Q271. If a State Government in India introduces a policy to ban the slaughter of cows and improve their breed, it is acting in accordance with the directive contained in:
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 271–280 of 944 questions
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Q272. A citizen initiates a cleanliness drive in a public park and advocates for the planting of native trees. This action most closely reflects the spirit of which Fundamental Duty?
Explanation
A citizen’s initiative to clean a public park and plant trees is a direct practical application of Article fifty-one-A (g). This fundamental duty requires people to protect and improve the natural environment, including forests and other green spaces. Such voluntary actions demonstrate a person’s commitment to ecological health and fulfilling their constitutional responsibility to enhance the environment for the common good.
Q273. Consider the following statements about Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSPs) and Fundamental Duties in the Constitution of India:
I. DPSPs are positive obligations on the State.
II. Fundamental Duties are positive obligations on the citizens.
III. Neither DPSPs nor Fundamental Duties are directly enforceable by courts.
IV. Both DPSPs and Fundamental Duties were part of the original Constitution adopted in 1949.
V. Both can be used by courts to determine the constitutional validity of a law.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. DPSPs are positive obligations on the State.
II. Fundamental Duties are positive obligations on the citizens.
III. Neither DPSPs nor Fundamental Duties are directly enforceable by courts.
IV. Both DPSPs and Fundamental Duties were part of the original Constitution adopted in 1949.
V. Both can be used by courts to determine the constitutional validity of a law.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties are both positive obligations, though directed at the state and citizens respectively. Neither is directly enforceable by courts, but both can assist judges in determining the constitutional validity of laws. Importantly, fundamental duties were not in the original nineteen forty-nine Constitution; they were added later through the forty-second amendment in nineteen seventy-six to address missing obligations.
Q274. The framers of the Indian Constitution borrowed the concept of Directive Principles of State Policy primarily from the Constitution of:
Explanation
The framers of the Indian Constitution drew inspiration from various international sources. The concept of the Directive Principles of State Policy was primarily borrowed from the Irish Constitution of nineteen thirty-seven. Ireland had, in turn, taken this idea from the Spanish Constitution. This borrowing helped India incorporate a detailed set of socio-economic goals intended to guide the state toward a welfare-oriented future.
Q275. The concept of Fundamental Duties in the Indian Constitution was inspired by the Constitution of:
Explanation
The concept of Fundamental Duties was inspired by the Constitution of the erstwhile Soviet Union (USSR). While most democratic constitutions focus primarily on individual rights, socialist constitutions typically emphasize the duties of citizens toward the state and society. By including these duties, India sought to balance its democratic rights with a socialist-inspired sense of civic responsibility and national service among its citizens.
Q276. The Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution resemble the ‘Instrument of Instructions’ enumerated in the:
Explanation
The Directive Principles of State Policy closely resemble the "Instrument of Instructions" that were issued to the Governor-General and Governors under the Government of India Act of nineteen thirty-five. These instructions were meant to guide the colonial executive in their administration. Similarly, the directives in the current Constitution serve as instructions to the modern Indian state to achieve specific socio-economic goals.
Q277. Given below are two statements, one labelled as
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Fundamental Rights are generally considered negative in character, whereas Directive Principles are positive in character.
Reason (R): Fundamental Rights prohibit the State from doing certain things, while Directive Principles require the State to do certain things. In the context of the above statements, which one of the following is correct?
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Fundamental Rights are generally considered negative in character, whereas Directive Principles are positive in character.
Reason (R): Fundamental Rights prohibit the State from doing certain things, while Directive Principles require the State to do certain things. In the context of the above statements, which one of the following is correct?
Explanation
Fundamental rights are often called negative rights because they place restrictions on the state, preventing it from violating individual liberties. In contrast, Directive Principles are positive in nature as they require the state to take specific actions and implement policies for social welfare. This distinction highlights the dual role of the state in both protecting freedom and actively promoting social justice.
Q278. The idea of dividing rights into justiciable and non-justiciable categories in the Indian Constitution was initially suggested by:
Explanation
The idea to divide the rights of citizens into justiciable and non-justiciable categories was first suggested by Sir B.N. Rau, the Constitutional Advisor to the Constituent Assembly. This suggestion was eventually adopted, leading to the creation of Part three for enforceable fundamental rights and Part four for non-enforceable Directive Principles, which were deemed fundamental to the nation’s governance nonetheless.
Q279. Which of the following points highlights a primary difference between Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties in the Constitution of India?
Explanation
A major difference between fundamental rights and duties is their scope of application. Most fundamental rights are available to all persons, including foreigners, while some are reserved for citizens. However, fundamental duties are exclusively applicable to the citizens of India. Foreigners residing in or visiting the country are not constitutionally bound by the duties enumerated in Article fifty-one-A of the Indian Constitution.
Q280. Read the following lists and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
| Commentator/Personality | Observation on DPSP |
|---|---|
| A. B.R. Ambedkar | i. Pious superfluities |
| B. K.T. Shah | ii. A cheque on a bank, payable only when the resources of the bank permit |
| C. T.T. Krishnamachari | iii. Novel features of the Constitution |
| D. Ivor Jennings | iv. Veritable dustbin of sentiment |
Explanation
Various scholars have commented on the Directive Principles. B.R. Ambedkar called them "novel features," while K.T. Shah likened them to a cheque payable only when resources permit. T.T. Krishnamachari described them as a "dustbin of sentiment," and Ivor Jennings famously called them "pious superfluities." These diverse opinions reflect the debate over the practical effectiveness and legal status of non-justiciable principles.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 271 | (b) Article 48 |
| 272 | (c) To protect and improve the natural environment |
| 273 | (d) I, II, III and V only |
| 274 | (a) Ireland |
| 275 | (b) USSR (Erstwhile) |
| 276 | (b) Government of India Act, 1935 |
| 277 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 278 | (c) B.N. Rau |
| 279 | (d) Rights apply to citizens and foreigners, while Duties apply only to citizens. |
| 280 | (c) A-iii, B-ii, C-iv, D-i |
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.