Q611. In the context of the Finance Commission’s recommendations, ‘Horizontal Devolution’ refers to:
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 611–620 of 944 questions
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Q612. Match the Finance Commissions in List-I with their respective Chairmen in List-II:
| Finance Commissions | Chairmen |
|---|---|
| A. 13th Finance Commission | i. Arvind Panagariya |
| B. 14th Finance Commission | ii. N. K. Singh |
| C. 15th Finance Commission | iii. Y. V. Reddy |
| D. 16th Finance Commission | iv. Vijay Kelkar |
Explanation
The leadership of the Finance Commission has evolved through various chairmen. The 13th Commission was headed by Vijay Kelkar, followed by Y. V. Reddy for the 14th. N. K. Singh chaired the 15th Commission, and Arvind Panagariya was appointed for the 16th. These commissions play a vital role in determining fiscal transfers and ensuring the financial stability of both the Union and States.
Q613. The Constitution mandates the constitution of a Finance Commission every fifth year or at such earlier time as the President considers necessary. What is the fundamental cause for this periodic reconstitution?
Explanation
The Finance Commission is reconstituted every five years to address evolving fiscal imbalances between the Union and the States. Economic conditions, state requirements, and national priorities change over time, necessitating a periodic review of tax sharing and grants-in-aid principles. This constitutional mechanism ensures that the distribution of financial resources remains fair, efficient, and responsive to the current financial health of the entire country.
Q614. Which of the following statements correctly describes the legal nature of the recommendations made by the Finance Commission?
Explanation
The recommendations of the Finance Commission are purely advisory in nature. While the Union Government typically respects and implements these suggestions regarding tax devolution and grants, it is not legally bound to do so. The Constitution provides a flexible framework where the central government maintains the ultimate authority to decide on the final allocation of resources after considering the commission’s expert report.
Q615. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) was introduced in the Indian Constitution through which Constitutional Amendment Act?
Explanation
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) was introduced through the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act in 2016. This landmark amendment replaced several indirect taxes levied by both the Union and the States with a unified tax structure. It fundamentally altered the fiscal landscape of India, promoting a common national market and requiring unprecedented cooperation between the central and regional governments in tax administration.
Q616. Read the following statements regarding the GST Council and select the correct option:
Statement I: Article 279A empowers the President to constitute a joint forum of the Centre and the States called the GST Council.
Statement II: The GST Council is chaired by the Prime Minister of India.
Statement I: Article 279A empowers the President to constitute a joint forum of the Centre and the States called the GST Council.
Statement II: The GST Council is chaired by the Prime Minister of India.
Explanation
Article 279A empowers the President to constitute the GST Council, which serves as a joint forum for the Centre and the States. However, the council is chaired by the Union Finance Minister, not the Prime Minister. This structure ensures that fiscal policies regarding GST are decided through a deliberative process involving representatives from all states and the central finance ministry for collective governance.
Q617. The following question consists of two statements -- Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Answer the question by selecting the appropriate option:
Assertion (A): The introduction of GST in India is often cited as a prime example of ‘cooperative federalism’.
Reason (R): The GST Council requires both the Union and the States to participate in decision-making regarding tax rates, exemptions, and thresholds through a consensus-building mechanism.
Assertion (A): The introduction of GST in India is often cited as a prime example of ‘cooperative federalism’.
Reason (R): The GST Council requires both the Union and the States to participate in decision-making regarding tax rates, exemptions, and thresholds through a consensus-building mechanism.
Explanation
The GST framework is a significant achievement in cooperative federalism because it mandates collective decision-making. The GST Council brings together the Union and all States to decide on tax rates, exemptions, and administrative rules. This consensus-building approach ensures that both levels of government have a stake in the indirect tax system, fostering a collaborative environment for national economic growth and stability.
Q618. Which of the following statements regarding the voting structure in the GST Council is incorrect?
Explanation
Voting in the GST Council is not based on a state’s population or revenue contribution. Instead, the Central Government holds one-third of the total weighted votes, and all State Governments combined hold the remaining two-thirds. This structure ensures that no decision can be taken without the support of both the Centre and a significant majority of the states, regardless of their individual size.
Q619. Consider the following taxes:
I. Central Excise Duty
II. State Value Added Tax (VAT)
III. Entry Tax
IV. Basic Customs Duty
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct regarding taxes that were subsumed under the Goods and Services Tax (GST)?
I. Central Excise Duty
II. State Value Added Tax (VAT)
III. Entry Tax
IV. Basic Customs Duty
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct regarding taxes that were subsumed under the Goods and Services Tax (GST)?
Explanation
Several indirect taxes were subsumed into GST to simplify the tax regime. These include Central Excise Duty, State Value Added Tax (VAT), and Entry Tax. However, Basic Customs Duty remains outside the GST framework and continues to be levied separately on imports. Subsuming these various taxes helped eliminate the cascading effect of taxation and created a more streamlined process for businesses nationwide.
Q620. Find the odd one out among the following items in the context of items currently kept outside the purview of the GST framework in India:
Explanation
While most goods and services are covered by GST, certain items like alcohol for human consumption, petroleum crude, and aviation turbine fuel are currently kept outside its purview. Electronic goods, however, are fully integrated into the GST framework. The exclusion of petroleum and alcohol allows states and the Union to maintain their traditional tax revenues from these high-value products until the GST Council decides otherwise.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 611 | (a) The distribution of the states’ share of taxes among the individual states. |
| 612 | (b) A-iv, B-iii, C-ii, D-i |
| 613 | (b) Addressing fiscal imbalances based on shifting economic realities. |
| 614 | (c) Purely advisory with acceptance left to the Union’s discretion. |
| 615 | (c) 101st Amendment Act, 2016 |
| 616 | (a) Statement I is correct and Statement II is incorrect |
| 617 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 618 | (d) A state’s voting weightage is directly proportional to its population and GST revenue collection. |
| 619 | (a) I, II and III only |
| 620 | (c) Electronic goods |
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.