Q41. Which of the following constitutional provisions did not come into force on 26 November 1949?
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.
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Q42. Consider the following articles of the Indian Constitution:
I. Article 5
II. Article 324
III. Article 368
Which of the above combination of articles came into force on 26 November 1949?
I. Article 5
II. Article 324
III. Article 368
Which of the above combination of articles came into force on 26 November 1949?
Explanation
Article 5, which relates to citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution, and Article 324, which deals with the Election Commission, both came into force on November 26, 1949. Article 368, regarding the power and procedure for amending the Constitution, was not among those that started immediately; it became operational on January 26, 1950, alongside the remaining provisions.
Q43. Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as
Reason (R).
Assertion (A): January 26 was specifically chosen as the date of commencement of the Constitution of India.
Reason (R): It was on this day in 1930 that Purna Swaraj day was celebrated following the resolution of the Lahore Session of the INC.
Reason (R).
Assertion (A): January 26 was specifically chosen as the date of commencement of the Constitution of India.
Reason (R): It was on this day in 1930 that Purna Swaraj day was celebrated following the resolution of the Lahore Session of the INC.
Explanation
January 26 was chosen as the date for the Constitution’s commencement because of its immense historical significance. On this day in 1930, "Purna Swaraj" (Complete Independence) Day was celebrated across India following the resolution passed at the Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress in December 1929. By choosing this date, the framers honored the legacy of the freedom movement.
Q44. Identify the correct statement regarding the adoption of the Indian Constitution:
Explanation
On November 26, 1949, the day the Constitution was adopted, only 284 members out of the total 299 members of the assembly were actually present. These 284 members signed the official document. The original Constitution as adopted contained a Preamble, 395 Articles, and 8 Schedules. Note that the Preamble was actually enacted after the rest of the Constitution.
Q45. Who was the chief calligrapher of the original Constitution of India?
Explanation
Prem Behari Narain Raizada was the chief calligrapher of the original Constitution of India. He handwritten the entire document in a flowing italic style. The task of beautifying and decorating the pages was carried out by artists from Shantiniketan, including Nandalal Bose and Beohar Rammanohar Sinha. The Hindi version was calligraphed by Vasant Krishnan Vaidya and decorated by Nandalal Bose.
Q46. Given below are two statements regarding the distinction between the adoption and enactment of the Constitution:
Statement I: The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949, signifying the completion of the drafting process.
Statement II: The date of commencement, 26 January 1950, is referred to in the Constitution itself as the date of its enactment.
Identify the correct option:
Statement I: The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949, signifying the completion of the drafting process.
Statement II: The date of commencement, 26 January 1950, is referred to in the Constitution itself as the date of its enactment.
Identify the correct option:
Explanation
The Constitution was indeed adopted on November 26, 1949, which signified that the drafting and approval process by the Constituent Assembly was complete. However, January 26, 1950, is officially referred to as the "date of commencement" of the Constitution, not the date of its enactment. The enactment took place on the same day as the adoption in November 1949.
Q47. Which of the following is the best definition of the ‘Preamble’ to the Constitution?
Explanation
The Preamble serves as an introductory statement that sets out the guiding purpose, principles, and philosophy of the Constitution. It provides a concise summary or the "essence" of the entire document. Jurist N.A. Palkhivala aptly described it as the "identity card of the Constitution," as it reflects the core values and aspirations that the subsequent articles seek to achieve.
Q48. The Preamble to the Indian Constitution is based on the ‘Objective Resolution’ which was drafted and moved by:
Explanation
The Preamble of the Indian Constitution is based on the ‘Objective Resolution’, which was drafted and moved by Jawaharlal Nehru in the Constituent Assembly on December 13, 1946. This resolution outlined the vision for an independent India and was unanimously adopted by the Assembly. Its core principles were eventually refined and condensed to form the Preamble that opens our Constitution today.
Q49. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer from the options given below:
| Scholar/Jurist | Description of Preamble |
|---|---|
| A. N. A. Palkhivala | i. Key-note to the Constitution |
| B. K. M. Munshi | ii. Identity card of the Constitution |
| C. Sir Ernest Barker | iii. Horoscope of our sovereign democratic republic |
| D. Thakur Das Bhargava | iv. Soul of the Constitution |
Explanation
Various scholars have described the Preamble’s significance differently. N. A. Palkhivala called it the "identity card of the Constitution." K. M. Munshi described it as the "horoscope of our sovereign democratic republic." Sir Ernest Barker viewed it as the "key-note to the Constitution," while Thakur Das Bhargava famously referred to the Preamble as the "soul of the Constitution" and its jewel set.
Q50. Consider the following words mentioned in the Preamble:
I. Socialist
II. Secular
III. Integrity
IV. Fraternity
Which of the above combination of words were added to the Preamble by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976?
I. Socialist
II. Secular
III. Integrity
IV. Fraternity
Which of the above combination of words were added to the Preamble by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976?
Explanation
The Preamble has been amended only once, by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976. This amendment added three new words to the Preamble: ‘Socialist’, ‘Secular’, and ‘Integrity’. While the word ‘Fraternity’ was already part of the original Preamble adopted in 1949, these additions were made to explicitly state the social and political character of the Indian state and its unity.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 41 | (c) Fundamental Rights |
| 42 | (a) I and II only |
| 43 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 44 | (b) Only 284 out of 299 members were present to sign the Constitution on 26 November 1949. |
| 45 | (c) Prem Behari Narain Raizada |
| 46 | (a) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect |
| 47 | (a) An introduction containing the summary or essence of the entire Constitution. |
| 48 | (b) Jawaharlal Nehru |
| 49 | (a) A-ii, B-iii, C-i, D-iv |
| 50 | (a) I, II and III 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.