UPSC 2017Polity · Salient Features of the Constitution
Q1. Right to vote and to be elected in India is a
Explanation
The framers of the Indian Constitution decided to guarantee every adult Indian citizen the right to vote. This right is enshrined in both the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Article 326 of the Constitution ensures that every citizen above the age of 18 has the right to vote. Additionally, Section 62 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, states that the right to vote is available to all individuals who are registered on the electoral roll of a constituency.
UPSC 2017Polity · Salient Features of the Constitution
Q2. Out of the following statements, choose the one that brings out the principle underlying the Cabinet form of Government:
Explanation
The Parliamentary System is also referred to as the Cabinet form of Government. It establishes a system of collective responsibility of the executive to the legislative which is directly responsible to the people. Parliamentary system is part of the basic structure of the Constitution. It is through the powers of motions, discussion over budget, etc that the Parliament enforces the responsibility of the executive to itself and to the people ultimately.
UPSC 2017Polity · Salient Features of the Constitution
Q3. Which one of the following is not a feature of Indian federalism?
Explanation
Statements (a), (b) and (c) are correct:
The Indian Constitution adopts the federal system of Government, but with more tilt towards a unitary system of government. So, every state government does not have power of its own. Thus it is considered as a quasi-federal system. The features of a federation are Two level of Government, Division of powers, Written Constitution, Supremacy of Constitution, Rigidity of Constitution, Independent judiciary, Bicameralism, etc Statement (d) is incorrect: The term "Union of States" is used instead of "Federation of States" for two key reasons:
First, unlike the American federation, India’s union is not based on an agreement among states, and second, states cannot secede from the union. While the union is indestructible, states can be reorganized or have their borders changed by the central government. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar described it as "an indestructible union of destructible states."
UPSC 2017Polity · Salient Features of the Constitution
Q4. The main advantage of the parliamentary form of governments is that:
Explanation
The Parliamentary system is also known as the Cabinet Government/ Responsible government/ Westminster model of government. It provides for collective responsibility of the executive to the legislature. The features of parliamentary government in India are:
Presence of nominal and real executives Majority party rule Collective responsibility of the executive to the legislature Membership of the ministers in the legislature Leadership of the prime minister or the chief minister Dissolution of the lower House (Lok Sabha or Assembly).
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2017
(c) Constitutional Right
2
2017
(c) A mechanism of parliamentary democracy for ensuring collective responsibility of the Government to the people.
3
2017
(d) It is the result of an agreement among the federating units.
4
2017
(c) The executive remains responsible to the legislature.
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Salient Features of the Constitution?
This page covers 4 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Salient Features of the Constitution (Polity), asked from 2005 to 2022. 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 Salient Features of the Constitution?
Questions on Salient Features of the Constitution (Polity) are available for 9 years, from 2005 to 2022. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
