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 361–365 of 365 questions
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UPSC 1996Polity · Prime Minister
Q361. Which one of the following statements about the duties of the Prime Minister is correct?
Explanation
As per Article 75(1), the Prime Minister advises the President on the appointment of ministers, and the President is bound to act on this advice. While the Prime Minister can nominate any individual to be appointed as a minister, they must become a Member of Parliament within six months, as per Article 75(5). The Prime Minister is not required to consult the President when selecting ministers, making it clear that the discretion in this matter lies entirely with the Prime Minister, not the President.
UPSC 1996Polity · Higher Judiciary: Supreme Court and High Courts
Q362. The power of the Supreme Court of India to decide disputes between the Centre and the State falls under its:
Explanation
Option (c) is correct: Article 131 of the Constitution of India confers original and exclusive jurisdiction on the Supreme court of India which covers adjudication of the disputes between - (a) the Centre and one or more states; or (b) the Centre and any state or states on one side and one or more states on the other; or (c) Between two or more states. Options (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:
The Supreme Court hears appeals against decisions of High Courts and other lower courts under the Appellate Jurisdiction (Article 132 to Article 136). The President of India can seek the Supreme Court’s opinion on constitutional or legal matters under the Advisory Jurisdiction (Article 143). Constitutional Jurisdiction refers to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in cases related to the interpretation and enforcement of the Constitution, especially in matters involving constitutional validity.
UPSC 1996Polity · Higher Judiciary: Supreme Court and High Courts
Q363. When the Chief Justice of a High Court acts in an administrative capacity, he is subject to:
Explanation
Article 227 grants High Courts the power of superintendence over all subordinate courts and tribunals within their jurisdiction. For this purpose the Chief Justice of a HC has to take decisions of administrative nature. When the Chief Justice of a High Court acts in an administrative capacity, his actions can be subject to judicial scrutiny under Article 226 of the Indian Constitution, and a bench of the High Court may examine such matters. Article 226 of the Indian Constitution empowers High Courts to issue certain writs to enforce the rights of individuals. The Supreme Court issues writs under article 32. Habeas Corpus To release a person unlawfully detained. Mandamus To compel a public authority to perform its duty. Prohibition To prevent lower courts from exceeding their jurisdiction. Certiorari To transfer a matter from a lower court to a higher court. Quo Warranto To challenge the legality of a person’s claim to a public office.
UPSC 1996Polity · Subordinate Court
Q364. According to the Constitution of India the term ‘district judge’ shall not include:
Explanation
According to Article 236 of the Constitution of India, the term "district judge" encompasses various judicial positions, including:
Judge of a city civil court Additional district judge Joint district judge Assistant district judge Chief judge of a small cause court Chief presidency magistrate Additional chief presidency magistrate Sessions judge Additional sessions judge Assistant sessions judge Notably, the term does not include the position of tribunal judge. Tribunal judges operate within specialized tribunals and are not classified under the term "district judge" as per the constitutional definition.
UPSC 1996Polity · Local Government: Panchayats and Municipalities
Q365. What is the system of governance in the Panchayati Raj set up?
Explanation
The Panchayati Raj System in India, as established by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992, follows a three-tier structure of local self-government. This system is designed to decentralize power and governance to the grassroots level, ensuring democratic participation and accountability in rural areas. The three-tier system ensures local governance at all levels: village, block, and district, allowing for effective planning, implementation, and oversight of developmental activities.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
361
1996
(c) Has full discretion in the choice of persons who are to serve as ministers in his cabinet.
362
1996
(c) original jurisdiction
363
1996
(a) the writ jurisdiction of any other judges of the High Court.
364
1996
(c) tribunal judge
365
1996
(c) Three tier structure of local self government at the village, block and district levels
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.
