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

Consider the following statements regarding administration of Union Territories (UTs):

  1. The President can appoint the Governor of state as the administrator of an adjoining UT.
  2. Only the UTs of Delhi and Chandigarh are provided with legislative assembly and a Council of Ministers headed by a Chief Minister.

Select the incorrect statement(s) from the given choices.

  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

Administration of Union territories

 

(1) Save as otherwise provided by Parliament by law, every Union territory shall be administered by the President acting, to such extent as he thinks fit, through an administrator to be appointed by him with such designation as he may specify.
 
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in Part VI, the President may appoint the Governor of a state as the administrator of an adjoining Union territory, and where a Governor is so appointed, he shall exercise his functions as such administrator independently of his Council of Ministers. (Hence, statement 1 is correct.)
The National Capital Territory of Delhi and Union Territory of Puducherry each has a legislative assembly and council of ministers. Some bills passed by the legislative assembly of the Union Territory of Puducherry and National Capital Territory of Delhi are required to be reserved for consideration and assent of the President.(Hence, statement 2 is incorrect).

Multiple choice

Who appoints the Chairman of the State Human Rights Commission?

  1. Governor of the s<font size="2">t</font>ate

  2. Chief minister

  3. President

  4. Prime<font size="2"> </font>minister
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Chairperson and Member of the State Human Rights Commission are appointed by the Governor on the basis of recommendations of a Committee comprising the Chief Minister as the Chairperson, the Home Minister, the Speaker of the Assembly and the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly as members.

Multiple choice

Who presides over the meetings of the Lok Sabha?

  1. Speaker

  2. Vice President

  3. Prime Minister

  4. President
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament, both presiding officers - Speaker and Deputy Speaker - are elected from among its members by a simple majority of members present and voting in the house. As such, no specific qualifications are prescribed for being elected as the Speaker.

Multiple choice

The Prime Minister in India will have to resign when

  1. the Rajya Sabha passes a vote of no confidence against him

  2. the Cabinet is dissatisfied with some of his policies

  3. the President loses his faith in him

  4. the Lok Sabha turns down his budget proposals
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Prime Minister in India will have to resign when the Lok Sabha turns down his budget proposals. If a budget is not passed, there is a no confidence motion. If the Prime Minister loses the no confidence motion, he has to resign.

Multiple choice

The Governor of a State can use his discretion in

  1. appointing the Advocate General of the State

  2. appointing the Chief Minister, when no party has a clear majority

  3. issuing ordinances

  4. dissolving the lower chamber before the expiry of its term
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Governor is a constitutional head of the state. Though in most matters he has to act on the advice of the Council of Ministers, he can exercise discretion in some cases. The Constitution does not specify these matters, but the matters in which he can act without the advice of the Council of Ministers, like the selection of Chief Minister if no political party has a clear-cut majority. 

Multiple choice

Who can discharge the functions of the President in the absence of both the President and the Vice-President?

  1. The Prime Minister

  2. The Chief Justice

  3. The Chief of Army

  4. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In such an eventuality, the Chief Justice, or in his absence, the senior most Judge of the Supreme Court of India discharges the functions of the President until a newly elected President enters upon the office or a newly elected Vice-President begins to act as the President under Article 65 of the Constitution.

Multiple choice

According to the Indian Constitution, treaty-making power is conferred upon

  1. the Prime Minister

  2. the Foreign Minster

  3. the Parliament

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

Correct Answer: The Parliament Article 253 occurs in Part XI which deals with relations between the Union and the States. It provides that "notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of the said Chapter, the Parliament has power to make any law for the whole or any part of the territory of India for implementing any treaty, agreement or convention with any other country or countries or any decision made at any international conference, association or other body".

Multiple choice

The powers of the President of India are

  1. beyond the Constitution

  2. in accordance with the Constitution

  3. in accordance with the Parliament

  4. in accordance with the Supreme Court
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Correct Answer: in accordance with the Constitution

Multiple choice

The Vice-President of India is elected

  1. by an electoral college consisting of all the members of the Rajya Sabha

  2. by an electoral college consisting of all the members of the Lok Sabha

  3. by an electoral college consisting of all the members of both the Houses of the Parliament

  4. by an electoral college consisting of the members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha (both elected and nominated members)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Correct Answer: by an electoral college of all the members of both the Houses of Parliament in accordance with proportional representation by means of single transferable vote and by secret ballot

Multiple choice

Who nominates 12 members in the Council of States?

  1. The President of India

  2. The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha

  3. The Prime Minister of India

  4. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Rajya Sabha has at most 250 members, of which 238 are elected indirectly by the legislatures of each state and union territory. Seats are allotted in proportion to the population of each state or union territory. The other 12 members are nominated by the President of India.

Multiple choice

Agent can be appointed by _________.

  1. Express Appointment

  2. Implication of Law

  3. Ratification by Principal

  4. Any of the above three modes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Agent can be appointed by express appointment, estoppel, implied appointment, ratification by principal and necessity, etc. Thus, all the given options are correct.

Multiple choice

Which of the following powers can be exercised by both the President and the Governor?

  1. Power to pardon a sentence by court-martial

  2. Power to remit a sentence in an offence relating to a matter on the state list

  3. Power to commute a sentence of death in certain circumstances

  4. Power to remit a sentence by court-martial
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Under Article 72 and 161, both the President and Governor have the power to commute sentences, including death sentences, in certain circumstances. Pardoning court-martial cases and remitting sentences in state matters are exclusive powers. Commutation is the overlapping power.

Multiple choice

The Vice-President of India is elected by

  1. members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

  2. members of the Lok Sabha only

  3. members of Rajya Sabha only

  4. members of the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and state Legislature
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Vice-President of India is elected by the members of an electoral college consisting of elected members of both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha). The election is by proportional representation by means of single transferable vote. The President is elected by both Houses of Parliament AND state legislative assemblies.

Multiple choice

Writs under Article 32 of the Indian Constitution can be issued by

  1. the Supreme Court

  2. the Prime Minister

  3. the President

  4. the Lok Sabha
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Article 32 of the Constitution is called the 'heart and soul of the Constitution' by Dr. Ambedkar. It empowers the Supreme Court to issue five types of writs (habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto, and certiorari) for the enforcement of fundamental rights. While High Courts can issue writs under Article 226, Article 32 is specifically for the Supreme Court.