Q561. Which of the following represents an exception to the strict federal principle in the Indian Constitution?
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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Q562. India is often described as a ‘quasi-federal’ state. What is the primary cause for this classification?
Explanation
India is termed quasi-federal because its constitutional structure is federal in form but unitary in spirit. While it maintains two levels of government, the Union possesses overriding powers, especially during emergencies. This unitary bias allows the central government to assume control over state subjects, ensuring national stability and security, which distinguishes India from more decentralized and traditional federal systems like America.
Q563. Consider the following statements regarding the legislative relations between the Union and the States:
I. Article 245 defines the territorial extent of laws made by Parliament and State Legislatures.
II. Article 246 completely debars Parliament from making laws on items enumerated in the State List under any circumstance.
III. Article 254 deals with the inconsistency between laws made by Parliament and laws made by the Legislatures of States.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. Article 245 defines the territorial extent of laws made by Parliament and State Legislatures.
II. Article 246 completely debars Parliament from making laws on items enumerated in the State List under any circumstance.
III. Article 254 deals with the inconsistency between laws made by Parliament and laws made by the Legislatures of States.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Article 245 defines the territorial extent of legislative powers, and Article 254 addresses inconsistencies between Union and State laws on concurrent subjects. While Article 246 distributes legislative powers across three lists, it does not completely debar Parliament from making laws on state subjects.
Q564. According to the Constitution of India, who possesses the power to make laws with ‘extra-territorial operation’?
Explanation
Under Article 245 of the Indian Constitution, only the Parliament possesses the authority to make laws with extra-territorial operation. This means parliamentary laws can apply to Indian citizens and their property located anywhere in the world. Conversely, laws enacted by State Legislatures are strictly confined to the territorial limits of the respective state and cannot have legal effects outside those regional boundaries.
Q565. The following question consists of two statements -- Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Answer the question by selecting the appropriate option:
Assertion (A): A law made by a State Legislature on a subject in the Concurrent List that is repugnant to an earlier law made by Parliament can still prevail in that State.
Reason (R): If the State law has been reserved for the consideration of the President and has received his assent, it prevails over the Parliamentary law in that State.
Assertion (A): A law made by a State Legislature on a subject in the Concurrent List that is repugnant to an earlier law made by Parliament can still prevail in that State.
Reason (R): If the State law has been reserved for the consideration of the President and has received his assent, it prevails over the Parliamentary law in that State.
Explanation
Generally, a central law prevails over a conflicting state law on a concurrent subject. However, Article 254 provides an exception where a state law can prevail if it was reserved for the President’s consideration and received his assent. This mechanism allows for regional variations in law while maintaining the overall supremacy of Parliament, provided the Union executive approves the deviation.
Q566. The ‘Doctrine of Colourable Legislation’ in the context of Union-State legislative relations implies that:
Explanation
The doctrine of colourable legislation tests the competence of a legislature to enact a specific law. It posits that a legislature cannot use its power to achieve a prohibited objective by disguising it as an authorized one. If the primary purpose of a law falls outside the legislature’s jurisdiction, the law is considered invalid, regardless of its outward appearance or stated motives.
Q567. Read the following statements regarding Article 253 of the Constitution and select the correct option:
Statement I: Parliament has the power to make any law for the whole or any part of the territory of India for implementing any international treaty.
Statement II: For enacting laws to implement international agreements that affect subjects in the State List, Parliament requires the consent of the majority of the states.
Statement I: Parliament has the power to make any law for the whole or any part of the territory of India for implementing any international treaty.
Statement II: For enacting laws to implement international agreements that affect subjects in the State List, Parliament requires the consent of the majority of the states.
Explanation
Article 253 grants Parliament exclusive power to legislate for the implementation of any international treaty or agreement. This authority extends to subjects otherwise reserved for the State List. Crucially, Parliament does not require the consent of the states to enact such laws. This ensures that the Union government can effectively fulfill its international obligations without being hindered by regional legislative constraints.
Q568. Match the Articles in List-I with their respective subjects in List-II:
| Articles of the Constitution | Subjects |
|---|---|
| A. Article 249 | i. Power of Parliament to legislate with respect to a matter in the State List if a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation. |
| B. Article 250 | ii. Legislation for giving effect to international agreements. |
| C. Article 252 | iii. Power of Parliament to legislate with respect to a matter in the State List in the national interest. |
| D. Article 253 | iv. Power of Parliament to legislate for two or more States by consent. |
Explanation
The Constitution provides specific articles for Parliament to legislate on state subjects. Article 249 covers national interest, while Article 250 applies during emergencies. Article 252 allows legislation when two or more states provide consent. Article 253 empowers Parliament to implement international agreements. These provisions ensure that the federal structure remains flexible enough to address national priorities and global commitments when necessary.
Q569. Which of the following represents the most appropriate rationale for maintaining a ‘Concurrent List’ in the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution?
Explanation
The Concurrent List serves as a bridge between central and state legislative powers. It includes subjects where a common national approach is desirable, such as criminal law or education, but allows states to make specific modifications to suit local conditions. This dual authority prevents rigid centralization while ensuring that the legal framework across the country remains relatively consistent for all citizens.
Q570. Consider the following subjects:
I. Public Health and Sanitation
II. Trade Unions
III. Banking
IV. Agriculture
V. Forests
Which of the above subject(s) is/are placed strictly in the State List according to the Seventh Schedule?
I. Public Health and Sanitation
II. Trade Unions
III. Banking
IV. Agriculture
V. Forests
Which of the above subject(s) is/are placed strictly in the State List according to the Seventh Schedule?
Explanation
Public health and agriculture are subjects strictly placed within the State List of the Seventh Schedule. While banking is a Union subject, trade unions and forests are included in the Concurrent List. Legislative authority over public health and sanitation allows states to manage local medical services and hygiene, whereas control over agriculture enables states to address regional farming needs and land reforms.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 561 | (c) Parliament’s authority to unilaterally alter state boundaries without state consent. |
| 562 | (d) Unitary bias allowing the Union to exercise centralizing powers during emergencies. |
| 563 | (a) I and III only |
| 564 | (c) Parliament only |
| 565 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 566 | (d) A legislature cannot do indirectly what it cannot do directly. |
| 567 | (a) Statement I is correct and Statement II is incorrect |
| 568 | (d) A-iii, B-i, C-iv, D-ii |
| 569 | (a) Enabling nationwide legislative uniformity while permitting essential regional adaptations. |
| 570 | (b) I and IV 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.