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 451–460 of 944 questions
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Explanation
The budget contains expenditure "charged upon" the Consolidated Fund of India, such as salaries of high officials. This type of expenditure is not submitted to a vote by Parliament. However, the Constitution allows both Houses to discuss these items freely. This distinction ensures that the financial security of key constitutional offices is protected while still allowing for legislative oversight.I. General discussion takes place in both Houses of Parliament.
II. After the general discussion, there is a vote on the demands for grants in the Rajya Sabha.
III. The demands for grants are scrutinized by the Departmental Standing Committees.
IV. The Appropriation Bill cannot be amended in a way that varies the amount or alters the destination of any grant.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The budget process includes general discussion in both Houses and scrutiny by departmental committees. The Appropriation Bill cannot be amended to change the amount or destination of grants. However, the Rajya Sabha does not vote on demands for grants; this power belongs exclusively to the Lok Sabha. Therefore, the statement regarding the Rajya Sabha voting on grants is factually incorrect.Explanation
An ‘Economy Cut Motion’ is a specific type of motion moved during the discussion on demands for grants. Its purpose is to suggest that the amount of the demand be reduced by a specified lump sum. This represents the view that the proposed expenditure can be reduced without affecting the policy. It is a tool for seeking financial efficiency.Explanation
The passage of the Budget follows a strict chronological order. It begins with the presentation, followed by a general discussion. Then, departmental committees scrutinize the demands. After this, the Lok Sabha votes on the demands for grants. The process concludes with the passing of the Appropriation Bill and finally the Finance Bill. This sequence ensures thorough financial scrutiny.Explanation
Supplementary and additional grants address insufficient funds or new services. A Vote of Credit acts as a blank cheque for unexpected demands. However, an Exceptional Grant is specifically for purposes that do not form part of the current service of any financial year. The description stating it forms part of the current service is therefore incorrect, as its purpose is distinct.Explanation
Standing Committees and Ad hoc Committees are distinguished by their duration and purpose. Standing Committees are permanent bodies that are constituted periodically and work continuously. In contrast, Ad hoc Committees are temporary and created for specific tasks. Once an Ad hoc Committee completes its assigned job and submits its report, it ceases to exist. This structural difference defines their respective roles.Explanation
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha holds the authority to appoint the chairpersons of all Parliamentary Committees within the lower house. If the Speaker themselves is a member of a committee, they automatically become the chairman. This power ensures that the committees function under the guidance of the presiding officer, maintaining the organized and disciplined operation of legislative oversight.Statement I: There are 24 Departmentally Related Standing Committees, out of which 16 work under the Lok Sabha and 8 under the Rajya Sabha.
Statement II: The main objective of the DRSCs is to secure more accountability of the Executive to the Parliament, particularly financial accountability.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
There are 24 Departmentally Related Standing Committees, divided between the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Sixteen committees work under the Lok Sabha’s jurisdiction, while eight function under the Rajya Sabha. Their primary goal is to enhance executive accountability to Parliament, especially regarding financial matters and departmental functioning. Both statements accurately describe the current structure and objective of these committees.| Parliamentary Committee | Total Number of Members |
|---|---|
| A. Public Accounts Committee | i. 30 |
| B. Estimates Committee | ii. 22 |
| C. Committee on Public Undertakings | iii. 31 |
| D. Departmentally Related Standing Committee | iv. 22 |
Explanation
The membership of parliamentary committees varies by their specific functions. The Estimates Committee is the largest with 30 members. Both the Public Accounts Committee and the Committee on Public Undertakings have 22 members, comprising representatives from both Houses. Departmentally Related Standing Committees typically have 31 members. Matching these numbers is crucial for understanding the scale and representation of these legislative committees.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 451 | (a) Article 112 |
| 452 | (c) It can be discussed by Parliament but is not submitted to the vote of Parliament. |
| 453 | (b) I, III and IV |
| 454 | (d) It reduces the amount of the demand by a specified lump sum. |
| 455 | (a) Presentation General discussion Scrutiny by departmental committees Voting on demands for grants Passing of Appropriation Bill Passing of Finance Bill |
| 456 | (c) Exceptional Grant is granted for a specific purpose that forms part of the current service of any financial year. |
| 457 | (d) Standing Committees are permanent and constituted periodically, whereas Ad hoc Committees are temporary and cease to exist after completing their assigned task. |
| 458 | (a) The Speaker of the Lok Sabha |
| 459 | (c) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct. |
| 460 | (a) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii |
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.