This page lists 14 previous year UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination (General Studies Paper-I) questions on Polity in the UPSC 2019 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 11–14 of 14 questions
UPSC 2019Polity · Higher Judiciary: Supreme Court and High Courts
Q11. With reference to the Constitution of India, prohibition or limitations or provisions contained in ordinary laws cannot act as prohibitions or limitations on the constitutional powers under Article 142. It could mean which one of the following?
Explanation
Article 142 of the Indian Constitution deals with the Enforcement of decrees and orders of the Supreme Court and orders as to discovery, etc. The SC Supreme Court in the exercise of its jurisdiction may pass such decree or make such order as is necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it. Article 142 empowers the Supreme Court to make orders that may not be bound by existing laws enacted by Parliament, enabling the Court to act in ways that ensure complete justice.
UPSC 2019Polity · Governor
Q12. With reference to the Legislative Assembly of a State in India, consider the following statements: 1. The Governor makes a customary address to Members of the House at the commencement of the first session of the year. 2. When a State Legislature does not have a rule on a particular matter, it follows the Lok Sabha rule on that matter. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: Article 176(1) states that, through the legislative powers of the Governor, he can address the state legislature at the commencement of the first session after each general election and the first session of each year.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Article 208 of the Indian Constitution empowers State Legislatures to create rules for regulating their procedures and business. The state legislature can formulate its own ad hoc rules or rely on the Speaker’s discretion for procedural clarity. Each state’s legislative assembly has its autonomy in procedural matters, and there is no binding provision mandating the use of Lok Sabha rules unless adopted by the state legislature itself.
Exam tip:
For S2, State Legislature subordinate to the Union Parliament in terms of procedure. Lok Sabha rules aren’t automatically binding on states -- states are federally autonomous in procedural functioning. This statement suggests an automatic fallback -- which is an over generalization hence likely false.
UPSC 2019Polity · Miscellaneous
Q13. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017? 1. Pregnant women are entitled for three months pre-delivery and three months post-delivery paid leave. 2. Enterprises with crèches must allow the mother a minimum six crèche visits daily. 3. Women with two children get reduced entitlements. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, provides for 26 weeks of paid maternity leave for women employees for the first two children. Of this, a maximum of 8 weeks can be availed before delivery, and the remaining after childbirth. For women with more than two children, the entitlement is reduced to 12 weeks (6 weeks pre-delivery and 6 weeks post-delivery).
Statement 2 is incorrect: Establishments with 50 or more employees must provide crèche facilities, but the law does not mandate six crèche visits per day, rather mothers are allowed to visit the crèche four times a day, including rest intervals.
Statement 3 is correct: The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, specifies that women who already have two or more surviving children are entitled to only 12 weeks of paid maternity leave, compared to 26 weeks for those with fewer than two children.
UPSC 2019Polity · Miscellaneous
Q14. Consider the following statements about Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India: 1. PVTGs reside in 18 States and one Union Territory. 2. A stagnant or declining population is one of the criteria for determining PVTG status. 3. There are 95 PVTGs officially notified in the country so far. 4. Irular and Konda Reddi tribes are included in the list of PVTGs. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: According to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, there are 75 PVTGs officially notified in India, residing across 18 States and one Union Territory (Andaman & Nicobar Islands).
Statement 2 is correct: A declining or stagnant population is one of the key criteria for identifying a PVTG, along with dependence on subsistence-level economy and limited access to modern facilities. The criteria for identifying PVTGs include:
Pre-agricultural level of technology, Low level of literacy, Economic backwardness, A stagnant or declining population.
Statement 3 is incorrect: As of now, there are 75 officially notified PVTGs, not 95.
Statement 4 is correct: Both Irular (Tamil Nadu) and Konda Reddi (Andhra Pradesh) tribes are included in the official list of PVTGs.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
11
2019
(b) The Supreme Court of India is not constrained in the exercise of its powers by laws made by the Parliament.
12
2019
(a) 1 only
13
2019
(c) 3 only
14
2019
(c) 1, 2 and 4
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Polity?
This page covers 14 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Polity in the UPSC 2019 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 2019 Prelims are available for 29 years, from 1996 to 2024. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
