Q511. Which of the following writs is issued by a higher court to a lower court or tribunal to prevent them from exceeding their jurisdiction?
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 511–520 of 944 questions
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Q512. Consider the following statements regarding the Collegium System:
I. It is explicitly defined in the original text of the Constitution under Article 124.
II. It evolved through the judicial pronouncements known as the Three Judges Cases.
III. It is currently composed of the Chief Justice of India and four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court.
IV. The 99th Constitutional Amendment Act sought to replace it with the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC).
Which of the above statements are correct?
I. It is explicitly defined in the original text of the Constitution under Article 124.
II. It evolved through the judicial pronouncements known as the Three Judges Cases.
III. It is currently composed of the Chief Justice of India and four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court.
IV. The 99th Constitutional Amendment Act sought to replace it with the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC).
Which of the above statements are correct?
Explanation
The Collegium system is not mentioned in the original Constitution but evolved through judicial decisions in the Three Judges Cases. It currently comprises the Chief Justice of India and four senior-most Supreme Court judges. The 99th Amendment tried to replace it with the National Judicial Appointments Commission, but the Supreme Court struck down that amendment as being unconstitutional.
Q513. In which of the following cases did the Supreme Court rule that the consultation process for the appointment of judges requires the consultation of a plurality of judges (forming the modern Collegium)?
Explanation
In the Third Judges Case of 1998, the Supreme Court, upon a Presidential reference, clarified that the consultation process requires a plurality of judges. It expanded the Collegium to include the Chief Justice of India and four senior-most associate judges. The court ruled that the Chief Justice’s opinion must reflect the collective view of this expanded judicial body.
Q514. A retired judge of the Supreme Court of India cannot practice law in:
Explanation
Under Article 124(7), a retired Supreme Court judge cannot plead or act in any court or before any authority within the territory of India.
Q515. Consider the following statements regarding the Independence of the Judiciary:
I. The conduct of judges in the discharge of their duties cannot be discussed in Parliament, except upon a motion for their removal.
II. Judges can be removed only by an order of the President passed after an address by Parliament.
III. Parliament can alter the privileges and allowances of a judge to their disadvantage during a financial emergency.
IV. The Supreme Court has the power to punish for its contempt.
V. The Parliament cannot curtail the jurisdiction and powers of the Supreme Court.
Which of the above statements are correct?
I. The conduct of judges in the discharge of their duties cannot be discussed in Parliament, except upon a motion for their removal.
II. Judges can be removed only by an order of the President passed after an address by Parliament.
III. Parliament can alter the privileges and allowances of a judge to their disadvantage during a financial emergency.
IV. The Supreme Court has the power to punish for its contempt.
V. The Parliament cannot curtail the jurisdiction and powers of the Supreme Court.
Which of the above statements are correct?
Explanation
Judicial independence is maintained through various constitutional safeguards. These include restrictions on discussing judicial conduct in Parliament and providing a secure tenure. While salaries are generally protected, they can be varied during a financial emergency. Furthermore, the court has the power to punish for contempt and its jurisdiction over fundamental rights cannot be curtailed by ordinary legislative actions.
Q516. Which one of the following is not included in the Original Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India under Article 131?
Explanation
The original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Article 131 is limited to federal disputes. These involve conflicts between the Union and states or between states themselves. It does not extend to disputes between a private citizen and the government. Such private legal matters must be initiated in the appropriate lower courts or High Courts before reaching the Supreme Court.
Q517. Which of the following represents the correct chronological sequence of landmark Supreme Court judgments regarding the amendability of Fundamental Rights?
Explanation
The legal timeline began with the Shankari Prasad case in 1951, followed by the Golaknath case in 1967, which restricted amendment powers. The landmark Kesavananda Bharati case in 1973 then introduced the basic structure doctrine. Finally, the Minerva Mills case in 1980 further clarified and solidified this doctrine, ensuring that the Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution remains limited.
Q518. An appeal lies to the Supreme Court from any judgment of a High Court in civil cases if the High Court certifies that:
Explanation
Under Article 133, an appeal in civil matters lies to the Supreme Court if the High Court certifies that the case involves a substantial question of law of general importance. Additionally, the High Court must be of the opinion that the said question needs to be decided by the Supreme Court. This ensures that only significant legal issues are entertained.
Q519. Match List I with List II:
Choose the correct code:
| Case | Key Doctrine/Concept |
|---|---|
| A. Kesavananda Bharati Case (1973) | i. Judicial Review is a basic feature of the Constitution |
| B. S.P. Gupta Case (1982) | ii. Basic Structure Doctrine |
| C. Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association Case (1993) | iii. Emergence of the Collegium System |
| D. L. Chandra Kumar Case (1997) | iv. Relaxation of Locus Standi (First Judges Case) |
Explanation
The Kesavananda Bharati case established the Basic Structure Doctrine. S.P. Gupta, the First Judges Case, relaxed locus standi. The Advocates-on-Record Association case, known as the Second Judges Case, led to the Collegium System’s emergence. Lastly, L. Chandra Kumar’s judgment affirmed that the power of judicial review is an integral part of the basic structure of the Indian Constitution.
Q520. Under Article 136, the Supreme Court is authorized to grant special leave to appeal from any judgment, decree, determination, sentence or order in any cause or matter passed or made by:
Explanation
Article 136 grants the Supreme Court wide discretionary power to grant special leave to appeal from any judgment or order passed by any court or tribunal in India. However, this power explicitly excludes any judgment or order passed by a court or tribunal constituted by or under any law relating to the Armed Forces, such as various military court martials.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 511 | (b) Prohibition |
| 512 | (b) II, III and IV only |
| 513 | (c) Third Judges Case, 1998 |
| 514 | (c) Any court or before any authority within the territory of India. |
| 515 | (b) I, II, III, IV and V |
| 516 | (c) Dispute between a citizen and a State Government regarding a commercial contract. |
| 517 | (b) Shankari Prasad case - Golaknath case - Kesavananda Bharati case - Minerva Mills case |
| 518 | (d) The case involves a substantial question of law of general importance. |
| 519 | (a) A-ii, B-iv, C-iii, D-i |
| 520 | (c) Any court or tribunal in the territory of India, except military tribunals and court martials. |
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.