Q711. Which of the following is the most appropriate definition of "Armed Rebellion" in the context of Article 352?
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 711–720 of 944 questions
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Q712. Under Article 355, it is the duty of the Union to protect every State against external aggression and internal disturbance and to ensure that the government of every State is carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. This duty forms the basis for invoking:
Explanation
Article 355 makes it the Union’s duty to protect every State and to ensure that its government is carried on in accordance with the Constitution. This duty is the basis for invoking Article 356.
Q713. The Balwantrai Mehta Committee was constituted in 1957 primarily to examine the working of which of the following?
Explanation
The Balwantrai Mehta Committee was appointed by the Government of India in January 1957 to examine the working of the Community Development Programme and the National Extension Service. The committee submitted its report in November 1957 and recommended the establishment of the scheme of democratic decentralization, which finally came to be known as Panchayati Raj.
Q714. Match List-I (Committees/Amendments) with
List-II (Key Recommendation/Feature):
List-I: (Committees/Amendments)
A. Balwantrai Mehta Committee
B. Ashok Mehta Committee
C. 73rd Constitutional Amendment
D. 74th Constitutional Amendment
List-II: (Key Recommendation/Feature)
i. Constitutional status to Urban Local Bodies
ii. Three-tier Panchayati Raj system
iii. Constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions
iv. Two-tier Panchayati Raj system
List-II (Key Recommendation/Feature):
List-I: (Committees/Amendments)
A. Balwantrai Mehta Committee
B. Ashok Mehta Committee
C. 73rd Constitutional Amendment
D. 74th Constitutional Amendment
List-II: (Key Recommendation/Feature)
i. Constitutional status to Urban Local Bodies
ii. Three-tier Panchayati Raj system
iii. Constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions
iv. Two-tier Panchayati Raj system
Explanation
The Balwantrai Mehta Committee recommended a three-tier Panchayati Raj system, while the Ashok Mehta Committee suggested a two-tier model. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act provided constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions in rural areas. Similarly, the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act granted constitutional status and a framework for Urban Local Bodies, ensuring structured local governance across India.
Q715. Consider the following statements regarding the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act:
I. It added Part IX to the Constitution of India.
II. It provides for a fixed five-year term of office for Panchayats at all levels.
III. It makes the provision of reservation for Backward Classes mandatory at all three levels.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. It added Part IX to the Constitution of India.
II. It provides for a fixed five-year term of office for Panchayats at all levels.
III. It makes the provision of reservation for Backward Classes mandatory at all three levels.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act introduced Part IX to the Constitution, providing a formal structure for rural local governance. It mandates a fixed five-year term for Panchayats at all levels. While reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is compulsory, the provision for reserving seats for Backward Classes remains a voluntary power exercised by state legislatures.
Q716. Which of the following statements correctly differentiates the recommendations of the Ashok Mehta Committee from the Balwantrai Mehta Committee?
Explanation
The Ashok Mehta Committee, formed in 1977, significantly deviated from previous models by recommending the official participation of political parties at all levels of Panchayat elections. This was intended to bring transparency and organized competition. In contrast, the Balwantrai Mehta Committee focused on a three-tier system of democratic decentralization primarily driven by local community leaders.
Q717. Given below are two statements, one labelled as
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The Ashok Mehta Committee recommended the replacement of the three-tier system of Panchayati Raj with a two-tier system.
Reason (R): The Committee believed that the Zila Parishad should be the executive body and the hub of planning at the district level.
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The Ashok Mehta Committee recommended the replacement of the three-tier system of Panchayati Raj with a two-tier system.
Reason (R): The Committee believed that the Zila Parishad should be the executive body and the hub of planning at the district level.
Explanation
The Ashok Mehta Committee recommended replacing the existing three-tier Panchayati Raj system with a two-tier model consisting of Zila Parishads at the district level and Mandal Panchayats. The committee believed that the Zila Parishad should be the executive body responsible for planning at the district level, given its administrative capacity and better resource management potential.
Q718. Which of the following is an incorrect statement regarding the provisions of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act?
Explanation
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act mandates that not less than one-third of the total number of seats in Panchayats must be reserved for women. Although some states have voluntarily increased this quota to fifty percent, the constitutional minimum remains thirty-three percent. Other provisions include establishing State Election and Finance Commissions to ensure regular elections and fiscal devolution.
Q719. Consider the following provisions of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act:
I. Organization of Gram Sabhas in a village or group of villages.
II. Direct elections to all seats in Panchayats at the village, intermediate, and district levels.
III. Granting financial powers to Panchayats to levy and collect taxes.
IV. Reservation of seats for SCs and STs in proportion to their population.
Which of the above statement(s) represents compulsory (mandatory) provisions?
I. Organization of Gram Sabhas in a village or group of villages.
II. Direct elections to all seats in Panchayats at the village, intermediate, and district levels.
III. Granting financial powers to Panchayats to levy and collect taxes.
IV. Reservation of seats for SCs and STs in proportion to their population.
Which of the above statement(s) represents compulsory (mandatory) provisions?
Explanation
Compulsory provisions of the 73rd Amendment include the organization of Gram Sabhas and direct elections for all seats in Panchayats at various levels. It also mandates seat reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes based on population. However, granting specific financial powers to levy taxes or collect tolls remains a discretionary provision left to state legislatures.
Q720. Identify the correct pair regarding the three-tier Panchayati Raj system established under the 73rd Amendment:
Explanation
Under the 73rd Amendment, the Panchayat Samiti is the intermediate (block) level, the Gram Panchayat is at the village level and the Zila Parishad is at the district level. The Gram Sabha is the body of voters in a village.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 711 | (b) A violent uprising against the state authority by organized armed groups. |
| 712 | (b) Article 356 |
| 713 | (b) National Extension Service and Community Development Programme |
| 714 | (a) A-ii, B-iv, C-iii, D-i |
| 715 | (a) I and II only |
| 716 | (d) Ashok Mehta recommended official participation of political parties at all levels of Panchayat elections. |
| 717 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 718 | (b) It guarantees a minimum of 50 percent reservation for women in all Panchayats. |
| 719 | (b) I, II, and IV only |
| 720 | (a) Panchayat Samiti - Intermediate level |
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.