Civics Polity · General Awareness

Indian Governance and Policy

932 Questions

Indian Governance and Policy covers the implementation of government schemes, public finance, and bilateral relations. It evaluates the impact of administrative and constitutional bodies in India. This subject is a mainstay in civil services and state examination prelims.

Government schemesBilateral relationsPublic financeConstitutional bodiesTrade and commerce

Indian Governance and Policy Questions

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. In certain cases, the Parliament may establish Joint Public Service Commission on recommendation of states.
  2. Indian Foreign Services come under Central Services.
  3. All India Services are regulated by the Parliament, which gives more power to union over state.

  1. Only 1

  2. Both 1 and 2

  3. Only 3

  4. All 1, 2 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct. The Parliament provides for the establishment of Joint Public Service Commission for a group of states in pursuance of a resolution to that effect being passed by the State Legislatures concerned.

Statement 2 is correct. All India Services are different from Central Services. Central Services refer to services throughout the country. Indian Foreign Service is a Central Service. Statement 3 is correct. The conditions of service, recruitment, discipline, etc. are regulated by an act of the Parliament like All India Service Act, 1951. As All India Service officers are controlled by the Union Government, such services provide more control of the union over states.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is/ are correct?

  1. Half of the members of the UPSC should have held office for at least 10 years under the Government of India.
  2. Parliament does not have a role in deciding the salaries of the members of the UPSC.
  3. A member of UPSC is eligible for employment under the Government of India.

  1. Only 1

  2. 1 and 2

  3. Only 3

  4. 1 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct.  One half of the members of the commission should have held office for at least 10 years either under the GoI or under the government of state.

Statement 2 is correct. The entire expense of the chairman and the UPSC members are changed on the Consolidated Fund of India which is not subjected to vote of Parliament. Statement 3 is wrong. A member of UPSC on ceasing to hold office is eligible for appointment as the chairman of UPSC or SPSC but not for any other employment under GoI or state.
Multiple choice

Consider the following:

  1. UPSC is not concerned with the pay and service conditions of civil servants.
  2. UPSC is a central personnel agency.
  3. The members other than the chairman of UPSC are eligible for appointment as chairman of state public commission. Which of the above is / are incorrect?

  1. 1 and 3

  2. Only 2

  3. 2 and 3

  4. 1, 2 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct. Salaries, service conditions, etc. of civil servants is handled by the Department of Personnel and Training.

Statement 2 is wrong. UPSC is a central recruiting agency. Statement 3 is correct. A member of UPSC on ceasing to hold office is eligible for appointment as the chairman of UPSC or SPSC but not for any other employment under GoI or state. The chairman of UPSC is not eligible for further appointment under GoI or state.
Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. The chairman of finance commission should have wide experience in public affairs primarily.
  2. One of the members of Finance Commission has the qualification of a judge of High Court.
  3. Grants-in-aid are given for promotion of welfare in tribal areas in certain states. Which of the above is / are incorrect?

  1. Only 2

  2. 1 and 3

  3. 2 and 3

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct. The chairman must be a person having experience in public affairs.

Statement 2 is correct. One of the member among the four other members of the commission excluding the chairman, can be a high court judge or one qualified to be appointed as one. Statement 3 is correct. The Union provides states grants-in-aid for the promotion of welfare of tribal areas.
Multiple choice

Consider the following statements about Planning Commission:

  1. It is an extra-constitutional body.
  2. It is also a statutory body.
  3. Planning Commission does not have executive responsibilities.

Which of the above is/are correct?

  1. Only 1

  2. 1 and 3

  3. 2 and 3

  4. 1, 2 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct. The Planning Commission was established by an executive resolution of the union cabinet on the recommendation of Advisory Planning Board. It was not made by the constitution. Statement 2 is wrong because it is not established by an act of the Parliament. Statement 3 is correct. It is only an advisory body and the implementation of its recommendations depends on centre and state governments.

Multiple choice

Who among the following is/are member(s) of the committee that recommends the appointment of the NHRC chairman?

  1. Speaker of the Lok Sabha
  2. Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha
  3. Opposition Leader in the Rajya Sabha
  4. Central Home Minister

  1. Only 4

  2. 1 and 3

  3. 1, 2 and 3

  4. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The chairman and members of NHRC commission are appointed by the President on the recommendation of six member committee including Prime Minister as the head, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, leaders of the opposition in both the houses of the Parliament and the Central Home Minister.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is / are incorrect?

  1. India has not yet acceded to the International Covenants on Economic Rights.
  2. International Covenants on civil, political, social and cultural rights are part of the UN General Assembly.
  3. A.M.Ahmadi Committee recommends for the non-recognition of paramilitary forces under armed forces.

  1. Only 1

  2. 1 and 2

  3. 2 and 3

  4. 1, 2 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is wrong. India has acceded to the international covenants on civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights by UN.

Statement 2 is correct. The UN General Assembly have adopted above such conventions also. Statement 3 is correct. Ahmadi committee recommended that the definition of the 'armed forces' should be changed such that it includes navy army and air force only.
Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. The President is the chairman of the Planning Commission.
  2. The deputy chairman of the Planning Commission submits the draft of Five Year Plan to the Cabinet.
  3. Certain central ministers can be part time members of the Planning Commission. Which of the above is / are not correct?

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. 1 and 2

  4. 2 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is wrong. Prime Minister is the chairman of the commission.

Statement 2 is correct. The deputy chairman of the commission is the de facto executive head of the commission and is responsible for formulation and submission of the draft of five year plan to the central cabinet. Statement 3 is correct. Some central ministers are appointed as part time members of the commission.
Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is a non-constitutional and statutory body.
  2. NRHC was established under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
  3. Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 also provides Human Rights Court in every district. Which of the above is / are incorrect?

  1. 1 and 2

  2. 2 and 3

  3. 1, 2 and 3

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct. It is not established by the constitution but it is statutory in nature as it is established by the Parliament.

Statement 2 is correct. The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 was enacted by the parliament for the creation of NHRC. Statement 3 is correct. Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 provides for the establishment of such courts in every district for speedy trials of violation of human rights.
Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. The emergence of Planning Commission has led to the curtailment of certain functions of the Finance Commission.
  2. Planning is also criticized as 'Parallel Cabinet'.
  3. Planning Commission and Finance Commission could not be merged together without amendment of the constitution. Which of the above is / are correct?

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 3

  3. 1 and 3

  4. 1, 2 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct. The overlapping work and responsibilities between the Finance and Planning Commission have been criticized.

Statement 2 is correct. Planning Commission has become powerful with time and its recommendations are considered both by centre and state. Statement 3 is correct because Finance Commission is a constitutional body.
Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct in relation to the Election Commission of India?

  1. It is considered an all-India body.
  2. It also conducts election for the office of the Vice President of India.
  3. It provides guidelines for Municipal and Panchayat elections.

  1. Only 1

  2. 1 and 2

  3. 2 and 3

  4. 1, 2 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct. It conducts election for the President, Vice President, Parliament and State Legislature. Statement 2 is correct. Election for the office of the Vice President is conducted by the Election Commission.  Statement 3 is wrong. For this, there is a separate State Election Commission.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. Finance Commission augments consolidated fund of a state for its Panchayats and Municipalities.
  2. Recommendations of the Finance Commission are not binding on the government.
  3. Grant-in-aid may include capital grants also.

  1. 1 and 2

  2. 2 and 3

  3. Only 3

  4. 1, 2 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct. It recommends the President about the measures needed to increase the consolidated fund of a state to aid both panchayats and municipalities.

Statement 2 is correct. These are only advisory in nature and not binding on the government. Statement 3 is correct. Grants-in-aid can also include capital grants apart from revenue grants.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. Both Finance and Planning Ministers are the ex-officio members of the Planning Commission.
  2. Planning Commission is specifically a centre-constituted body.
  3. Planning Commission is only advisory in nature.

  1. Only 2

  2. 1 and 2

  3. Only 3

  4. 1, 2 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct. The Finance Minister and Planning Minister are the ex-officio members of the Planning Commission.

Statement 2 is correct. The state governments are not represented in the commission. It is a centre constituted body. Statement 3 is correct. The commission drafts plan which is not binding on the government.

Multiple choice

Consider the following:

  1. Lord Ripon is the father of the local self government in India.
  2. Rajiv Gandhi introduced Nagar Palika Bill for the first time in Lok Sabha.

Which of the above is/are correct?

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1: It is correct. In 1882, Lord Ripon issued a resolution that has been hailed as the Magna Carta of local self government. It continued to influence the development of the local self government in India till 1947. He is called the father of local self government in India. Statement 2: It is correct. In August 1989, the Rajiv Gandhi government introduced the 65th Constitutional Amendment Bill (i.e. Nagarpalika Bill) in the Lok Sabha. The bill aimed at strengthening and revamping the municipal bodies by conferring a constitutional status on them. Although it was passed in Lok Sabha, yet was defeated in Rajya Sabha in October 1989.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. Governor constitutes the State Finance Commission once in every 5 years.
  2. Governor provides the composition of State Finance Commission.

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither of 1 and 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1: It is correct. Governor of a state after every 5 years constitute a finance commission to review the financial position of the panchayats. Statement 2: It is incorrect. The state legislature may provide for the composition of the commission, the required qualification of its members and the manner of their selection.