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 781–790 of 944 questions
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RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Constitutional and Statutory Bodies
Q781. Match the Articles in List I with the Provisions in List II:
Articles
Provisions
A. Article 324
i. Elections to the House of the People to be on the basis of adult suffrage
B. Article 325
ii. Bar to interference by courts in electoral matters
C. Article 326
iii. Superintendence, direction and control of elections
D. Article 329
iv. No person to be ineligible for inclusion in electoral roll on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex
Explanation
Article 324 vests election control in the commission. Article 325 mandates that no person is ineligible for inclusion in the electoral roll based on religion, race, caste, or sex. Article 326 establishes adult suffrage for Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Article 329 bars court interference in specific electoral matters, preserving the commission’s role. These articles collectively form the constitutional framework for India’s electoral democracy. They ensure universal participation, prevent discrimination, and protect the finality of the electoral process from excessive litigation, thereby facilitating the smooth conduct of regular and fair periodic elections.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Constitutional and Statutory Bodies
Q782. The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) enforced by the Election Commission of India comes into operation at which of the following stages?
Explanation
The Model Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines issued to regulate the conduct of political parties and candidates during elections. It comes into force immediately after the commission announces the election schedule. This timing ensures a level playing field by preventing the government from making populist announcements before polling. The code remains in effect until the completion of the entire election process. Its primary aim is to ensure that the ruling party does not misuse its official position or public resources to gain an unfair advantage over other contesting candidates or political parties.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Constitutional and Statutory Bodies
Q783. Which body is responsible for appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners?
Explanation
The President of India is empowered by the Constitution to appoint the Chief Election Commissioner and other members of the commission. This appointment is made based on the advice of the executive. Recent legal developments have also emphasized a consultative process to ensure the selection remains transparent and maintains the commission’s institutional integrity. While the President is the formal appointing authority, the Constitution allows Parliament to make laws regarding the appointment process. The goal of this framework is to ensure that the individuals heading the election body are persons of integrity and are seen as impartial by all political stakeholders.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Constitutional and Statutory Bodies
Q784. Which of the following best describes the advisory role of the Election Commission of India?
Explanation
The commission performs an advisory function regarding the disqualification of members of the State Legislature. When such a question arises, the Governor is required to obtain the opinion of the commission and must act according to that opinion. This ensures that disqualification matters are handled with expert, non-partisan oversight. This advisory power is binding, making the commission a critical arbiter in maintaining the legislative standards of the states. A similar role is played at the national level, where the commission advises the President on the disqualification of Members of Parliament, reinforcing its role as a constitutional watchdog.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Constitutional and Statutory Bodies
Q785. Consider the following statements regarding the powers of the Election Commission: I. It acts as a quasi-judicial body to settle disputes relating to the split of recognized political parties. II. It advises the President whether elections can be held in a state under President’s rule in order to extend the period of emergency after one year. III. It cancels polls in the event of rigging, booth capturing, or violence. IV. It determines the code of conduct to be observed by political parties. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The commission exercises diverse powers, including acting as a quasi-judicial body for party disputes and advising the President on holding elections during emergencies. It also has the authority to cancel polls in cases of electoral malpractices like rigging. Establishing the code of conduct for political parties remains a crucial administrative function. These functions highlight the commission’s comprehensive role in safeguarding the democratic process. By combining administrative, advisory, and quasi-judicial powers, it can effectively manage the entire electoral cycle, from the initial preparations and party recognition to the final certification of results and resolution of operational disputes.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Constitutional and Statutory Bodies
Q786. In the context of the Model Code of Conduct, if a minister announces financial grants in any form after the election dates are announced, this act is considered:
Explanation
Once the commission announces election dates, ministers and other authorities are prohibited from announcing financial grants, laying foundation stones, or making promises of public projects. Such actions are viewed as attempts to influence voters through the use of official position, thus constituting a direct violation of the Model Code of Conduct. While the code is not a law passed by Parliament, its enforcement by the commission is backed by constitutional authority. Violations can lead to strict warnings, censures, or even the filing of criminal cases under other laws, ensuring that those in power do not abuse state resources for electoral gain.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Constitutional and Statutory Bodies
Q787. Upon registration with the Election Commission, a political party receives the status of a National Party based on:
Explanation
A party becomes a National Party by meeting the Election Commission’s criteria, which are based on a minimum share of valid votes and seats in Lok Sabha or State Assembly elections.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Constitutional and Statutory Bodies
Q788. Identify the odd one out concerning the services to which recruitment is conducted by the UPSC.
Explanation
The Union Public Service Commission focuses on recruitment for All-India Services and various Group A and Group B Central Services. It does not handle recruitment for State Civil Services, as those are the responsibility of the respective State Public Service Commissions, which operate independently within their own state jurisdictions. This division reflects the federal nature of the Indian Constitution. Each state has its own commission to manage its civil service requirements. The Union commission only assists states if specifically requested by the Governor and approved by the President, ensuring clear boundaries between central and state personnel management.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Constitutional and Statutory Bodies
Q789. The President can exclude certain matters from the purview of the UPSC. However, the UPSC is NOT required to be consulted on which of the following?
Explanation
While the commission must be consulted on promotions, transfers on deputation, and legal expense reimbursements, it is not required to be consulted for selections to the chairmanship of various tribunals. The government handles these high-level judicial or quasi-judicial appointments through different procedures often involving the judiciary or specialized committees. The commission’s advisory role is centered on the career management of permanent civil servants. Specialized posts like tribunal chairpersons often require judicial backgrounds or specific domain expertise that falls outside the standard civil service recruitment and promotion frameworks managed by the commission.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Constitutional and Statutory Bodies
Q790. Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R): Assertion (A): The entire expenses of the UPSC are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India. Reason (R): This ensures that the expenses of the UPSC are not subject to the vote of Parliament, thereby maintaining its independence. Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
Explanation
Charging the commission’s expenses on the Consolidated Fund of India is a vital safeguard for its independence. This arrangement means the budget is not subject to an annual vote in Parliament, preventing the executive or legislature from exerting financial pressure. This ensures the body can perform its recruitment and advisory functions without political interference. This financial autonomy is a hallmark of major constitutional bodies in India. It guarantees that the commission has the necessary resources to conduct massive, nationwide examinations and maintain its administrative infrastructure regardless of the political climate or potential disagreements with the government of the day.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
781
(a) A-iii, B-iv, C-i, D-ii
782
(c) Immediately upon the announcement of the election schedule by the Election Commission
783
(d) The President of India
784
(a) It advises the Governor on matters relating to the disqualification of members of the State Legislature.
785
(d) I, II, III and IV
786
(b) A violation of the Model Code of Conduct
787
(a) Its performance in securing a minimum percentage of valid votes and seats in Lok Sabha or State Assembly elections
788
(a) State Civil Services
789
(d) Selections for chairmanship of tribunals
790
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
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.
