Q861. Read the following scenario regarding a government scheme evaluation and answer the question: In evaluating a government road construction scheme, a financial audit verifies that the allocated funds were spent legally with valid receipts. What unique perspective would a Social Audit add to this evaluation?
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 861–870 of 944 questions
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Q862. The concept of "Social Audit" was first introduced globally in the 1950s but gained modern administrative prominence due to the works of which social thinker/organization in the 1970s?
Explanation
Charles Medawar, through his work in the 1970s, significantly contributed to the modern administrative prominence of the social audit concept. He emphasized the importance of corporate and governmental accountability to the public, moving beyond traditional financial auditing. His ideas helped shape the framework for evaluating how organizations impact society, paving the way for more participatory and transparent governance practices worldwide.
Q863. Arrange the following key steps of a Social Audit process in a logical sequence:
I. Public hearing (Jan Sunwai) to discuss findings.
II. Verification of documents at the grassroots level.
III. Action taken report and follow-up.
IV. Gathering relevant documents (muster rolls, bills) from the implementing agency.
I. Public hearing (Jan Sunwai) to discuss findings.
II. Verification of documents at the grassroots level.
III. Action taken report and follow-up.
IV. Gathering relevant documents (muster rolls, bills) from the implementing agency.
Explanation
The social audit process begins with gathering essential documents from the implementing agency. These records are then verified at the grassroots level through direct observation and interaction with beneficiaries. Following verification, a public hearing or Jan Sunwai is held to discuss findings openly with the community. Finally, an action taken report is prepared to ensure that identified discrepancies are addressed systematically.
Q864. Which of the following is the most appropriate primary purpose of conducting a Social Audit?
Explanation
The primary purpose of a social audit is to ensure that public policies are implemented effectively by involving the community in the evaluation process. It acts as a participatory tool that bridges the gap between official records and ground realities. By promoting transparency and local oversight, social audits help identify leakages, improve service delivery, and make the administration more responsive to the public.
Q865. Match the terminology associated with Social Audit methodology in List I with their descriptions in List II:
| Terminology | Descriptions |
|---|---|
| A. Muster Roll | i. A local trained facilitator who assists the community in the audit process |
| B. Jan Sunwai | ii. The official attendance and payment record for daily wage workers |
| C. Village Resource Person | iii. A public platform where audit findings are read aloud and debated |
| D. Social Audit Report | iv. The final document summarizing discrepancies and community feedback |
Explanation
Social audits utilize specific terminology to define the process. A muster roll serves as the official record of attendance and payments for workers. The Jan Sunwai is a public forum for debating audit findings. Village Resource Persons are trained facilitators who assist the community, while the Social Audit Report summarizes the discrepancies and feedback gathered during the entire participatory evaluation process.
Q866. Consider the following prerequisites for conducting an effective Social Audit:
I. Proactive disclosure of all relevant documents and records.
II. Unrestricted participation of marginalized communities.
III. Protection and security for whistleblowers.
IV. Complete reliance on internal departmental evaluations without external input.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. Proactive disclosure of all relevant documents and records.
II. Unrestricted participation of marginalized communities.
III. Protection and security for whistleblowers.
IV. Complete reliance on internal departmental evaluations without external input.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
For a social audit to be effective, it must be supported by proactive disclosure of records and unrestricted participation from all sections of the community, especially marginalized groups. Additionally, ensuring the security of whistleblowers is vital for honest feedback. Relying solely on internal evaluations defeats the purpose of an independent social audit, which requires external perspectives and community-led oversight to ensure impartiality.
Q867. Find the odd one out regarding the primary stakeholders in a rural Social Audit process.
Explanation
Primary stakeholders in a rural social audit typically include Gram Sabha members, officials from the implementing agencies, and the beneficiaries of the specific government schemes. These individuals have a direct interest in the local outcomes and expenditures. While international bodies may support governance reforms, United Nations observers are not standard or mandatory participants in the localized social audit processes of individual villages.
Q868. Which specific section of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005 mandates the regular conduct of Social Audits?
Explanation
Section 17 of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005, provides the legal mandate for social audits. It requires the Gram Sabha to conduct regular audits of all projects undertaken within the Gram Panchayat. This statutory provision ensures that the implementation of the employment guarantee scheme remains transparent, accountable, and subject to the direct oversight of the local community.
Q869. Read the given Assertion (A) and Reason (R) regarding social audits and select the correct option:
Assertion (A): The social audit process under MGNREGA gained standardized legal backing through specific audit rules formulated in consultation with the CAG.
Reason (R): The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Audit of Schemes Rules were officially notified in 2011.
Assertion (A): The social audit process under MGNREGA gained standardized legal backing through specific audit rules formulated in consultation with the CAG.
Reason (R): The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Audit of Schemes Rules were officially notified in 2011.
Explanation
The social audit process gained significant legal and technical standardization through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Audit of Schemes Rules, notified in 2011. These rules were formulated in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to provide a robust framework for auditing. This collaboration ensured that social audits met professional standards while maintaining their participatory and grassroots character.
Q870. In Rajasthan, an independent society was set up to facilitate the conduct of social audits across the state, ensuring impartiality. What is the designated title of this body?
Explanation
To ensure impartiality and independence, Rajasthan established the Rajasthan State Social Audit, Accountability and Transparency Agency. This dedicated body is responsible for facilitating and coordinating social audits across various government schemes in the state. By operating as an independent entity, it helps maintain the integrity of the audit process, ensuring that evaluations of public programs are fair, transparent, and objective.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 861 | (a) Assessing if the road improved access and quality based on user feedback. |
| 862 | (c) Charles Medawar |
| 863 | (a) IV, II, I, III |
| 864 | (d) To bridge the gap between policy and implementation through participation. |
| 865 | (b) A-ii, B-iii, C-i, D-iv |
| 866 | (c) I, II and III only |
| 867 | (d) United Nations observers |
| 868 | (c) Section 17 |
| 869 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 870 | (b) Rajasthan State Social Audit, Accountability and Transparency Agency. |
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.