Civics Polity · General Awareness

Indian Governance and Policy

912 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 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.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. Governor places reports of Central Finance Commission before State Legislature.
  2. Central Finance Commission suggests the measures to increase the Consolidated Fund of the State.

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
B Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1: It is incorrect. Governor of a state places the recommendations of the state finance commission (and not central finance commission) constituted by him along with the action taken report before the state legislature. Statement 2: It is correct. Central finance commission suggests the measures needed to augment the consolidated fund of state to supplement the resources of the panchayats of the state.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. The first Municipal Corporation in India was set up at Bombay.
  2. The Rural Urban Relationship Committee recommended the merger of small town area committees with panchayati raj to avoid multiplicity.

Which of the above statements 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
B Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1: It is incorrect. In 1687-88, the first Municipal Corporation in India was set up at Madras. In 1726, Municipal Corporations were set in Bombay and Calcutta. Statement 2: It is correct. Rural Urban Relation Committee was set up in 1963-66, which was headed by A. P. Jain who recommended that small town area committees should be merged with the panchayati raj institutions to avoid multiplicity in the pattern of local bodies.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. A ward committee is constituted for wards having population more than 2 lakhs.
  2. State Election Commission makes provision with respect to matters relating to municipal corporation elections.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both 1 and 2

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

Statement 1: It is incorrect. A ward committee is constituted of 1 or more wards, within the territorial area of municipality having a population of 3 lakh or more. Statement 2: It is correct. Elections to the municipal corporations are conducted under the superintendence, direction and control of the State Election Commissions.

Multiple choice

Consider the following:

  1. There are 8 types of urban local governments in India.
  2. Notified Area Committee and Town Area Committee are among the types of urban local government.
  3. Pollution Control Board is a subordinate agency of the local municipal body. Which of the statements are correct?

  1. Only 1 and 2

  2. Only 2 and 3

  3. Both 1 and 3

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

Statement 1: It is correct. There are 8 types of Urban Governments. They are municipal corporation, municipality, notified area committee, town area committee, cantonment board, township, port trust and special purpose agencies. They function as autonomous bodies and deal with the functions allotted to them independently of the local urban governments (i.e. municipal corporations, municipalities, etc.). Thus they are not subordinate agencies of the local municipal bodies.

Statement 2: It is correct. They are municipal corporation, municipality, notified area committee, town area committee, cantonment board, township, port trust and special purpose agency. Statement 3: It is incorrect. Pollution Control Board is one among the special purpose agencies that are established as statutory bodies by an act of state legislature or as departments.
Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. At present, 73rd Amendment Act does not apply to the scheduled areas and the tribal areas in some states.
  2. Parliament can extend the provisions of 73rd Amendment Act to the scheduled areas and tribal areas through PESA.

Which of the given statements 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
A Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1: It is correct. The act does not apply to schedule areas of 9 states (Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh) and tribal areas in the 4 states (Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura). Statement 2: It is incorrect. Parliament can extend the provisions of 73rd Amendment Act to only the scheduled areas subjected to such exceptions and modifications as it may specify. Under this provision, the parliament has enacted provisions of panchayat, i.e. extension to schedule areas act, 1996 (PESA).

Multiple choice

Consider the following:

  1. During P. V. Narsimha Rao’s tenure, the Municipalities Bill was defeated in the Rajya Sabha.
  2. In National Front Government, the Nagarpalika Bill was lapsed due to dissolution.

Which of the above statements 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
B Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1: It is incorrect. In September 1991, P. V. Narasimha Rao’s government also introduced the modified Municipalites Bill in the Lok Sabha. It finally emerged as the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 and came into force on 1st June, 1993. Statement 2: It is correct. National Front Government under V. P. Singh introduced the revised Nagarpalika Bill in the Lok Sabha again in September 1990. However, the bill was not passed and finally lapsed due to dissolution of the Lok Sabha.