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 151–160 of 944 questions
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Explanation
Article 19(3) lets the State impose reasonable restrictions on the right to assemble peacefully in the interest of public order. A ban on demonstrations on a highway can be justified under it.| Case Law | Fundamental Right |
|---|---|
| A. Indira Sawhney Case | i. Right to pollution-free environment (Article 21) |
| B. Vishaka Case | ii. Secularism and freedom of religion |
| C. M.C. Mehta Case | iii. Reservation in public employment (Article 16) |
| D. S.R. Bommai Case | iv. Protection against sexual harassment (Articles 14, 15, 21) |
Explanation
These landmark cases defined fundamental rights: Indira Sawhney clarified reservations under Article 16. Vishaka established guidelines against sexual harassment under Articles 14, 15, and 21. M.C. Mehta expanded the right to a clean environment under Article 21. S.R. Bommai emphasized secularism as part of the basic structure, protecting religious freedom and preventing the misuse of Article 356 by central authorities.Explanation
Traffic in human beings under Article 23 is a comprehensive term. It includes the commercial buying and selling of men, women, and children as if they were goods. It also encompasses immoral trafficking in women and children and archaic exploitative systems like the devadasi system. These practices are prohibited to protect human dignity and prevent the commodification of individuals.I. Both these rights are complementary to each other.
II. They can be restricted to protect the interests of any Scheduled Tribe.
III. The Supreme Court has ruled that the freedom of movement of prostitutes can be restricted on grounds of public health.
IV. They grant an absolute right to travel abroad.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Freedom of movement and residence are closely linked. They can be restricted for the general public interest or to protect Scheduled Tribes. The Supreme Court has upheld restrictions on prostitutes’ movement for public health. One statement is incorrect because Article 19 only covers movement within the territory of India; the right to travel abroad is protected under Article 21, not Article 19.Explanation
Article 33 allows Parliament to modify the application of Fundamental Rights for members of the Armed Forces, paramilitary forces, police forces, intelligence agencies, and telecommunication systems set up for these forces. This is done to ensure the proper discharge of their duties and the maintenance of discipline, which is essential for national security and the maintenance of public order.Explanation
Contempt of court, friendly relations with foreign states and decency or morality are grounds in Article 19(2). Protection of the interests of Scheduled Tribes is a ground in Article 19(5) for the freedom of movement and residence, so it is the odd one out.I. Protection against double jeopardy
II. Protection against self-incrimination
III. Protection against ex-post-facto law
Which of the following represents the correct sequence?
Explanation
Article 20 protects against ex post facto laws in clause (1), double jeopardy in clause (2) and self-incrimination in clause (3). The order is III, I, II.Explanation
Equal protection of the laws, derived from the American Constitution, is a positive concept. It implies that among equals, the law should be equal and equally administered. It permits the State to classify persons for legitimate purposes, provided the classification is not arbitrary. This ensures that people in similar situations are treated similarly by the Indian legal system.I. Right to clean environment
II. Right to free legal aid
III. Right to travel abroad
IV. Right to primary education
V. Right to strike
Which of the above rights have been included under Article 21 by the Supreme Court?
Explanation
Through judicial activism, the Supreme Court has included the rights to a clean environment, free legal aid, travel abroad, and primary education under the umbrella of Article 21. However, the right to strike is not considered a fundamental right under Article 21 or Article 19; it is generally viewed as a statutory or legal right subject to industrial regulations.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 151 | (d) Academic distinctions like PhD or military ranks like General |
| 152 | (b) Article 19(3) regarding the regulation of peaceful assembly. |
| 153 | (a) A-iii, B-iv, C-i, D-ii |
| 154 | (d) All of the above |
| 155 | (a) I, II and III only |
| 156 | (c) Personnel in Armed Forces, police, and intelligence agencies. |
| 157 | (c) Protection of interests of Scheduled Tribes |
| 158 | (a) III, I, II |
| 159 | (a) Equal treatment under equal circumstances regarding privileges and liabilities. |
| 160 | (a) I, II, III, and IV only |
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.