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

Which of the following are the discretionary powers given to the Governor of a State?

  1. Sending a report to the President of India for imposing the Presidents rule.
  2. Appointing the Ministers
  3. Reserving certain bills passed by the State Legislature for consideration of the President of India.
  4. Making the rules to conduct the business of the State Government.

Select the correct option from the following.

  1. 1 and 2 only

  2. 1 and 3 only

  3. 2, 3 and 4 only

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

Article 166 says: Governor shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of the State, and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business in so far as it is not business with respect to which the Governor is by or under this Constitution required to act in his discretion. This implies that fourth is not a correct statement.

Multiple choice

The mayor of the Corporation is

  1. elected by the people

  2. eected by the members of the Corporation

  3. appointed by the Chief Minister

  4. appointed by the Government
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Multiple choice

The Governor of a State is appointed by -

  1. The State legislature

  2. The Prime Minister

  3. The President

  4. The Parliament
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Governor of a State is appointed by the President of India. This is specified in Article 156 of the Indian Constitution. The Governor acts as the constitutional head of the state and serves as the President's representative at the state level.

Multiple choice

Who is a Chief Minister?

  1. Deputy Prime Minister.

  2. The leader of the Union Territory.

  3. The Leader of the Legislative Assembly in a State.

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

The Chief Minister is the leader of the Legislative Assembly in a State. They head the elected government and are responsible for running the state administration. The CM leads the majority party or coalition in the state legislature.

Multiple choice

Who appoints the Chief Minister?

  1. The Governor of the State

  2. The Prime Minister

  3. The Legislative Assembly

  4. The Supreme Court
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Governor of the State appoints the Chief Minister. According to Article 164, the Governor appoints the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Legislative Assembly as the Chief Minister. The Governor acts on the constitutional provision that the CM must enjoy the confidence of the Assembly.

Multiple choice

Who elects the Prime Minister?

  1. The people

  2. The President

  3. The Parliament

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

The Prime Minister is elected by the Parliament (specifically the Lok Sabha). The PM is the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Lok Sabha. The President appoints the PM, but the PM must command the confidence of the Lok Sabha.

Multiple choice

The judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by

  1. the Prime Minister of India

  2. the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

  3. the President of India

  4. the Indian Parliament
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Supreme Court judges are appointed by the President of India. The President acts on the advice of the government (including the Prime Minister and the Law Minister) and based on recommendations from the Collegium of Supreme Court judges. The President makes the formal appointment.

Multiple choice

When can the President declare emergency?

  1. When there is a breakdown of the Constitutional machinery.

  2. When the security of India is threatened.

  3. When the financial stability is endangered.

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

The President can declare emergency under three situations: breakdown of Constitutional machinery in a State (Article 356), threat to India's security (Article 352), or threat to financial stability (Article 360). Therefore, 'Any or all of the above' is correct.

Multiple choice

Who presides over the Rajya Sabha?

  1. The President of India.

  2. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

  3. The Vice-President

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

The Vice-President of India presides over the Rajya Sabha. The Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The Speaker presides over the Lok Sabha, while the Vice-President has a similar role for the Upper House.

Multiple choice

Which body makes laws?

  1. The President

  2. The Prime Minister

  3. The Parliament

  4. The Supreme Court
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Parliament makes laws for the country. Parliament consists of the President, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha. It has the power to make laws on subjects in the Union List and Concurrent List. State legislatures make laws for states.

Multiple choice

In whom is the real power invested in India?

  1. The President

  2. The Prime Minister

  3. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

  4. All of them

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

The Prime Minister holds real executive power in India. While the President is the nominal head, the PM and Council of Ministers exercise actual power. The PM is the head of government and leads the executive branch, while the President is the head of state.

Multiple choice

Before Indian independence, how was the post of Deputy Speaker in the Central Legislative Assembly called?

  1. Vice President

  2. Vice Chairman

  3. Deputy President

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

Before independence, the presiding officer's deputy in the Central Legislative Assembly was called the 'Deputy President'. This terminology changed to 'Deputy Speaker' after independence when the Constituent Assembly of India became the Provisional Parliament and adopted new nomenclature based on Westminster conventions.

Multiple choice

Who fixes salaries and allowances for the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha?

  1. Lok Sabha

  2. Rajya Sabha

  3. Members of the Parliament

  4. Parliament by law
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Parliament determines salaries and allowances for the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha by law. This is done through legislation as specified in the Constitution. This ensures independence of the legislature from executive influence in financial matters.