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 311–320 of 365 questions
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UPSC 2002Polity · Parliament
Q311. The term of the Lok Sabha:
Explanation
Under Article 83(2) of the Indian Constitution, the term of the Lok Sabha is normally five years. Under Article 352 of the Indian Constitution, the President of India can proclaim an emergency on the grounds of war, external aggression and armed rebellion, external aggression, armed rebellion, or internal disturbance. During such a proclamation, the term of the Lok Sabha can be extended by one year at a time through a resolution passed in both Houses of Parliament with a special majority, which requires the support of at least two-thirds of the members present and voting in both Houses. This extension is valid only as long as the emergency remains in force and cannot continue beyond six months after the emergency ends.
UPSC 2002Polity · Higher Judiciary: Supreme Court and High Courts
Q312. The salaries and allowances of the Judges of the High Court are charged to the:
Explanation
The parliament of India, while exercising the power under article 221, has made provision that the salary and Allowances of a HC judge be charged upon the Consolidated fund of State while Pension upon the Consolidated Fund of India. Consolidated Fund of India (Article 266) covers central government expenses, including Supreme Court judges’ salaries. Consolidated Fund of the State (Article 266), includes all state revenues and loans and covers state expenses. The Contingency Fund of India [ Article 267(1)] of the Indian Constitution is a reserve fund for meeting unforeseen and urgent expenditures, placed at the disposal of the President of India. The Contingency Fund of the State [Article 267(2)] of the Indian Constitution, is a reserve for unforeseen and urgent expenditures, available to the Governor of the state.
UPSC 2002Polity · Constitutional Bodies
Q313. Consider the following statements with reference to India: 1. The Chief Election Commission and other Election Commissioners enjoy equal powers but receive unequal salaries 2. The Chief Election Commissioner is entitled to the same salary as is provided to a judge of the Supreme Court 3. The Chief Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his office except in like manner and on like grounds as a judge of the Supreme Court 4. The term of office of the Election Commissioner is five years from the date he assumes his office or till the day he attains the age of 62 years, whichever is earlier Which of these statements are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other Election Commissioners (ECs) have equal powers and responsibilities within the Election Commission of India. They receive equal salaries as well and there is no disparity in salaries between the Chief Election Commissioner and the other Election Commissioners.
Statement 2 is correct: The Chief Election Commissioner is entitled to the same salary as is provided to a judge of the Supreme Court. Note: This fact was correct in accordance to the year in which it was asked. As per latest amendments in the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service, and Term of Office) Act, 2023, the salary of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs) is now equivalent to that of the Cabinet Secretary.
Statement 3 is correct: The removal process for the Chief Election Commissioner mirrors that of a Supreme Court judge. This safeguards the CEC’s independence and ensures impartiality in their role. While an EC can be removed on the CEC’s recommendation.
Statement 4 is incorrect: An Election Commissioner serves a term of six years or until they reach the age of 65, whichever comes earlier. This discrepancy makes the statement incorrect.
Additional insight:
As per The Chief Election Commissioner And Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service And Term of Office) Act, 2023 Qualifications: The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners shall be appointed from amongst persons who are holding or have held a post equivalent to the rank of Secretary to the Government of India and shall be persons of integrity, who have knowledge of and experience in management and conduct of elections. The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners shall not be eligible for re-appointment. Where an Election Commissioner is appointed as Chief Election Commissioner, his term of office shall not be more than six years in aggregate as the Election Commissioner and the Chief Election Commissioner. Selection Committee: It consists of Prime Minister (Chairperson), leader of Opposition in House of People and Union Cabinet minister (nominated by Prime Minister) Search Committee: A Search Committee headed by the Minister of Law and Justice and comprising two other members not below the rank of Secretary to the Government of India, shall prepare a panel of five persons for consideration of the Selection Committee. Salary: The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners shall be paid a salary which is equal to the salary of a Judge of the Supreme Court.
UPSC 2002Polity · Constitutional Bodies
Q314. Which one of the following authorities recommends the principles governing the grants-in-aid of the revenues to the states out of the Consolidated Fund of India?
Explanation
The Finance Commission plays a crucial role in India’s fiscal structure. It is a constitutional body constituted by the President of India every five years, or more frequently if deemed necessary. Its primary responsibility is to recommend the distribution of financial resources between the central and state governments. One key function of the Finance Commission is to propose principles and guidelines for distributing grants-in-aid to states from the Consolidated Fund of India. These grants aim to support states in addressing fiscal needs, ensuring balanced regional development, and mitigating economic disparities among states.
UPSC 2002Polity · Miscellaneous
Q315. The Consultative Committee of Members of Parliament for Railway Zones is constituted by the:
Explanation
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs ensures the smooth functioning of Parliament and communication with Members of Parliament (MPs). It establishes consultative committees, like the Consultative Committee for Railway Zones(Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Railways), where MPs from different constituencies discuss and provide input on railway-related issues. This committee helps MPs understand and address the functioning, development, and challenges of railway zones, allowing them to offer suggestions and raise concerns. The ministry coordinates these meetings to facilitate collaboration between MPs and the Ministry of Railways, enhancing railway services’ efficiency and responsiveness in specific zones.
UPSC 2001Polity · Constitutional Amendment
Q316. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List-I (Amendments to the Constitution)
List-II
A. The Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991
1. Establishment of state level Rent Tribunals
B. The Constitution (Seventy-fifth Amendment) Act, 1994
2. No reservations for Scheduled Castes in Panchayats in Arunachal Pradesh
C. The Constitution (Eightieth Amendment) Act, 2000
3. Constitution of Panchayats in Villages or at other local level
D. The Constitution (Eighty-third Amendment) Act, 2000
4. Accepting the recommendations of the Tenth Finance Commission
5. According the status of National Capital Territory to Delhi
Explanation
A is matched with 5: The Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991) conferred the status of National Capital Territory (NCT) to Delhi, and provided for a legislative assembly for Delhi, with limited powers. B is matched with 1: The Constitution (Seventy-fifth Amendment) Act, 1994) established state-level Rent Tribunals, which have exclusive jurisdiction over rent-related matters, excluding the jurisdiction of all courts except the Supreme Court under Article 136. C is matched with 4: The Constitution (Eightieth Amendment) Act, 2000) provided for accepting the recommendations of the Tenth Finance Commission. D is matched with 2: The Constitution (Eighty-third Amendment) Act, 2000) clarified that there are no reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC) in Panchayats or legislative bodies in Arunachal Pradesh, and there are no provisions for SC reservations in government services in the state.
UPSC 2001Polity · Parliament
Q317. In what way does the Indian Parliament exercise control over the administration?
Explanation
Option (a) is correct: Indian Parliament exercises control over the administration primarily through Parliamentary Committees, which scrutinize the functioning of the executive and ensure accountability. The Parliament has Standing committees and Ad hoc committees that scrutinize bills, review the performance of Ministries, conduct enquiry and make recommendations.
Option (b) is incorrect: Consultative Committees, attached to various ministries, comprise MPs from both Houses and serve an advisory role by discussing policies and providing inputs. However, they lack binding powers or direct parliamentary oversight.
Option (c) is incorrect: Periodic reports sent by administrators are internal to the executive and do not involve direct parliamentary oversight. They are not a tool for Parliament to control administration.
Option (d) is incorrect: Writs play a critical role in maintaining accountability, they fall under the purview of the judiciary, not the legislature. Therefore, writs are not a mechanism for Parliament to exercise control over the administration.
UPSC 2001Polity · Higher Judiciary: Supreme Court and High Courts
Q318. The Supreme Court of India tenders advice to the President on a matter of law or fact:
Explanation
Under article 143 of the Indian Constitution, the President can seek the Supreme Court’s opinion on public importance matters. However, this advice is provided only if the President asks for it; the Supreme Court does not offer advice on its own initiative. This process is known as the Advisory Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Article 143.
UPSC 2001Polity · Higher Judiciary: Supreme Court and High Courts
Q319. Consider the following statements regarding the High Courts in India: 1. There are eighteen High Courts in the country. 2. Three of them have jurisdiction over more than one state. 3. No Union Territory has a High Court of its own. 4. Judges of the High Court hold office till the age of 62. Which of these statements is/are correct?
Explanation
Article 214-231 deals with the provisions of High Courts in India. Article 214 provides for a HC in each state while article 231 enables a HC to be shared with multiple states.
Statement 1 is incorrect: After the establishment of the Andhra Pradesh High Court in 2019, there were 25 High Courts in India.
Statement 2 is correct: Three high courts (Guwahati, Bombay and Punjab & Haryana High Courts) have jurisdiction over more than one state.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Delhi is the only UT having its own HC.
Statement 4 is correct: Judges of the High Court hold office till the age of 62. However the judges of supreme court hold office till the age of 65. Note: In this question though 2 statements are correct, but "d" is the most appropriate option.
UPSC 2001Polity · Local Government: Panchayats and Municipalities
Q320. In which one of the following areas does the State Government not have control over its local bodies?
Explanation
Local bodies are directly responsible for addressing citizens’ grievances related to municipal services, basic amenities, etc. However, the State Government can intervene in cases of inefficiency or corruption.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
311
2002
(c) can be extended by one year at a time during the proclamation of emergency
312
2002
(b) Consolidated Fund of the State
313
2002
(b) 2 and 3
314
2002
(a) Finance Commission
315
2002
(c) Ministry of Parliament Affairs
316
2001
(a) A-5, B-1, C-4, D-2
317
2001
(a) Through Parliamentary Committees
318
2001
(b) only if he seeks such advice
319
2001
(d) 4 only
320
2001
(a) Citizens’ grievances
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.
