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 671–680 of 944 questions
Browse Indian Polity and Governance chapters
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q671. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Emergency
Time given for Parliamentary Approval
A. National Emergency
i. 2 months
B. President’s Rule
ii. 1 month
C. Financial Emergency
iii. 2 months
D. Revocation of National Emergency
iv. No approval required
Explanation
Proclamations of emergency require parliamentary approval within specific timeframes. National Emergency needs approval within one month. President’s Rule and Financial Emergency both require approval within two months. However, the revocation of a National Emergency by the President does not require any parliamentary approval, although the Lok Sabha can force a revocation through a resolution passed by a simple majority.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q672. Which factor acts as a primary cause driving the balance of federalism towards a unitary structure during emergency provisions?
Explanation
During an emergency, the centralization of executive and legislative powers is the primary factor shifting the federal balance toward a unitary structure. This centralization is intended to ensure national security and a coordinated response to crises. It allows the Union to override state autonomy, ensuring that the country operates as a single unit to overcome the challenges posed.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q673. Consider the following statements about the effects of Article 352 on Fundamental Rights: I. Article 358 automatically suspends the six fundamental rights under Article 19. II. Article 358 operates only in the case of external emergency, not internal emergency. III. Article 359 empowers the President to suspend the right to move any court for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights. IV. The suspension under Article 359 can apply to the entire country or a part of it. V. The President can suspend the right to enforcement of Article 21 under Article 359. Which of the combinations given below correctly identifies the TRUE statements?
Explanation
Article 358 automatically suspends Article 19 during external emergencies. Article 359 allows the President to suspend the enforcement of other rights by a specific order, which can apply nationwide or locally. While Article 359 previously allowed the suspension of all rights, the Forty-fourth Amendment barred the suspension of the rights to life and liberty under Articles 20 and 21.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q674. Consider the following features regarding Financial Emergency: I. It requires approval by both houses of Parliament within two months. II. Once approved, it continues indefinitely till it is revoked. III. It must be re-approved by Parliament every six months. Which of the combinations given below is correct?
Explanation
A Financial Emergency must be approved by both Houses of Parliament within two months of its proclamation. Once approved, it continues indefinitely until revoked by the President. Unlike a National Emergency, it does not require periodic parliamentary approval every six months. This makes the Financial Emergency unique in its duration and the process required for its continued operation after approval.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q675. The most appropriate reason why a Financial Emergency has never been imposed in India, even during the severe 1991 economic crisis, is:
Explanation
During the 1991 economic crisis, India faced a severe foreign exchange shortage. Instead of declaring a Financial Emergency, the government opted for macroeconomic stabilization and structural reforms, including liberalisation, privatisation, and globalisation. These alternative measures, supported by international institutions, successfully addressed the crisis without needing to invoke the drastic constitutional powers provided under Article 360 of the Indian Constitution.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q676. Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R): Assertion (A): The President of India cannot suspend the right to move a court for the enforcement of the right to life and personal liberty during a National Emergency. Reason (R): The 44th Amendment Act made the rights under Articles 20 and 21 immune from suspension during an emergency. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
Explanation
The Forty-fourth Amendment Act ensures that the right to move a court for enforcing Articles 20 and 21 cannot be suspended during an emergency.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q677. What happens to laws made by the Parliament on state subjects during a National Emergency once the emergency ceases to operate?
Explanation
During a National Emergency, Parliament can make laws on subjects in the State List. These laws do not become permanent. According to Article 250, such laws cease to have effect six months after the emergency proclamation has expired. This provision ensures that the legislative autonomy of the states is restored once the abnormal situation justifying the central intervention has ended.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q678. Consider the following statements regarding the majority required for passing emergency resolutions in Parliament: I. Proclamation of National Emergency requires a simple majority. II. Proclamation of President’s Rule requires a simple majority. III. Proclamation of Financial Emergency requires a special majority. Which of the combinations given below correctly identifies the INCORRECT statements?
Explanation
A National Emergency proclamation must be approved by a special majority in both Houses of Parliament. In contrast, both President’s Rule and Financial Emergency only require a simple majority for their approval. These different thresholds reflect the varying degrees of impact each emergency has on the constitutional structure and the fundamental rights of citizens within the Republic of India.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q679. During the 1975 internal emergency, a mass political movement was led by which prominent leader, demanding "Total Revolution"?
Explanation
Jayaprakash Narayan, popularly known as JP, led the "Total Revolution" movement against the government of Indira Gandhi. This mass political movement, which gained momentum in the mid-1970s, focused on corruption and democratic values. It was a major factor leading to the declaration of the internal emergency in 1975 and the subsequent political changes in the country after its revocation.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q680. What is the effect of Article 352 on the legislative powers of a State?
Explanation
During a National Emergency, the State Legislature is not suspended or dissolved. It continues to exist and function. However, the Parliament gains concurrent power to make laws on any subject mentioned in the State List. This means that central laws will prevail over state laws if there is any inconsistency, effectively giving the Union overarching legislative authority during the crisis.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
671
(d) A-ii, B-i, C-iii, D-iv
672
(a) Centralization of executive and legislative powers for national security
673
(c) I, II, III and IV
674
(d) I and II only
675
(b) Alternative macroeconomic stabilization and structural reforms were implemented to avert the crisis.
676
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
677
(d) They become inoperative six months after the emergency ceases to operate.
678
(a) I and III only
679
(b) Jayaprakash Narayan
680
(a) The State Legislature continues to function, but Parliament acquires concurrent power to legislate on state subjects.
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.
