Civics Polity

Indian Polity and Governance

1,708 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

Who can recommend abolition or the creation of the Legislative council in a state?

  1. Governor of the state

  2. advocate general of the state

  3. legislative assembly of the state

  4. the state council of ministers
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Under Article 169 of the Constitution, the Legislative Assembly of a state can pass a resolution to create or abolish the Legislative Council. This requires a special majority and then needs Parliament's approval. The Governor, Advocate General, and Council of Ministers do not have this independent recommendation power.

Multiple choice

The Speaker of Lok Sabha is removed by the

  1. President

  2. Majority of members of Lok Sabha

  3. Prime Minister

  4. Members of both the Houses of Parliament
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Under Article 94 of the Indian Constitution, the Speaker of Lok Sabha can be removed from office by a majority of all the members of the House. This ensures parliamentary control over the presiding officer. The President, Prime Minister, or both Houses together do not have direct removal power.

Multiple choice

Who in India is legally competent to declare war or conclude peace treaty?

  1. The Prime Minister

  2. Council of Ministers

  3. The President

  4. The Parliament

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

Under Article 53 of the Indian Constitution, the executive power of the Union is vested in the President, who is empowered to declare war and conclude peace treaties. While the President acts on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister, constitutionally, these powers are formally exercised by the President, not Parliament or the Prime Minister directly.

Multiple choice

The President of India can proclaim National Emergency

  1. on the advice of the Council of Ministers

  2. on the advice of the Prime Minister

  3. on the advice of the leader of the ruling party or set of parties in power

  4. at his own discretion
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The President acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers, which represents the ruling party or coalition. This constitutional convention ensures the President follows cabinet guidance rather than acting independently or on advice from just one person like the Prime Minister.

Multiple choice

Which one 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

The President and Governor both have clemency powers under Articles 72 and 161 respectively. Commuting death sentence (reducing it to a lesser punishment) is a power both exercise. Pardoning court-martial sentences is ONLY President's power (state list offences remission is only Governor's power).

Multiple choice

If a resolution impeaching the president is passed the president is considered to have been removed

  1. from the considered to have been removed

  2. once the chief justice of India takes out an order to the effect

  3. as soon as the Gazette of India notifies it

  4. once the new incumbent is elected

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

In India, once a resolution for impeachment is passed by Parliament, the President stands removed from that date. The process ends with the passage of the impeachment resolution. No further notification or procedural step is required for the removal to take effect.

Multiple choice

Which of the following does the president not appoint?

  1. Finance commission

  2. planning commission

  3. commission on official language

  4. UPSC

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

The President appoints the Finance Commission, UPSC, and Commission on Official Language. However, the Planning Commission (now NITI Aayog) was an executive body established by a government resolution, not a constitutional appointment. The President did not appoint its members.

Multiple choice

The president has the power to remove all the following except

  1. Attorney - General of India

  2. Governor of a state

  3. Council of minister

  4. none of these

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

The President can remove the Governor of a state, and the Attorney General of India serves at the President's pleasure (can be removed). However, the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha and can only be removed by losing its confidence, not by the President's direct action.

Multiple choice

The president selects as prime minister I. the leader of the party minister II. any one he whishes to III. the person who is in a position to win the confidence of the majority in Lok Sabha
IV. the leader of the party having a majority of seats in either Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha

  1. I only

  2. I or III

  3. III or IV

  4. I, III or IV
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The President appoints the Prime Minister. By convention, this is the leader of the majority party in Lok Sabha (option I). If no single party has a majority, the President appoints the person most likely to command majority support in Lok Sabha (option III). The President does not arbitrarily choose anyone or consider Rajya Sabha strength for this appointment.

Multiple choice

Which one of the following expenditures is not charged on the consolidated fund of India?

  1. Salary and allowances of the president of India

  2. Salary and allowances of the Governor of a State of India

  3. Salary and allowances of the justice of the Supreme Court of India

  4. Salary and allowances of the speaker of the Lok Sabha
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The salaries and allowances of Governors are charged on the Consolidated Fund of the STATE, not the Consolidated Fund of India. Items charged on the Consolidated Fund of India include the President's salary, Supreme Court judges' salary, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, etc. State Governors' salaries are a state expenditure.

Multiple choice

Who among the following is constitutionally empowered to declare a geographic area as a scheduled area?

  1. Governor

  2. Chief Minister

  3. Prime Minister

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

The President of India has the constitutional power to declare any geographic area as a Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule. This power is derived from Article 244(1) of the Constitution and the Fifth Schedule provisions. The Governor has powers relating to Scheduled Areas but cannot declare them.