Q801. The National Human Rights Commission is a statutory body established under which legislation?
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 801–810 of 944 questions
Browse Indian Polity and Governance chapters
Q802. Which of the following is a limitation on the powers of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)?
Explanation
A significant limitation on the commission is the statute of limitations regarding complaints. It cannot investigate any matter after one year has passed from the date of the alleged human rights violation. This rule is intended to ensure that inquiries are conducted while evidence is fresh, though it can sometimes restrict access to justice. While this limitation exists, the commission otherwise has wide powers to intervene in judicial proceedings and inspect detention centers. Its goal is to provide a swift response to violations, and the one-year rule encourages victims to report incidents promptly so that effective investigative action can be taken by the authorities.
Q803. Given below are two statements, one labeled as
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The functions of the NHRC are mainly recommendatory in nature.
Reason (R): It has no power to punish the violators of human rights, nor to award any relief including monetary relief to the victim directly.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The functions of the NHRC are mainly recommendatory in nature.
Reason (R): It has no power to punish the violators of human rights, nor to award any relief including monetary relief to the victim directly.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
Explanation
The commission functions as an advisory body, and its findings are recommendatory. It lacks the legal authority to punish violators or directly award financial compensation to victims. Instead, it submits its recommendations to the government or the courts, which then take the necessary executive or judicial actions to provide relief. Despite this limited formal power, the commission’s recommendations carry significant moral weight. Most governments accept and act upon its findings to avoid public and international criticism. This system ensures that the commission can highlight systemic issues without acting as a parallel judicial system, maintaining the balance of powers.
Q804. Which of the following statements is correct regarding the committee that recommends the appointment of the chairperson and members of the NHRC?
Explanation
The chairperson and members are appointed by the President based on the recommendations of a six-member committee. This committee is led by the Prime Minister and includes the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the Home Minister, and the Leaders of the Opposition in both houses. The inclusion of the Leaders of the Opposition ensures that the selection process is multi-partisan and transparent. This collaborative approach is intended to guarantee that the individuals leading the human rights commission have broad credibility and are not seen merely as political appointees of the ruling government.
Q805. Match the NHRC Divisions in List I with the Core Functions in List II:
| NHRC Division | Core Function |
|---|---|
| A. Law Division | i. Scrutinizes complaints and prepares cases for hearings |
| B. Investigation Division | ii. Disseminates information and creates human rights awareness |
| C. Policy Research, Projects and Programmes Division | iii. Undertakes independent on-the-spot inquiries |
| D. Training Division | iv. Conducts studies and advises on human rights policies |
Explanation
The Law Division handles complaint scrutiny, while the Investigation Division performs field inquiries. Policy research is conducted by the specialized research division to advise on broader human rights issues. Finally, the Training Division is responsible for spreading awareness and educating various stakeholders about human rights standards and the legal protections available. These divisions work in coordination to provide a holistic approach to human rights protection. By combining legal scrutiny with on-the-ground investigation and long-term policy studies, the commission can address immediate grievances while also working toward systemic reforms and better public awareness of fundamental human rights.
Q806. How is the financial autonomy of the NHRC maintained?
Explanation
The NHRC is funded by grants-in-aid from the Central Government after appropriation by Parliament. Its expenses are not charged on the Consolidated Fund like those of the UPSC.
Q807. Consider the following statements regarding the National Commission for Women (NCW):
I. It is a constitutional body established under Article 338 of the Constitution.
II. It was set up in 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.
III. Its primary mandate is to review the constitutional and legal safeguards for women.
IV. It recommends remedial legislative measures to the government.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. It is a constitutional body established under Article 338 of the Constitution.
II. It was set up in 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.
III. Its primary mandate is to review the constitutional and legal safeguards for women.
IV. It recommends remedial legislative measures to the government.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The National Commission for Women is a statutory body established under a 1990 Act, not a constitutional one. Its main responsibilities include reviewing the legal and constitutional safeguards for women and recommending legislative improvements. It serves as a vital link between the government and the female population to ensure gender-specific rights are upheld. The commission was formally set up in 1992. It plays a proactive role in identifying systemic gender biases in the law and suggesting remedial measures. By monitoring the implementation of policies, it ensures that the constitutional promises of equality and protection are translated into practical benefits for women across all sectors.
Q808. Which of the following powers does the National Commission for Women NOT possess?
Explanation
The commission has the power to summon individuals, request documents, and receive evidence on affidavits, similar to a civil court. However, it does not have the legal authority to award binding financial compensation directly to victims. It recommends such measures to the government or courts, which then execute the actual financial relief or legal penalties. This advisory nature is common among Indian national commissions. While it lacks direct punitive or compensatory powers, its findings and recommendations are highly influential. They often lead to significant policy changes, legal reforms, and targeted executive actions that provide long-term benefits and justice for women facing discrimination or violence.
Q809. Identify the correct pair regarding the composition of the National Commission for Women.
Explanation
The National Commission for Women has a Chairperson and five Members, with at least one Member each from the SCs and STs. The President does not appoint it directly, as the Central Government nominates it.
Q810. Match the Commissions in List I with the Nodal Ministries in List II:
| Commission | Nodal Ministry |
|---|---|
| A. National Human Rights Commission | i. Ministry of Women and Child Development |
| B. National Commission for Women | ii. Ministry of Home Affairs |
| C. Election Commission of India | iii. Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions |
| D. Union Public Service Commission | iv. Ministry of Law and Justice |
Explanation
Different bodies fall under different nodal ministries for administrative purposes. The Human Rights Commission is linked to the Home Ministry, while the Women’s Commission relates to the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The Election Commission works with the Law Ministry, and the Public Service Commission is under the Ministry of Personnel. These ministerial links provide the necessary administrative support and a channel for submitting reports to the government. While these bodies maintain their functional independence, their association with specific ministries ensures that their recommendations are integrated into the relevant policy domains and that they receive the necessary resources for their operations.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 801 | (a) The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 |
| 802 | (b) It cannot inquire into any matter after the expiry of one year from the date on which the act constituting violation of human rights is alleged to have been committed. |
| 803 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 804 | (c) The Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha is a member of this committee. |
| 805 | (a) A-i, B-iii, C-iv, D-ii |
| 806 | (b) The Central Government provides grants- in-aid after due appropriation made by Parliament. |
| 807 | (b) II, III, and IV only |
| 808 | (d) Awarding binding financial compensation directly to the victims of domestic violence |
| 809 | (a) Representation Requirement - At least one Member each shall be from amongst persons belonging to the SCs and STs |
| 810 | (a) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii |
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.