This page lists 5 previous year UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination (General Studies Paper-I) questions on Polity in the UPSC 2016 Prelims. Choose an option to see the correct answer and the full explanation on the same page.
Showing 1–5 of 5 questions
UPSC 2016Polity · Parliament
Q1. The Parliament of India acquires the power to legislate on any item in the State List in the national interest if a resolution to that effect is passed by the:
Explanation
According to Article 249 of the Constitution.
Parliament can legislate on a matter enumerated in the State List if a resolution is passed by the Rajya Sabha.The resolution must be passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting. This means the majority is calculated based on the number of members present and voting, not the total membership of the Rajya Sabha. This is subject to the National Interest clause. The Parliament can legislate on State List matters when it is required in the national interest.
UPSC 2016Polity · Parliament
Q2. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. A Bill pending in the Lok Sabha lapses on its prorogation. 2. A Bill pending in the Rajya Sabha, which has not been passed by the Lok Sabha, shall not lapse on dissolution of the Lok Sabha. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: As per Article 107(3), No bill lapses on prorogation. Prorogation does not affect the bills pending before the House.
Statement 2 is correct: A Bill pending in the Rajya Sabha, which has not been passed by the Lok Sabha, shall not lapse on dissolution of the Lok Sabha. Conditions under which Bill lapses:
1. Bills pending in the Lok Sabha (whether originating in the Lok Sabha or transmitted to it by the Rajya Sabha)
2. Bills passed by the Lok Sabha but pending in the Rajya Sabha. (Note - A bill originating in Lok Sabha lapses) Conditions under which Bills does not lapse:
1. Bill not passed by the two Houses due to disagreement and if the president has notified the holding of a joint sitting before the dissolution of Lok Sabha
2. Bill pending in the Rajya Sabha but not passed by the Lok Sabha.
3. Bill passed by both Houses but pending assent of the president.
4. Bill passed by both Houses but returned by the president for reconsideration of Houses.
UPSC 2016Polity · Governor
Q3. Consider the following statements: 1. The Chief Secretary in a State is appointed by the Governor of that State. 2. The Chief Secretary in a State has a fixed tenure. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Chief Secretary is ‘chosen’ by the Chief Minister. As the appointment of Chief Secretary is an executive action of the Chief Minister, it is taken in the name of the Governor of the State.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Though the Administrative Reforms Commission, in its report on State Administration in 1969, had recommended that a Chief Secretary should have a minimum tenure of three to four years, there is no fixed tenure for the post of Chief Secretary of a State.
Exam tip:
S1 aligns with Function-person/organisation/ministry match trap as its easy to manipulate to make it false. Is it CM or Governor? For S2, "Fixed tenure", it can be negated by just real life observation of system around you. Such a top post bureaucratic having fixed tenure, wow!
UPSC 2016Polity · Local Government: Panchayats and Municipalities
Q4. Consider the following statements: 1. The minimum age prescribed for any person to be a member of Panchayat is 25 years. 2. A Panchayat reconstituted after premature dissolution continues only for the remainder period. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: Part IX of the Constitution deals with the Panchayati Raj System in India. The Panchayati Raj was constitutionalized in India through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992. As per the act, no person shall be disqualified on the ground that he is less than 25 years of ageif he has attained the age of 21 years. Therefore the minimum age is 21. The minimum age that a person should have to contest an election is 21 years.
Statement 2 is correct: Panchayat reconstituted after premature dissolution does not enjoy the full period of five years but remains in office only for the remaining period.
UPSC 2016Polity · Local Government: Panchayats and Municipalities
Q5. With reference to the ‘Gram Nyayalaya Act’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. As per the Act, Gram Nyayalayas can hear only civil cases and not criminal cases. 2. The Act allows local social activists as mediators/re-conciliators. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 was enacted to establish Gram Nyayalayas at the grassroots level, ensuring access to justice at citizens’ doorsteps and preventing denial of justice due to social, economic, or other barriers. The Gram Nyayalaya shall be a mobile court and shall exercise the powers of both Criminal and Civil Courts. The Gram Nyayalaya shall follow summary procedure in criminal trial.
Statement 2 is correct: The Court shall try to settle disputes via conciliation between the parties and the court can make use of the conciliators(social workers) to be appointed for this purpose.
Exam tip:
For S1, Ask yourself: If the rural population is to get complete justice, should the court handle only civil cases? Aren’t criminal issues (like petty theft, assault, domestic disputes) also common in villages? So logically, limiting Gram Nyayalayas to civil cases defeats their very purpose. Hence likely false. S2 is positive, general, logical and can be corrected by common observation.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2016
(d) Rajya Sabha by a majority of not less than two-thirds of its members present and voting
2
2016
(b) 2 only
3
2016
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
4
2016
(b) 2 only
5
2016
(b) 2 only
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Polity?
This page covers 5 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Polity in the UPSC 2016 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 2016 Prelims are available for 29 years, from 1996 to 2024. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
