
Q241. Which of the following Constitution Amendment Acts seeks that the size of the Councils of Ministers at the Centre and in a State must not exceed 15 per cent of the total number of members in the Lok Sabha and the total number of members of the Legislative Assembly of that State, respectively?
Explanation
According to the 91st Constitution Amendment Act,2003, the number of ministers, including the Prime Minister or Chief Minister, cannot exceed 15% of the total membership of the Lok Sabha at the Centre or the Legislative Assembly at the State level. It was formulated primarily to address concerns about the excessive size of the Council of Ministers and to strengthen anti-defection laws. The Act aimed to streamline the functioning of the Indian government and curb political opportunism.
Additional insight:
The 93rd Amendment Act of 2005 added Clause (5) to Article 15 of the Indian Constitution, allowing the government to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes in education. This includes reservations in private educational institutions, both aided and unaided by the government, except for minority institutions. The Ninety-fifth Amendment of the Constitution of India, officially known as The Constitution (Ninety-fifth Amendment) Act, 2009, extended the period of reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and representation of the Anglo-Indians in the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies for another ten years, up to 26 January 2020. However, the Anglo-Indian representation was also extended, but it was later abolished by the 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019. The 97th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2011 was enacted to provide constitutional recognition and protection to cooperative societies in India
UPSC 2007Polity · Emergency Provisions
Q242. Consider the following statements in respect of financial emergency under Article 360 of the Constitution of India: 1. A proclamation of financial emergency issued shall cease to operate at the expiration of two months, unless before the expiration of that period it has been approved by the resolutions of both Houses of Parliament. 2. If any proclamation of financial emergency is in operation, it is competent for the President of India to issue directions for the reduction of salaries and allowances of all or any class of persons serving in connection with the affairs of the Union but excluding the Judges of Supreme Court and the High Courts. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
A Financial Emergency under Article 360 of the Indian Constitution can be declared if the President believes that India’s financial stability or credit is threatened. It allows the central government to assume control over state finances and redistribute resources.
Statement 1 is correct: Article 360 of the Indian Constitution specifies that a proclamation of financial emergency must be approved by both Houses of Parliament within two months of being issued; if not, it will automatically cease to operate after this period. Statement given aligns with the provisions under Article 360, making this statement accurate.
Statement 2 is incorrect: While it is true that during a financial emergency, the President has the authority to issue directions for the reduction of salaries and allowances of persons serving in connection with the Union’s affairs, it is not true that Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts are exempt from such reductions. In fact, the President is empowered to apply these measures to all public servants, including judges, during a financial emergency. Therefore, this statement is wrong.
UPSC 2007Polity · Prime Minister
Q243. Assertion (A): The Council of Ministers in the Union of India is collectively responsible both to the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Reason (R): The Members of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha are eligible to be the Ministers of the Union Government.
Explanation
Assertion (A) is false: As per the Article 75(3) the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People (Lok sabha) only. Reason (R) is true: As per article 75(5) A Minister who for a period of six consecutive months is not a member of either House of Parliament shall at the expiration of that period cease to be a Minister. Thus members of both houses can be a Minister of the Union Government of India. However a person that is not a member of either house can be a minister for a maximum of 6 months.
UPSC 2007Polity · Prime Minister
Q244. Consider the following statements: 1. Jawaharlal Nehru was in his fourth term as the Prime Minister of India at the time of his death. 2. Jawaharlal Nehru represented Rae Bareilly constituency as a Member of Parliament. 3. The first non-Congress Prime Minister of India assumed the office in the year 1977. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: Jawaharlal Nehru was in PM’s Office for four terms (1947-52, 1952-57, 1957-62 and 1962-64 until death).
Statement 2 is incorrect: JL Nehru represented Phulpur Lok Sabha Constituency near Allahabad. Indira Gandhi represented Rae Bareilly while Rajiv Gandhi represented Amethi LS constituencies.
Statement 3 is correct: Morarji Desai, from the Janata Party, became the first non-Congress Prime Minister on March 24, 1977.
UPSC 2007Polity · Parliament
Q245. Who was the Speaker of the First Lok Sabha?
Explanation
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is the presiding officer and the highest authority of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament of India. The Speaker is elected generally in the first meeting of the Lok Sabha following general elections and is responsible for conducting the business in the house and maintaining discipline and decorum. G.V. Mavalankar served as the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament, from 1952 until his death in 1956.
UPSC 2007Polity · Parliament
Q246. Consider the following statements: 1. The Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts is appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. 2. The Committee on Public Accounts comprises Members of Lok Sabha, Members of Rajya Sabha and few eminent persons of industry and trade. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was established in 1921, following its initial mention in the Government of India Act, 1919. The committee scrutinizes reports from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India to identify irregularities or inefficiencies in government spending. It is reconstituted annually under Rule 308 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha.
Statement 1 is correct: Members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) are elected annually by Parliament through proportional representation using a single transferable vote, ensuring fair representation for all parties. The Speaker appoints the Chairman from among its members.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The committee consists of 22 members-15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha. Generally, the Chairman is appointed from the opposition party. It does not comprise any eminent personalities from industry and trade.
UPSC 2007Polity · Higher Judiciary: Supreme Court and High Courts
Q247. Consider the following statements: 1. The mode of removal of a Judge of a High Court in India is same as that of removal of a Judge of the Supreme Court. 2. After retirement from the office, a permanent judge of a High Court cannot plead or act in any court or before any authority in India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
In India, Judges of the High Courts and Supreme Court are appointed by the President and enjoy a high degree of security of tenure. The mode of removal of these judges is an important aspect of the judicial independence enshrined in the Constitution.
Statement 1 is correct: According to Article 124(4) of the Constitution, a judge of the Supreme Court can only be removed through impeachment by the Parliament, following the same procedure prescribed for the removal of a High Court Judge under Article 217(1).
Statement 2 is incorrect: As per Article 220 of the Constitution of India, retired judges of the High Courts are not allowed to practice in the same High Court where they served as a judge. However, they can practice in other courts or before any authority in India. This provision prevents any conflict of interest or unfair advantage that might arise if a retired judge were allowed to practice in the same High Court where they had previously served.
UPSC 2007Polity · Governance
Q248. Consider the following statements: 1. The nation-wide scheme of the National Child Labour Projects (NCLP) is run by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. 2. Gurupadswamy Committee dealt with the issues of child labour. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
The Government of India launched the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) in 1988 to rehabilitate children employed in hazardous industries and occupations. This central sector scheme involved identifying child laborers, removing them from hazardous work, enrolling them in Special Training Centres (STCs), providing necessary training, and mainstreaming them into formal education.
Statement 1 is incorrect: It is run by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Statement 2 is correct: The Gurupadaswamy Committee was formed by the Government of India in 1979 to study child labor and suggest ways to address it.
UPSC 2006Polity · Directive Principles of State Policy
Q249. Consider the following statements: 1. Free and compulsory education to the children of 6-14 years age-group by the State by the seventy-sixth Amendment to the Constitution of India. 2. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan seeks to provide computer education even in rural areas. 3. Education was included in the Concurrent List by the Forty-second Amendment, 1976 to the Constitution of India’. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is Incorrect: The provision of free and compulsory education for children in the 6-14 age group was included in the Constitution of India through the Eighty-sixth Amendment (not the Seventy-sixth) in 2002, which inserted Article 21A.
Statement 2 is correct: Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) aims to provide universal education and includes the promotion of computer education in rural areas as part of its broader educational reforms.
Statement 3 is correct: Education was moved to the Concurrent List under Item 25 by the Forty-second Amendment in 1976. This allows both the Centre and states to legislate on education.
UPSC 2006Polity · Directive Principles of State Policy
Q250. Consider the following statements: 1. There is no provision in the Constitution of India to encourage equal pay for equal work for both men and women. 2. The Constitution of India does not define backward classes. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Constitution of India does encourage equal pay for equal work for both men and women under Article 39(d), which is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy. The Directive Principles call for the state to ensure that there is no discrimination between men and women in terms of equal pay for equal work.
Statement 2 is correct: The Constitution of India does not provide a specific definition of backward classes. However, it provides for affirmative action through Articles 15(4), 16(4), and 46 to promote the welfare of backward classes, but leaves the identification and classification of such groups to the state.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
241
2007
(a) 91st
242
2007
(a) 1 only
243
2007
(d) A is false but R is true
244
2007
(d) 1 and 3
245
2007
(b) G.V. Mavalankar
246
2007
(a) 1 only
247
2007
(a) 1 only
248
2007
(b) 2 only
249
2006
(c) 2 and 3
250
2006
(b) 2 only
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.
