Indian Polity and Governance: RAS Prelims MCQs
944 RAS Prelims practice MCQs on Indian polity and governance are on this page, in 12 chapters. They cover the framing of the Constitution, the Preamble, Fundamental Rights, the Directive Principles, the Union executive, Parliament and the judiciary, Union-State relations, emergency provisions, local government, constitutional bodies, public policy and the vigilance and accountability institutions. Each question has an answer and an explanation.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 121–130 of 944 questions
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I. Caste
II. Race
III. Sex
IV. Religion
V. Place of birth
Which of the following represents the correct sequence?
Explanation
Article 15(1) names the grounds in the order religion, race, caste, sex and place of birth. The correct sequence is IV, II, I, III, V.Explanation
Although Article 17 abolishes untouchability, the Constitution does not define the term. Similarly, the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, and the SC/ST Act, 1989, do not provide a specific definition. Courts have generally interpreted it in a historical sense, referring to the social practice of boycotting certain classes of people based on their birth in specific castes.I. Life Insurance Corporation (LIC)
II. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
III. Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)
IV. A private school with no state funding
V. The judiciary exercising non-administrative functions
Which of the above entities falls under the definition of State according to Article 12 as interpreted by the Supreme Court?
Explanation
Under Article 12, the definition of State includes statutory bodies like LIC, ONGC, and SAIL because they are instrumentalities of the government. A private school without state funding does not usually fall under this definition. The judiciary is generally not considered State when exercising judicial functions, although it may be considered so when performing administrative or rule-making functions.Explanation
In the landmark 2017 case of Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India, a nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court unanimously declared that the Right to Privacy is a fundamental right. The Court held that this right is an intrinsic part of the right to life and personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 and Part III.Statement I: The State can impose reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the freedom of speech and expression on the grounds of public order.
Statement II: The reasonableness of the restrictions is a decision of the judiciary and can be challenged in court.
Which of the following is correct?
Explanation
The State can impose reasonable restrictions on free speech on grounds such as public order, so Statement I is correct. Whether a restriction is reasonable is for the courts to decide and can be challenged, so Statement II is correct too.| Freedom under Article 19 | Ground for Restriction |
|---|---|
| A. Freedom of speech and expression | i. Interests of the general public or protection of any Scheduled Tribe |
| B. Freedom of assembly | ii. Sovereignty and integrity of India, and public order |
| C. Freedom of association | iii. Defamation or contempt of court |
| D. Freedom of movement | iv. Public order or morality |
Explanation
Each freedom under Article 19 is subject to specific restrictions. Speech can be restricted due to defamation. Assembly and association are limited by public order and sovereignty. Movement can be restricted for the general public interest or the protection of Scheduled Tribes. These restrictions must be reasonable and based on the grounds explicitly mentioned in clauses of Article 19.Explanation
Article 24 prohibits the employment of children below 14 years in factories, mines, or hazardous occupations. However, it does not explicitly ban employment in harmless or innocent work. Over time, statutory laws like the Child Labour Act have become stricter, but the constitutional provision itself specifically targets hazardous sectors to protect the health and safety of young children.I. A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras
II. Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India
III. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala
Which of the above case(s) marks a shift from procedure established by law to due process of law in Indian jurisprudence?
Explanation
In the Maneka Gandhi case, the Supreme Court moved away from the narrow interpretation of procedure established by law used in the A.K. Gopalan case. The Court ruled that any procedure must be just, fair, and reasonable, effectively introducing the American concept of substantive due process into Article 21. This expansion significantly strengthened the protection of personal liberty.Explanation
Article 361 provides an exception to the rule of equality before law. The President of India and State Governors are not answerable to any court for the exercise of their official powers and duties. They also enjoy immunity from criminal proceedings and arrest during their term. This ensures they can perform their constitutional roles without the threat of legal harassment.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 121 | (c) Article 30 |
| 122 | (a) IV, II, I, III, V |
| 123 | (d) It is neither defined in the Constitution nor in any Act |
| 124 | (a) I, II, and III only |
| 125 | (c) Article 21 |
| 126 | (a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct |
| 127 | (a) A-iii, B-ii, C-iv, D-i |
| 128 | (b) It completely bans the employment of children in harmless and innocent work. |
| 129 | (b) II only |
| 130 | (d) The President and Governors for their official acts |
Key facts from Indian Polity and Governance
- The RPSC syllabus lists the Indian Constitution, the political system and governance, with public policy, vigilance and accountability bodies as part of the paper.
- Article-number questions are the commonest: for example Article 356 for President’s Rule, Article 324 for the Election Commission and Article 243K for the State Election Commission.
- Statement and assertion-reason questions test exceptions, so learn each provision with its limits.
- Questions on bodies ask for appointing authority, removing authority, tenure and the body to which the report goes.
- The Rajasthan-specific part of polity is on a separate page, with its own 8 chapters.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Indian Polity and Governance?
This page has 944 practice MCQs on Indian Polity and Governance. Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which chapters does the Indian polity set cover?
Twelve chapters: framing of the Constitution, Preamble and citizenship; Fundamental Rights; DPSP and Fundamental Duties; Union executive; Parliament; Union judiciary; Union-State relations; emergency provisions; local government; constitutional and statutory bodies; public policy and citizen charter; and vigilance and accountability.
Is polity part of the RAS Prelims syllabus?
Yes. The RPSC syllabus for General Knowledge includes the Indian Constitution, political system and governance, together with the political and administrative system of Rajasthan, which is covered on the separate Rajasthan polity page.
How should I revise polity for RAS Prelims?
Make a table of articles, bodies and amendments. Attempt each chapter, read the explanation for every miss and note the article number and the exception. Repeat the chapter after a few days, as polity facts are easy to confuse.