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 about the reality show “Bigg Boss” held in 2010 is/are correct? I. Actor Vindu Dara Singh won the reality show “Bigg Boss” II. The winner won Rs. 2 crore as prize money and a Skoda Octavia car III. Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd is the producer of the reality show “Bigg Boss”

  1. I only

  2. I and II only

  3. II and III only

  4. I and III only
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Vindu Dara Singh was indeed the winner of Bigg Boss season 3 (which aired in 2009-2010). The prize money was actually Rs 1 crore, not Rs 2 crore as stated in option II. The producer of Bigg Boss is Endemol India, not Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd as claimed in option III. Therefore, only statement I is correct.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements about the Yuva trains started by Railways primarily for students and unemployed youths is/are correct? I. The first Yuva train was started between Howrah and New Delhi II. The maximum fare charged from students and unemployed youth will be Rs. 99 III. General passengers can also travel in Yuva trains

  1. I only

  2. I and II only

  3. II and III only

  4. I and III only

  5. I, II and III
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Yuva trains were special low-fare trains introduced by Indian Railways in 2010 primarily for students and unemployed youth. The first Yuva train ran between Howrah and New Delhi. The fare for students and unemployed youth was capped at Rs. 99, while general passengers could also travel but at higher fares. The scheme aimed to make rail travel affordable for young people.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements about the Navratna Scheme for granting greater financial and managerial autonomy to better performing Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) introduced in 1997 is/are correct? I. As many as 19 CPSEs have the Navratna status as on April 30, 2010 II. The scheme was introduced during the tenure of Murasoli Maran as Union Industries Minister III. Oil India Ltd (OIL) is the latest CPSE to be granted Navratna status

  1. I only

  2. I and II only

  3. II and III only

  4. III only

  5. I, II and III
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

All three statements are correct. As of April 30, 2010, there were indeed 19 CPSEs with Navratna status. The scheme was introduced in 1997 when Murasoli Maran was Union Industries Minister. Oil India Limited was granted Navratna status in 2010, making it the latest addition at that time.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements about the $ 7.5 billion gas pipeline deal signed by the governments of Iran and Pakistan in 2010 is/are correct? I. The pipeline is approximately 900 km long II. The pipeline will start from Bandar-Abbas III. The pipeline will terminate at Iranshahr near the border with Pakistan

  1. I only

  2. I and II only

  3. I and III only

  4. II and III only
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Iran and Pakistan have signed an agreement to launch the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline with a provision for India's possible participation in the project at a later date.

The Inter-State Gas Systems and the National Iranian Oil Company signed the heads of agreement and an operational accord in the Turkish capital Istanbul on March 16, 2010.

Iran, in line with the provisions of the deal will provide Pakistan 750 million cubic feet of gas per day for the next 25 years, to generate 4000MW of electricity.
The 900-km pipeline is being built between Asalouyeh in southern Iran and Iranshahr near the border with Pakistan and will carry the gas from Iran's South Pars field.
The two countries signed the Operational Agreement (OA) and the Heads of Agreement (HOA), which deals with details regarding the transportation of gas to India “if and when India decides to join the project”. Under the provisions of the HOA, Pakistan will have the right to charge the transit fee for the transportation of gas to India. Bandar-Abbas is a port city on the southern coast of Iran (Persia), on the Persian Gulf. The city occupies a strategic position on the narrow Straits of Hormuz, and it is the location of the main base of the Iranian Navy.

Multiple choice

Railways is a subject on the?

  1. State list

  2. Union list

  3. Residual list

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

Railways is listed as Entry 20 in the Union List (Seventh Schedule). Only Parliament can legislate on railways, not state legislatures. This centralization ensures uniform operation across the national network.

Multiple choice

What was announced by Prime Minister Modi?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and choose the best answer to the question out of the four alternatives.

It was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that greater access to financial services will be made available to India’s poor. This is expected to affect nearly 500 million Indians who do not have access to a bank account as well as those who are at the mercy of money lenders who charge extortionary amounts of interest.
While India has grown to become the third largest economy in Asia, there are still thousands of farmers who are poor that commit suicide every year because they cannot repay loans provided to them by loan sharks.
According to Modi, small farmers takes a loan from a money lender that he cannot return and ends up taking his life as a result. Furthermore, Modi says, “For his daughter’s marriage, a poor man takes a loan from a money lender that he cannot return.”
This initiative by Modi was announced during the landmark annual Prime Minister’s address that is delivered amongst the ramparts of the Red Fort, located in Old Delhi and built during the 17th century. This annual address is held each year on Indian Independence Day. During this address, Modi offered several other initiatives, but he emphasized his desire for more Indian participation in the financial sector.
His other big announcement was the doing away of the Soviet-style State Planning Commission. This is part of his focus on overhauling the system of government. He stated when he took office in May that the system of government was peppered with competing “fiefdoms”.

  1. India’s poor will have greater access to financial services.

  2. 500 million Indian’s will have a bank account.

  3. Money lenders charge large amounts of interest.

  4. 500 millions Indians do not have a bank account.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
  1. Correct – Prime Minister Modi announced that India’s poor will have greater access to financial services.
    2. Incorrect – This is stated, but this is not what is announced by the Prime Minister. He announced that India’s poor will have greater access to financial services.
    3. Incorrect – This is stated, but this is not what is announced by the Prime Minister. He announced that India’s poor will have greater access to financial services.
    1. Incorrect – This is stated, but this is not what is announced by the Prime Minister. He announced that India’s poor will have greater access to financial services.
Multiple choice

What is the Prime Minister’s desire, according to the writer?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and choose the best answer to the question out of the four alternatives.

It was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that greater access to financial services will be made available to India’s poor. This is expected to affect nearly 500 million Indians who do not have access to a bank account as well as those who are at the mercy of money lenders who charge extortionary amounts of interest.
While India has grown to become the third largest economy in Asia, there are still thousands of farmers who are poor that commit suicide every year because they cannot repay loans provided to them by loan sharks.
According to Modi, small farmers takes a loan from a money lender that he cannot return and ends up taking his life as a result. Furthermore, Modi says, “For his daughter’s marriage, a poor man takes a loan from a money lender that he cannot return.”
This initiative by Modi was announced during the landmark annual Prime Minister’s address that is delivered amongst the ramparts of the Red Fort, located in Old Delhi and built during the 17th century. This annual address is held each year on Indian Independence Day. During this address, Modi offered several other initiatives, but he emphasized his desire for more Indian participation in the financial sector.
His other big announcement was the doing away of the Soviet-style State Planning Commission. This is part of his focus on overhauling the system of government. He stated when he took office in May that the system of government was peppered with competing “fiefdoms”.

  1. That several initiatives be offered for India’s population.

  2. To give his annual address for the nation at the Red Fort in Delhi.

  3. That more Indians participate in the financial sector.

  4. That he wants to do away with the State Planning Commission.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
  1. Incorrect – This is mentioned, but this is not the Prime Minister’s desire, which is that more Indians participate in the financial sector.
    2. Incorrect – This is not his desire. His desire is that more Indians participate in the financial sector.
    3. Correct – This is what the Prime Minister desires according to the writer.
    1. Incorrect – This is true, but this is something he announced, not his desire which is that Indians participate in the financial sector.
Multiple choice

Which of the following sentences impart the meaning of “changing the way government works”?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and choose the best answer to the question out of the four alternatives.

It was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that greater access to financial services will be made available to India’s poor. This is expected to affect nearly 500 million Indians who do not have access to a bank account as well as those who are at the mercy of money lenders who charge extortionary amounts of interest.
While India has grown to become the third largest economy in Asia, there are still thousands of farmers who are poor that commit suicide every year because they cannot repay loans provided to them by loan sharks.
According to Modi, small farmers takes a loan from a money lender that he cannot return and ends up taking his life as a result. Furthermore, Modi says, “For his daughter’s marriage, a poor man takes a loan from a money lender that he cannot return.”
This initiative by Modi was announced during the landmark annual Prime Minister’s address that is delivered amongst the ramparts of the Red Fort, located in Old Delhi and built during the 17th century. This annual address is held each year on Indian Independence Day. During this address, Modi offered several other initiatives, but he emphasized his desire for more Indian participation in the financial sector.
His other big announcement was the doing away of the Soviet-style State Planning Commission. This is part of his focus on overhauling the system of government. He stated when he took office in May that the system of government was peppered with competing “fiefdoms”.

  1. Part of Modi’s focus is on overhauling the system of government.

  2. Modi wants to do away with the Soviet-style State Planning Commission.

  3. The system of government is peppered with competing fiefdoms.

  4. Modi took office in May as Prime Minister.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
  1. Correct- Overhauling the system of government means to change the way the government works. Hence, this is correct.
    2. Incorrect – This is stated in the passage, but this does not impart the meaning of changing the way government works. Hence, this is incorrect.
    3. Incorrect - This is stated in the passage, but this does not impart the meaning of changing the way government works. Hence, this is incorrect.
    1. Incorrect - This is stated in the passage, but this does not impart the meaning of changing the way government works. Hence, this is incorrect.
Multiple choice

Which words mean unable to pay?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and choose the best answer to the question out of the four alternatives.

It was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that greater access to financial services will be made available to India’s poor. This is expected to affect nearly 500 million Indians who do not have access to a bank account as well as those who are at the mercy of money lenders who charge extortionary amounts of interest.
While India has grown to become the third largest economy in Asia, there are still thousands of farmers who are poor that commit suicide every year because they cannot repay loans provided to them by loan sharks.
According to Modi, small farmers takes a loan from a money lender that he cannot return and ends up taking his life as a result. Furthermore, Modi says, “For his daughter’s marriage, a poor man takes a loan from a money lender that he cannot return.”
This initiative by Modi was announced during the landmark annual Prime Minister’s address that is delivered amongst the ramparts of the Red Fort, located in Old Delhi and built during the 17th century. This annual address is held each year on Indian Independence Day. During this address, Modi offered several other initiatives, but he emphasized his desire for more Indian participation in the financial sector.
His other big announcement was the doing away of the Soviet-style State Planning Commission. This is part of his focus on overhauling the system of government. He stated when he took office in May that the system of government was peppered with competing “fiefdoms”.

  1. take a loan

  2. charge extortionary amounts

  3. do not have access to a bank

  4. cannot repay
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
  1. Incorrect – To take a loan does not mean unable to pay, but cannot repay does mean this.
    2. Incorrect – To charge extortionary amounts does not mean unable to pay, but cannot repay does mean this.
    3. Incorrect – Not having access to a bank account does not mean unable to pay, but cannot repay does mean this.
    1. Correct – Cannot repay means unable to pay.
Multiple choice

Which of the following statements about the Indian Railways is/are incorrect?

a. Indian Railways is the largest public sector undertaking in the country. b. The first train engine in India steamed off from Darjeeling to Siliguri. c. Indian Railways has existed since 1853.

  1. a only

  2. b only

  3. c only

  4. a, b and c

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This answer is correct as this statement is incorrect. The first train steamed off from Mumbai to Thane in 1853, covering a distance of 34 km.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct about the pipeline transport network in India?

a. There are three important networks of pipeline transportation in India. b. Solids can also be transported through a pipeline. c. The initial cost of laying pipelines is high, but after that, the running costs are minimal.

  1. a only

  2. b only

  3. c only

  4. a and c

  5. a, b and c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer as all statements are correct.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct about IVF (In-Vitro Fertilisation) Technolory & Clinic, the news about it recently in the month of Oct, 2010?

i. Bourn Hall Clinic is UK.based.

ii. Bourn Hall Clinic founded by Nobel Prize winner.

iii. The first IVF Clinic will become functional in Delhi by the middle of 2011.

iv. Bourn Hall Clinic intends to set up a chain of 16 IVF centres in India.

  1. i & ii

  2. i, ii & iii

  3. ii, iii & iv

  4. i, ii, iii & iv
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

UK.based Bourn Hall Clinic was founded by the pioneers of IVF, Mr Patrick Steptoe and Professor Robert Edwards (Noble Prize Winner). 

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements: SNDP Movement in Kerala focused on

  1. the right of admission to schools
  2. reservation in government jobs
  3. scheduling of deprived castes
  4. entry into temple roads Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. 1, 2 and 3 only

  2. 2, 3 and 4 only

  3. 1 and 3 only

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

The SNDP (Sri Narayana Dharma Paripalana) Movement led by Sri Narayana Guru in Kerala fought for the rights of lower-caste Ezhavas. It actively campaigned for temple entry rights and access to public roads previously barred to lower castes (statement 4). The movement also demanded the right to admission to schools for Ezhava children (statement 1) and pushed for reservation in government jobs (statement 2). Statement 3 about scheduling of deprived castes is not directly associated with the SNDP Movement's core agenda.

Multiple choice

Consider the following tribal development measures:

  1. U. N. Dhebar Commission on Scheduled Area and Scheduled Tribes
  2. The Task Force on Development of Tribal Areas (Prof. Vidyarathi Committee)
  3. P. Shilu Ao Commission on Tribal Development Programmes
  4. Verrier Elvin Committee on Multipurpose Tribal Development Blocks What is the correct chronological sequence of the above measures?

  1. 3-2-4-1

  2. 4-1-3-2

  3. 3-1-4-2

  4. 4-2-3-1
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This requires knowledge of the chronological sequence of tribal development commissions in India. The P. Shilu Ao Commission (3) was established in the 1960s. The U.N. Dhebar Commission (1) on Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes was set up in 1960-61. The Verrier Elwin Committee (4) on Multipurpose Tribal Blocks was formed in 1957-58. The Task Force under Prof. Vidyarathi (2) came later. The correct sequence 3-1-4-2 aligns with the historical timeline of these initiatives.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements.

  1. Zonal Councils have been established under an Article of the Constitution of India .
  2. There is a provision under an Article of the Constitution of India that an inter-State Council can be established by the President.
  3. The Union Home Minister has been nominated to be the Common Chairman of all the Zonal Councils. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. 1, 2 and 3

  2. 1 and 2 only

  3. 2 and 3 only

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

Zonal Councils are statutory bodies established under the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, not the Constitution. The Inter-State Council is a constitutional body established under Article 263. The Union Home Minister serves as the common chairman for all five Zonal Councils to facilitate coordination.