Q931. Under the Right to Information Act, 2005, what is the maximum number of Information Commissioners permitted in the Central Information Commission?
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.
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Q932. The following question consists of two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R). Examine these two statements carefully and select the correct answer from the options given below:
Assertion (A): The Central Information Commission functions as an independent body without being subjected to directions by any other authority.
Reason (R): The RTI Act mandates that the CIC shall exercise its powers autonomously to ensure the transparency and accountability of public authorities.
Assertion (A): The Central Information Commission functions as an independent body without being subjected to directions by any other authority.
Reason (R): The RTI Act mandates that the CIC shall exercise its powers autonomously to ensure the transparency and accountability of public authorities.
Explanation
To fulfill its role as a guardian of the right to information, the Central Information Commission is designed to function as an autonomous and independent body. The RTI Act explicitly mandates this independence so that the Commission can make impartial decisions on appeals and complaints without being subject to the directions or influence of any other authority.
Q933. Identify the correct statement regarding the selection committee for the appointment of the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners.
Explanation
The Chief Information Commissioner and other Information Commissioners are appointed by the President upon the recommendation of a three-member selection committee. This committee is chaired by the Prime Minister and includes the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister who is nominated by the Prime Minister for this specific purpose.
Q934. The Central Information Commission is a high-level body that oversees the implementation of the RTI Act. What is the precise legal status of the CIC?
Explanation
The Central Information Commission is a statutory body because it was established by the Parliament through the enactment of the Right to Information Act in 2005. It operates as an independent, high-level authority to enforce the provisions of the Act and ensure that public authorities comply with their transparency obligations, but it does not have constitutional status.
Q935. According to the RTI Act, all of the following persons are included in the committee that recommends the appointment of the Chief Information Commissioner, EXCEPT:
Explanation
The selection committee for Information Commissioners is purely executive and legislative in nature. It consists of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and a Union Cabinet Minister. Unlike the selection process for the Lokpal, the judiciary, including the Chief Justice of India or any Supreme Court judge, is not represented on this committee.
Q936. Following the Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019, the term of office for the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners is:
Explanation
Originally, the RTI Act of 2005 provided a fixed five-year term for Information Commissioners.
Q937. Read the following statements regarding the removal of the Chief Information Commissioner and choose the correct option.
Statement I: The Chief Information Commissioner can be removed by the President on the ground of proved misbehavior or incapacity.
Statement II: The removal can only take place after the Supreme Court, on a reference made to it by the President, holds an inquiry and recommends the removal.
Statement I: The Chief Information Commissioner can be removed by the President on the ground of proved misbehavior or incapacity.
Statement II: The removal can only take place after the Supreme Court, on a reference made to it by the President, holds an inquiry and recommends the removal.
Explanation
The Chief Information Commissioner enjoys security of tenure but can be removed by the President on grounds of proved misbehavior or incapacity. To ensure fairness, the RTI Act requires that any such removal can only happen after the Supreme Court, upon a reference from the President, has conducted a formal inquiry and confirmed the validity of the charges.
Q938. Under the Right to Information Act, a second appeal against the decision of the First Appellate Authority lies with the Central Information Commission. What is the standard time limit within which this second appeal must be filed?
Explanation
If a citizen is dissatisfied with the decision of the First Appellate Authority within a public authority, they have the right to file a second appeal with the Central Information Commission. The RTI Act stipulates that this second appeal must be filed within ninety days from the date on which the first appeal decision was received or should have been made.
Q939. Identify the incorrect statement regarding the penalty powers of the Central Information Commission.
Explanation
The CIC has strong financial deterrent powers, including the ability to fine a Public Information Officer up to twenty-five thousand rupees at a daily rate for unjustified delays. It can also recommend disciplinary action under service rules. However, the Commission does not have the judicial power to sentence an officer to imprisonment for contempt or for failing to provide information.
Q940. Apart from deciding appeals and complaints, what is a proactive function that the Central Information Commission is mandated to perform to ensure transparency?
Explanation
One of the core functions of the Central Information Commission is to promote proactive transparency. Under the RTI Act, the Commission has the power to direct public authorities to publish certain categories of information on their own initiative (suo moto). This reduces the need for citizens to file individual requests for information that should be publicly available anyway.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 931 | (c) Ten |
| 932 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 933 | (c) It consists of the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and a nominated Union Cabinet Minister. |
| 934 | (d) It is a Statutory Body. |
| 935 | (a) A sitting Judge of the Supreme Court nominated by the Chief Justice of India. |
| 936 | (c) Prescribed by the Central Government. |
| 937 | (a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct. |
| 938 | (d) 90 days from the date on which the decision should have been made or was actually received. |
| 939 | (c) The CIC has the power to sentence a Public Information Officer to imprisonment for up to one month for contempt. |
| 940 | (d) It directs public authorities to publish certain categories of information suo moto. |
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.