Civics Polity

Indian Polity and Governance

1,458 Questions

Indian Polity and Governance outlines the constitutional framework, administrative structure, and political system of India. This page provides practice questions on executive appointments, the role of councils of ministers, and disaster management. These topics are fundamental for civil services and state level exams.

President and GovernorCouncil of MinistersState administrationDisaster managementConstitutional appointmentsLegislature

Indian Polity and Governance Questions

Multiple choice

Leading questions are generally asked in

  1. examination in chief

  2. re-examination

  3. cross examination

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Section 143 of Indian Evidence Act states that leading questions are generally asked in cross examination.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. The Council of Ministers of a state in India is collectively, as well as individually responsible to the Legislative Assembly of the state.

  2. The Governor of a state has the power to appoint the members of the State Public Service Commission as well as the state High Court Judges.

Which of the statements given 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
D Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect because the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly, NOT individually responsible. Individual ministers are responsible to the Chief Minister, not directly to the Assembly. Statement 2 is incorrect because the Governor appoints State Public Service Commission members (with UPSC chairperson's advice), but High Court Judges are appointed by the President in consultation with the Governor, Chief Justice of India, and Chief Justice of the state HC.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. The Constitution of India grants personnel immunity to the President of India and the Governor of a state for official acts, but no such immunity is granted to the ministers.

  2. Civil proceedings may be brought against the President of India or the Governor of a state in respect of their personal acts only if six months notice has been delivered to them.

Which of the statements given 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
A Correct answer
Multiple choice

How can functions of the Union Public Service Commission be extended in respect of the services of the Union and also in respect of the services of any local authority or other body corporate constituted by law or of any public institution?

  1. By the President

  2. By a Resolution of the Union Government

  3. By an Act of Parliament

  4. By the Union Home Minister

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Under Article 320 of the Constitution, the functions of UPSC can be extended in respect of services of the Union and services of local authorities or bodies corporate ONLY by an Act of Parliament. This provides the legislative framework for expanding UPSC's jurisdiction.

Multiple choice

Who handles the work relating to the drafting of the Rules of Business of the Union Government?

  1. Office of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha

  2. Cabinet Secretariat

  3. Prime Minister's Office

  4. Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Cabinet Secretariat handles the drafting of Rules of Business for the Union Government, which allocate executive business among ministries. The Speaker's Office manages Lok Sabha functions, PMO handles political and strategic coordination, and Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs deals with parliamentary legislative business. The Secretariat serves as the administrative hub for executive business transaction rules.

Multiple choice

Whenever the Governor of a state has to address the state legislature, who among the following prepares his address?

  1. Chief Secretary of the state

  2. Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers

  3. Speaker of the Legislative Assembly

  4. The Governor himself
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Under Article 175 of the Constitution, when the Governor addresses the state legislature, the speech is prepared by the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister. This follows the parliamentary convention that the executive government is accountable to the legislature and the Governor acts on ministerial advice in this matter, as the speech outlines the government's policy and legislative agenda.

Multiple choice

Assertion (A):An Election Commissioner in the Election Commission of India cannot be removed from office except on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner. Reason (R):An Election Commissioner is appointed on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner.

  1. Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A

  2. Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A

  3. A is true but R is false

  4. A is false but R is true

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The assertion (A) is FALSE - Election Commissioners can be removed by the President through the same process as the CEC (impeachment), not on the CEC's recommendation. The reason (R) is FALSE - Election Commissioners are appointed by the President and do not require the CEC's recommendation. Therefore, A is true but R is false (option C) matches the constitutional reality.

Multiple choice

Assertion (A):The President of India causes every recommendation made by the Finance Commission under the provisions of the Constitution of India to be laid before the Lok Sabha only. Reason (R):The Finance Commission is a body set up under the provisions of the Constitution of India.

  1. Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A

  2. Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A

  3. A is true but R is false

  4. A is false but R is true
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The assertion (A) is FALSE - Finance Commission recommendations must be laid before BOTH Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha AND Rajya Sabha), not just the Lok Sabha. Article 281 requires the President to cause recommendations to be laid before Parliament as a whole. The reason (R) is TRUE - the Finance Commission is indeed a constitutional body under Article 280. Therefore, option D (A is false, R is true) is correct.

Multiple choice

Who is the chairman of the Civil Service Board in India?

  1. Secretary (Personnel), Government of India

  2. Cabinet Secretary, Government of India

  3. Chairman, Union Public Service Commission

  4. Establishment Officer, Government of India
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Civil Services Board is constituted under Rule 7 of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969. As per the rules, the Cabinet Secretary of India serves as the Chairman of the Civil Services Board, which includes the Secretary (Personnel) as a member among others. The Board advises the Central Government on matters concerning All India Service members.

Multiple choice

Who among the following is not a member of the committee which makes recommendation to President of India for appointment as Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners?

  1. Prime Minister

  2. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha

  3. A Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister

  4. Union Law Minister
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The committee for recommending CIC and Information Commissioners consists of the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister. The Union Law Minister is not a member unless specifically nominated as the Cabinet Minister representative. Therefore, the Law Minister is the correct answer as 'not a member' by default.

Multiple choice

The President of India may from time to time fix the number of Election Commissioners of the Election Commission of India on the basis of

  1. advice by the Chief Election Commissioner

  2. advice by the Prime Minister's Office

  3. recommendation of the Union Law Ministry

  4. the law made in that respect by the Parliament

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The President fixes the number of Election Commissioners based on law made by Parliament. Originally a single-member commission, it became multi-member based on the Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 1989 and subsequent amendments. None of the advisory bodies mentioned in options A, B, or C have this authority.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements in regard to appointment and functioning of the Advocate General of a state: (a) He should be qualified to be appointed as a judge of a High Court. (b) He shall hold the office during the pleasure of the Governor. (c) He shall receive emoluments as determined by the state legislature. (d) He will give advice to state govet. in legal matters.

Which according to you is not correct?

  1. Only (a)

  2. Only (b)

  3. Only (c)

  4. Only (d)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The remuneration to be received by the Advocate General is determined by the Governor of the state and not state legislature.

Multiple choice

The governor of state has the powers to exercise his discretion. Consider the following statements in this context: (a) Although, there shall be a Council of Ministers with CM as head to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his function, yet he enjoys powers to exercise his discretion. (b) If any question arises as to the validity of governors action of his discretion, under the Constitution the governors decision shall be find and shall not be called in question. (c) The question whether any, and if so what advice was tendered by the Council of Ministers to the governor shall be inquired into only by the court.

Which of the above is incorrect?

  1. Only (a)

  2. Only (b)

  3. Only (c)

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

Even if any advice was tendered by the council of ministers and government acted in his discretion, it cannot be required into by any court of law.