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 631–640 of 944 questions
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RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Union-State Relations
Q631. Match the landmark Supreme Court cases in List-I with their primary subject matter regarding Centre-State relations in List-II:
Supreme Court Cases
Primary Subject Matter
A. S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994)
i. Challenge to dissolution of state assemblies when the ruling party at the Centre changed.
B. State of Rajasthan v. Union of India (1977)
ii. Dissolution of Bihar legislative assembly kept in suspended animation was held unconstitutional.
C. Rameshwar Prasad v. Union of India (2006)
iii. Established comprehensive guidelines for invoking Article 356 and made it subject to judicial review.
D. Kuldip Nayar v. Union of India (2006)
iv. Upheld the amendment doing away with the domicile requirement for Rajya Sabha elections.
Explanation
Bommai laid down guidelines for Article 356 and made it open to judicial review, State of Rajasthan (1977) was a challenge to the dissolution of assemblies when the party in power at the Centre changed, Rameshwar Prasad (2006) held the Bihar dissolution unconstitutional and Kuldip Nayar (2006) upheld the removal of the domicile requirement for Rajya Sabha. This gives A-iii, B-i, C-ii, D-iv.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Union-State Relations
Q632. Which of the following statements regarding the maximum duration of President’s Rule under Article 356 is incorrect?
Explanation
President’s Rule must be approved by Parliament within two months and can last six months at a time, up to three years in all, with extension beyond one year only in specific conditions. It cannot be extended indefinitely up to ten years by a simple resolution, so B is incorrect.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Union-State Relations
Q633. The following question consists of two statements -- Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Answer the question by selecting the appropriate option: Assertion (A): The Proclamation of President’s Rule under Article 356 is subject to judicial review. Reason (R): The Supreme Court in the Bommai case ruled that if the presidential proclamation is based on mala fide or irrelevant grounds, the court can strike it down and restore the dismissed state government.
Explanation
The imposition of President’s Rule is not beyond the reach of the courts. In the Bommai case, the Supreme Court established that the proclamation is subject to judicial review to prevent mala fide use of power. If the court finds the grounds for dismissal irrelevant or based on political whim, it has the authority to strike down the proclamation and restore the ousted state government.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Union-State Relations
Q634. Consider the following instances: I. Where a state government is deliberately acting against the Constitution and the law. II. Where a hung assembly is formed and no party is able to form a government after elections. III. Where a state ministry resigns and no other party is able to form a government. IV. Where the ruling party in the state suffers a massive defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. According to the guidelines laid down in the S.R. Bommai case, which of the above instance(s) constitute a ‘proper’ use of Article 356?
Explanation
According to the Bommai guidelines, proper reasons for invoking Article 356 include a deliberate violation of the Constitution, a hung assembly, or a situation where no party can form a ministry. However, the defeat of a state’s ruling party in Lok Sabha elections is considered an improper ground for dismissal. Such political shifts do not automatically imply a breakdown of constitutional machinery within the state itself.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Union-State Relations
Q635. The Sarkaria Commission on Centre-State Relations was appointed by the Government of India in the year:
Explanation
The Sarkaria Commission was appointed by the Government of India in 1983 to examine the relationship and balance of power between the Union and the States. Led by Justice R. S. Sarkaria, the commission conducted an extensive review of the constitutional framework. Its report, submitted years later, became a foundational document for promoting cooperative federalism and suggesting reforms to improve administrative and legislative coordination.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Union-State Relations
Q636. Read the following statements regarding the Sarkaria Commission and select the correct option: Statement I: It categorically rejected the demand for the abolition of the All-India Services (IAS, IPS). Statement II: It recommended that the residuary powers of taxation should continue to remain with the Parliament, while other residuary powers should be placed in the Concurrent List.
Explanation
The Sarkaria Commission supported retaining All-India Services like the IAS and IPS, viewing them as essential for national integration. It also recommended that while residuary powers of taxation should remain with Parliament, other residuary subjects should be moved to the Concurrent List. These recommendations aimed to balance the need for a strong central framework with the states’ desire for more legislative flexibility and autonomy.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Union-State Relations
Q637. Which of the following was a key recommendation of the Sarkaria Commission regarding Article 356?
Explanation
The Sarkaria Commission emphasized that Article 356 should be used very sparingly and only as a last resort when all other alternatives to resolve a constitutional crisis in a state have failed. It recommended that a warning should generally be issued to the state before invoking the article. This stance aimed to protect state autonomy and prevent the frequent political misuse of emergency provisions.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Union-State Relations
Q638. Which of the following was NOT a recommendation of the Sarkaria Commission?
Explanation
The Sarkaria Commission did not recommend the abolition of the Governor’s office. Instead, it suggested reforms to make the office more impartial, such as appointing persons from outside the state who are not active in politics. The commission believed that the Governor plays a vital role in the federal structure, and its recommendations focused on strengthening the office’s constitutional integrity rather than its removal.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Union-State Relations
Q639. Match the Commissions/Committees in List-I with their distinct recommendations on Centre- State relations in List-II:
Commissions/Committees
Recommendations
A. Rajamannar Committee
i. Recommended ‘localized emergency’ under Article 355
B. Sarkaria Commission
ii. Recommended setting up an Inter-State Trade and Commerce Commission
C. Punchhi Commission
iii. Recommended abolition of Article 356 and the IAS/IPS
D. National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC)
iv. Suggested firmly institutionalizing the process of consultation for treaty-making
Explanation
Each commission offered unique perspectives on federalism. The Rajamannar Committee sought to abolish Article 356 and central services. The Sarkaria Commission proposed an Inter-State Trade and Commerce Commission. The Punchhi Commission introduced the idea of localized emergency under Article 355 to handle specific disturbances without dismissing an entire state government. The NCRWC recommended institutionalizing consultation with states during the international treaty-making process to ensure regional interests are considered.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Union-State Relations
Q640. The Punchhi Commission on Centre-State relations was set up by the Government of India in the year:
Explanation
The Punchhi Commission on Centre-State Relations was established by the Government of India in 2007, nearly two decades after the Sarkaria Commission.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
631
(d) A-iii, B-i, C-ii, D-iv
632
(b) Indefinite extension up to ten years by simple resolution.
633
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
634
(a) I, II and III only
635
(c) 1983
636
(c) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
637
(d) Used sparingly as a last resort in extreme circumstances.
638
(c) The office of the Governor should be abolished to grant complete autonomy to states.
639
(d) A-iii, B-ii, C-i, D-iv
640
(c) 2007
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.
