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 241–250 of 944 questions
Browse Indian Polity and Governance chapters
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · DPSP and Fundamental Duties
Q241. Read the following lists and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Supreme Court Case
Key Outcome/Ruling
A. Champakam Dorairajan Case
i. Basic structure doctrine established
B. Golaknath Case
ii. DPSPs are subsidiary to Fundamental Rights
C. Kesavananda Bharati Case
iii. Balance between FRs and DPSPs is part of the basic structure
D. Minerva Mills Case
iv. Fundamental Rights cannot be amended to implement DPSPs
Explanation
The Champakam Dorairajan case made directives subsidiary to rights, while the Golaknath case made rights unamendable for directives. The Kesavananda Bharati case introduced the basic structure doctrine, and the Minerva Mills case established that the balance between rights and directives is itself a basic feature. These cases represent the judicial journey towards reconciling individual liberties with the collective goals of the state.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · DPSP and Fundamental Duties
Q242. The Fundamental Duties in the Indian Constitution were added upon the recommendation of which committee?
Explanation
The Fundamental Duties were not part of the original Constitution but were added during the internal emergency in nineteen seventy-six. The Swaran Singh Committee was appointed by the government to make recommendations about these duties. Based on its suggestions, the forty-second amendment act introduced a new part and article to remind citizens that they have obligations alongside their constitutional rights.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · DPSP and Fundamental Duties
Q243. Under which Part and Article of the Constitution of India are the Fundamental Duties enumerated?
Explanation
The forty-second amendment act created a new Part four-A in the Constitution of India, which consists of only one article, fifty-one-A. This article originally listed ten fundamental duties for citizens, later increased to eleven. This addition was meant to provide a clear set of ethical and civic expectations for the people, complementing the Directive Principles and the existing fundamental rights.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · DPSP and Fundamental Duties
Q244. Consider the following recommendations made by the Swaran Singh Committee regarding Fundamental Duties: I. Imposition of penalty or punishment for non-compliance with duties. II. Duty to pay taxes should be a Fundamental Duty. III. No law imposing a penalty for non-compliance of duties shall be questioned in any court. Which of the above recommendation(s) was/ were NOT incorporated into the Constitution of India?
Explanation
While the Swaran Singh Committee recommended several duties, the government did not accept all of them. Specifically, the recommendations to impose penalties for non-compliance, to make the duty to pay taxes a fundamental duty, and to protect such penalty laws from judicial scrutiny were excluded. Consequently, the duties added to the Constitution were framed as non-justiciable ethical exhortations for citizens.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · DPSP and Fundamental Duties
Q245. The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act (1976) introduced how many Fundamental Duties originally?
Explanation
When the forty-second amendment act of nineteen seventy-six was enacted, it introduced a total of ten fundamental duties into Article fifty-one-A. These duties covered various aspects of civic life, such as respecting the Constitution and protecting the environment. It was only much later, in two thousand two, that an eleventh duty was added to this list through another constitutional amendment act.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · DPSP and Fundamental Duties
Q246. Arrange the following Fundamental Duties as they appear in sequence in Article 51A of the Constitution of India: I. To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India II. To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions III. To defend the country and render national service IV. To cherish and follow the noble ideals that inspired the national struggle Select the correct answer using the codes below:
Explanation
The fundamental duties are listed in a specific alphabetical order under Article fifty-one-A. The first duty is to abide by the Constitution, followed by cherishing the ideals of the national struggle. Protecting the sovereignty and integrity of India comes third, and the fourth duty is to defend the country and render national service. This sequence reflects the priorities of the state.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · DPSP and Fundamental Duties
Q247. The very first Fundamental Duty, Article 51A(a), requires citizens of India to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag, and the:
Explanation
According to Article fifty-one-A (a), it is the duty of every citizen of India to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions. This specifically includes showing proper respect for the National Flag and the National Anthem. These symbols represent the identity and sovereignty of the nation, and their respect is considered a fundamental civic obligation for all citizens.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · DPSP and Fundamental Duties
Q248. Consider the following features of Fundamental Duties in the Constitution of India: I. They are applicable only to citizens of India and not to aliens. II. They are non-justiciable in nature. III. Parliament is free to enforce them by suitable legislation. IV. They are explicitly enforceable through writ petitions in the Supreme Court. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Fundamental duties are unique because they apply only to citizens, not to foreigners. Like the Directive Principles, they are non-justiciable, meaning they cannot be directly enforced by courts. However, Parliament has the authority to enact laws to enforce these duties if it deems necessary. Unlike fundamental rights, there is no direct constitutional provision for enforcing these duties through writ petitions.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · DPSP and Fundamental Duties
Q249. Which Fundamental Duty specifically mandates citizens "to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India"?
Explanation
Clause (c) of Article fifty-one-A mandates that it is the duty of every citizen to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India. This is considered one of the most important duties, as it concerns the very existence and stability of the nation. It requires citizens to act in a manner that preserves the country’s territorial and political wholeness.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · DPSP and Fundamental Duties
Q250. The duty to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcends religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities. This clause also contains a specific directive to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of:
Explanation
Article fifty-one-A (e) directs citizens to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood among all people, regardless of their religious or regional differences. Importantly, this clause also explicitly requires citizens to renounce practices that are derogatory to the dignity of women. This duty highlights the importance of social equality and the respectful treatment of women in a civilized democratic society.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
241
(c) A-ii, B-iv, C-i, D-iii
242
(d) Swaran Singh Committee
243
(a) Part IVA, Article 51A
244
(d) I, II and III
245
(b) 10
246
(a) II, IV, I, III
247
(c) National Anthem
248
(d) I, II and III
249
(c) Article 51A(c)
250
(b) Women
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.
