This page lists 18 previous year UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination (General Studies Paper-I) questions on Polity in the UPSC 2003 Prelims. Choose an option to see the correct answer and the full explanation on the same page.
Explanations state facts as they stood in the year each question was asked, so words like “recently” or “currently” refer to that year, not today. For the present position, check the latest Current Affairs.
Showing 11–18 of 18 questions
UPSC 2003Polity · Parliament
Q11. Consider the following statements: 1. While members of the Rajya Sabha are associated with Committees on Public Accounts and Public Undertakings, members of Committee on Estimates are drawn entirely from the Lok Sabha 2. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs works under the overall direction of Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs 3. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs nominates Members of Parliament on Committees, Councils, Board and Commissions etc. set up by the Government of India in the various ministries. Which of these statements is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: For the Committees on Public Accounts and Public Undertakings, 15 members are elected from the Lok Sabha and 7 members from the Rajya Sabha. In the case of the Committee on Estimates, all the 30 members are elected from the Lok Sabha.
Statement 2 is correct: The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs renders secretarial assistance to the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, which recommends prorogation of both the Houses of the Parliament and the Government’s stand on Private Members’ Bills and Resolutions.
Statement 3 is correct: The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs is responsible for nominating Members of Parliament (MPs) to various committees, councils, boards, and commissions established by the Government of India across different ministries.
UPSC 2003Polity · Higher Judiciary: Supreme Court and High Courts
Q12. Which one of the following High Courts has the Territorial Jurisdiction over Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
Explanation
In India, a High Court (HC) can have jurisdiction over more than one state or Union Territory. This means that a High Court may serve as the judiciary for multiple states and Union Territories.
Option (b) is correct: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a Union Territory of India, come under the jurisdiction of the Kolkata High Court. This arrangement is due to the geographical and administrative placement of the islands under the jurisdiction of West Bengal.
UPSC 2003Polity · Constitutional Bodies
Q13. Consider the following statements: The function(s) of the Finance commission is/are: 1. to allow the withdrawal of the money out of the Consolidated Fund of India 2. to allocate between the States the shares of proceeds of taxes 3. to consider applications for grants-in-aid from States 4. to supervise and report on whether the Union and State governments are levying taxes in accordance with the budgetary provisions Which of these statements is/are correct?
Explanation
The Finance Commission of India primarily deals with the distribution of financial resources between the Union and the States.
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Finance Commission does not authorize withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund of India. This function falls under the purview of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
Statement 2 is correct: One of the key roles of the Finance Commission is to determine the distribution of tax revenues between the Union and the States, ensuring an equitable allocation of resources.
Statement 3 is correct: The Finance Commission considers applications for grants-in-aid from States. These grants help supplement the financial resources of states, particularly those in need.
Statement 4 is incorrect: The Commission does not supervise or report on tax compliance by the Union or State governments. Its primary focus is on reviewing financial relations and making recommendations on revenue sharing and grants.
UPSC 2003Polity · Schedules
Q14. The Ninth Schedule to the Indian Constitution was added by:
Explanation
The Ninth Schedule of the Indian Constitution contains laws initially intended to be exempt from judicial review, especially regarding their compatibility with fundamental rights. However, judicial review is permissible if such laws violate the basic structure of the Constitution. The Ninth Schedule was introduced to protect land reform laws and other social justice legislation from being challenged in courts. It was added through the First Amendment to the Constitution in 1951.
UPSC 2003Polity · Schedules
Q15. Which one of the following schedules of the Indian Constitution lists the names of states and specifies their territories?
Explanation
Option (a) is correct: The First Schedule of the Indian Constitution lists the names of states and specifies their territories. Options (b), (c) and (d) are incorrect: The Second Schedule contains provisions regarding the salaries and allowances of various constitutional office holders. The Third Schedule lists the forms of oaths and affirmations for constitutional offices. Fourth Schedule details the allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha among the states and union territories.
UPSC 2003Polity · Miscellaneous
Q16. Survey of India is under the ministry of:
Explanation
Survey of India, the oldest scientific department under the Department of Science & Technology, was established in 1767. As the principal mapping agency, it ensures India’s domain is accurately mapped, providing base maps for development and resource utilization to support the country’s progress and security. The Department of Science & Technology which operates under the Ministry of Science and Technology, promotes science and technology in India, from high-end research and cutting-edge technology development to addressing the technological needs of the common man through skill development.
UPSC 2003Polity · Miscellaneous
Q17. Which one of the following statements is NOT correct?
Explanation
Statement (a) is correct: The Press Council of India is a statutory quasi-judicial autonomous authority re- established in the year 1966 under an Act of Parliament, Press Council Act, 1965. Statement (b) is correct: The PIB accredits media representatives, including foreign media, at the Headquarters, enabling them to access information from government sources. Statement (c) is incorrect: Uttar Pradesh publishes the largest number of newspapers in India. Statement (d) is correct: Currently, PTI commands more than 50% per cent of news agency market share in India.
UPSC 2003Polity · Miscellaneous
Q18. As per Indian Protocol, who among the following ranks highest in the order of precedence?
Explanation
Option (c) is correct: The Governor within their respective states is the fourth ranked officer of the government of India just below the Prime Minister and above former Presidents. Governors rank eighth outside their states. The correct sequence in the descending order of precedence in the warrant of precedence is:
1. President of India
2. Vice President of India
3. Prime Minister of India
4. Governors of States within their respective States
5. Former President 5A. Deputy Prime Minister
6. Speaker of Lok Sabha, and Chief Justice of India
9. Judges of the Supreme Court
10. Deputy Chairman of RS
11. Attorney General of India
12. Member of Parliament
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
11
2003
(d) 1, 2 and 3
12
2003
(b) Kolkata
13
2003
(b) 2 and 3
14
2003
(a) First Amendment
15
2003
(a) First
16
2003
(d) Science and Technology
17
2003
(c) Among all the states of India, Maharashtra publishes the largest number of newspapers.
18
2003
(c) Governor of a State within his State
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Polity?
This page covers 18 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Polity in the UPSC 2003 Prelims, asked between 1996 to 2024. 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 Polity?
Questions on Polity in the UPSC 2003 Prelims are available for 29 years, from 1996 to 2024. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
