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

Precincts

Directions: Some words in the news item below have been highlighted. Select the best contextual meaning of the related words.

The President wants to depart from the existing protocol of being addressed as “His Excellency” and also wants minimal disruption in the Capital caused by the movement of his convoy. The President wants most functions to be held within the precincts of Rashtrapati Bhavan so that there is no disruption of traffic and less burden on the police.

  1. Neighbourhood

  2. Sectors

  3. Buildings

  4. Boundaries
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The President wants functions held within the boundaries of Rashtrapati Bhavan. 'Precincts' refers to the boundaries or enclosed area of a building or institution. Option D (Boundaries) correctly identifies this meaning - the defined limits or area of the presidential estate.

Multiple choice

According to the Indian Constitution, the Prime Minister of India is the ex-officio chairman of which of the following bodies?

  1. Planning Commission
  2. National Development Council
  3. National Integration Council
  4. Zonal Council
  5. Inter-State Council

  1. Only 1, 2 & 4

  2. Only 1, 2 & 3

  3. Only 1, 2, 3 & 5

  4. Only 1, 2 & 5
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Union Home Minister is the chairman of the Zonal Council. Rest all the given organizations are headed by the Prime Minister.

Multiple choice

Under which of the following conditions can the President of India exercise his discretionary powers?

  1. When no party has majority in the Lok Sabha and he has to choose a Prime Minister.
  2. When there is a dispute between the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.
  3. When the ruling party loses its majority in the Lok Sabha and recommends for dissolution of the House.
  4. When he decides to refer the advice of the Union Cabinet back for reconsideration.

  1. Only 1 and 3

  2. Only 1, 3 and 4

  3. Only 2 and 3

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

According to the Indian Constitution, the President does not have the power to use his discretion in case of a dispute between the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. As per Article 75 (1), there shall be a Council of Ministers, with the Prime Minister as its head, to aid and advise the President.
  2. As per Article 75 (3), the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Parliament.

  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 wrong: It's not Article 75 (1), but Article 74 (1) that provides for a Council of Ministers, with the Prime Minister as its head, to aid and advise the President. Statement 2 is also wrong: The Council of Ministers is not collectively responsible to the Parliament, but to the Lok Sabha. The Parliament consists of the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha and the President.

Multiple choice

In India, the Governor of a State is appointed by the

  1. President of India

  2. Parliament

  3. Prime Minister

  4. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Article 156 of the Indian Constitution states that the Governor of a State is appointed by the President of India and holds office during the President's pleasure. The Governor is the ceremonial head of the state, representing the Union government at the state level.

Multiple choice

Which of the following are included among the duties of Chief Minister in relation to the Governor?

  1. Communication to the Governor of all the decisions of the Council of Ministers
  2. Advising the Governor to recommend to the President that the government of the State cannot be carried in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution
  3. Supplying to the Governor information on such matters relating to the administration of the State as he calls for
  4. Assisting the Governor in making appointments in the State government

  1. Only 1 and 3

  2. Only 1 and 4

  3. Only 1, 2 and 4

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

All of the given points are included in the list of duties of Chief Minister in relation to the Governor, except statement 3. It is one of the discretionary powers of the Governor to acknowledge that the government of the State cannot be carried in accordance with the provisions of the constitution and to inform the President regarding the same fact.

Multiple choice

The Chief Minister of a State in India is not eligible to vote in the Presidential elections if

  1. he/she himself/herself is one of the candidates

  2. he/she is a caretaker of the Chief Minister

  3. he/she is a member of the Upper House of the State Legislature

  4. he/she is yet to prove his/her majority on the floor of the Lower House of the State Legislature
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The President of India is elected by an electoral college that consists of elected members of both the Houses of the Parliament and the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies, i.e. the Lower House of the State Legislature. The members of the Upper House of the State Legislature, i.e. the Legislative Council, do not participate in the Presidential election in India.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements in relation to the Advocate General of a State.

  1. He is the first law officer of a State.
  2. He is appointed by the President but his remunerations are determined by the Governor of the State.
  3. He must be qualified to become the Chief Justice of the High Court before getting appointed to the post of Advocate General.
  4. He holds the office during the pleasure of the Governor.

Which of the statements given are correct?

  1. Only 1 and 3

  2. Only 1, 3 and 4

  3. Only 1 and 4

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

Statement 1 is correct: Advocate General of a State is the first law officer of the State.

Statement 2 is incorrect: He is appointed by the Governor. His remunerations are also determined by the Governor of the State.

Statement 3 is incorrect: He must be qualified to become a justice of the High Court, and not the Chief Justice, before getting appointed to the post of Advocate General. Statement 4 is correct: He holds the office during the pleasure of the Governor.
Multiple choice

Which of the following immunities are given to the Governor of a State in India?

  1. He is not answerable before any Court for anything done in exercise of his official duties.
  2. No criminal proceedings can be launched against him during his term of office.
  3. No legal proceedings can be instituted against him during the last year of his term in the office.
  4. No Court can issue an arrest warrant or other punishment against him during the term of his office.

  1. Only 1 and 2

  2. Only 1, 2 and 4

  3. Only 2 and 3

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

All the given statements, except statement 3, are correct. It should be noted that no criminal proceedings can be instituted or continued in any form as long as a person holds the office of the Governor. However, no such immunity id available in case of civil cases, the only respite being that the Governor should be given a two months' prior notice containing full details of such proceedings.

Multiple choice

Which of the following were the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission on the qualification of a Governor?

  1. He should be eminent in some walk of life.
  2. He should be a person from outside the State.
  3. He should be a detached figure without intense political links.
  4. He should not be a member of the ruling party.

  1. Only 1 and 3

  2. Only 1, 2 and 3

  3. Only 1 and 2

  4. All of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

With a view to reviewing the working of the existing arrangements between the Union and the States in the changed socio-economic scenario, the Government constituted a Commission on June 9, 1983 under the Chairmanship of Justice R.S. Sarkaria.

The following recommendations were made by the Sarkaria Commission on the qualification of a Governor:

1. He should be eminent in some walk of life.
2. He should be a person from outside the State.
3. He should be a detached figure without intense political links. 4. He should not be a member of the ruling party.

Multiple choice

A state of emergency can be declared in India by

  1. the Prime Minister

  2. the President

  3. the Parliament

  4. the Government of a state
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The President of India has the power to impose emergency rule in any or all the Indian states if the security of part or all of India is threatened by "war or external aggression or armed rebellion".

Multiple choice

Which of the following steps can be taken by the President of India during a financial emergency?

  1. He can order a reduction of the salaries of the judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.
  2. He can suspend Fundamental Rights, except the rights under Article 20 and Article 21, of the Indian citizens.
  3. He can order reduction of salaries and allowances of the civil servants.
  4. He can direct the Union and the State Governments to observe such cannons of propriety as he deems desirable.

  1. Only 1 and 4

  2. Only 1, 2 and 4

  3. Only 1, 3 and 4

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

According to Article 358 of the Indian constitution, the Fundamental Rights or operation of Fundamental Rights of the Indian citizens can be suspended only if a 'Proclamation of Emergency' is issued on the grounds of a war or external aggression (but not on the ground of armed rebellion). Thus, no Fundamental Right is suspended during financial emergency.

Multiple choice

Who shall act as the President of India in the event of the offices of both the President and the Vice President being vacant?

  1. Prime Minister of India

  2. Chief Justice of India

  3. The Attorney General for India

  4. The Solicitor General of India

  5. Minister of Finance
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The constitution of India provides that the Chief Justice of India shall act as the President of India in the event of the offices of both the President and the Vice President being vacant.