Q651. What was the immediate judicial trigger that preceded the declaration of the 1975 internal emergency?
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 651–660 of 944 questions
Browse Indian Polity and Governance chapters
Q652. Arrange the following events leading to and concluding the 1975 Emergency in chronological order:
A. The Allahabad High Court verdict against Indira Gandhi
B. Proclamation of the internal emergency
C. The Nav Nirman movement in Gujarat
D. Enactment of the 44th Constitutional Amendment
Select the correct sequence:
A. The Allahabad High Court verdict against Indira Gandhi
B. Proclamation of the internal emergency
C. The Nav Nirman movement in Gujarat
D. Enactment of the 44th Constitutional Amendment
Select the correct sequence:
Explanation
The Nav Nirman movement in Gujarat occurred first in 1974, followed by the Allahabad High Court verdict against Indira Gandhi in June 1975. The internal emergency was then proclaimed later that month. Finally, the Forty-fourth Amendment was enacted in 1978 by the Janata Government to reform the emergency provisions and prevent future repetitions of such authoritarian measures.
Q653. Under Article 356, President’s Rule can be imposed in a state if the President, on receipt of a report from the Governor or otherwise, is satisfied that:
Explanation
Under Article 356 the President can impose President’s Rule if satisfied that the government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the Constitution. A financial crisis or loss of public support is not itself the ground.
Q654. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
| Years of Emergency | Context/Reason |
|---|---|
| A. 1962 | i. Indo-Pak War |
| B. 1971 | ii. Internal Disturbance |
| C. 1975 | iii. S.R. Bommai ruling on Article 356 |
| D. 1994 | iv. Chinese Aggression |
Explanation
India has seen multiple emergencies and landmark rulings. The 1962 emergency followed Chinese aggression. The 1971 emergency was declared due to the Indo-Pak war. The 1975 emergency was based on internal disturbance. In 1994, the S.R. Bommai case provided critical guidelines on Article 356, limiting the arbitrary dismissal of state governments by the Centre for political reasons.
Q655. Article 365 of the Indian Constitution provides that President’s Rule can be imposed in a State if:
Explanation
Article 365 states that if a State fails to follow or implement directions given by the Union, the President can deem it a failure of constitutional machinery. This allows the imposition of President’s Rule under Article 356. It serves as a mechanism to ensure that the states remain compliant with the lawful administrative and executive mandates of the government.
Q656. What is the maximum period for which President’s Rule under Article 356 can be extended continuously in a state (subject to specific conditions being met)?
Explanation
President’s Rule under Article 356 can be extended for a maximum of three years. Initially, it is approved for six months and can be renewed. However, extensions beyond one year are subject to specific conditions: a National Emergency must be in force, or the Election Commission must certify that holding state elections is difficult due to certain prevailing circumstances in the state.
Q657. To extend President’s Rule beyond one year, which of the following conditions must be satisfied as per the 44th Amendment?
I. A National Emergency must be in operation in the whole of India or in the whole or any part of the State.
II. The Election Commission must certify that general elections to the State Legislative Assembly cannot be held on account of difficulties.
III. The Supreme Court must give prior permission for the extension.
Which of the combinations given below is correct?
I. A National Emergency must be in operation in the whole of India or in the whole or any part of the State.
II. The Election Commission must certify that general elections to the State Legislative Assembly cannot be held on account of difficulties.
III. The Supreme Court must give prior permission for the extension.
Which of the combinations given below is correct?
Explanation
The Forty-fourth Amendment introduced restrictions on extending President’s Rule beyond one year. It can only be extended if a National Emergency is in operation or if the Election Commission certifies that assembly elections cannot be held. These conditions ensure that Article 356 is not used to indefinitely delay democratic processes in a state without a valid, verifiable reason for doing so.
Q658. Find the odd one out with respect to the grounds for imposing a National Emergency under Article 352.
Explanation
War, external aggression, and armed rebellion are the three specific grounds for declaring a National Emergency under Article 352. Failure of constitutional machinery is the ground for imposing President’s Rule in a state under Article 356. Distinguishing between these grounds is fundamental to understanding the different legal frameworks and powers invoked by the President during various types of national crises.
Q659. Given below are two statements, one labelled as
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Financial Emergency has never been declared in India.
Reason (R): The Indian economy is inherently immune to global financial crises and deficits. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Financial Emergency has never been declared in India.
Reason (R): The Indian economy is inherently immune to global financial crises and deficits. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
Explanation
Although India faced severe financial difficulties, especially during the 1991 balance of payments crisis, a Financial Emergency under Article 360 has never been declared. The economy is not immune to global shocks, but successive governments have used other policy measures to stabilize the situation. This shows that the provision is considered a last resort for extreme economic instability.
Q660. Which of the following principles was NOT laid down by the Supreme Court in the S.R. Bommai case (1994)?
Explanation
In the S.R. Bommai case, the Supreme Court ruled that the State Legislative Assembly should not be dissolved until Parliament approves the proclamation under Article 356. The assembly can only be suspended initially. This ensures that the executive does not take irreversible actions before legislative oversight. The court also emphasized that the proclamation is subject to judicial review for mala fides.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 651 | (b) The Allahabad High Court judgment invalidating Indira Gandhi’s election. |
| 652 | (b) C, A, B, D |
| 653 | (a) The state government cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. |
| 654 | (c) A-iv, B-i, C-ii, D-iii |
| 655 | (d) The State fails to comply with or give effect to any directions from the Centre. |
| 656 | (c) Three years |
| 657 | (d) I and II only |
| 658 | (a) Failure of constitutional machinery |
| 659 | (c) A is true but R is false. |
| 660 | (a) The State Legislative Assembly can be dissolved by the President immediately upon the proclamation of Article 356. |
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.