BPSC 2018 — Polity Questions with Answers
All 14 Polity previous-year questions from BPSC 2018, each with the correct answer and a full explanation. Practise them as a free, timed mock test with instant scoring.
Practice Polity as a timed test →- Q1.Important Acts
Which of the following terminologies are explicitly mentioned in the text of the Preamble to the Right to Information Act, 2005?
- a)Transparency of Information and Revelation of Information
- b)Informed Citizenry
- c)Paramountcy of the democratic ideal
- d)All of the above
Explanation: The textual preamble of the RTI Act, 2005 references all these concepts: establishing an informed citizenry, maintaining transparency of information, and acknowledging the paramountcy of the democratic ideal while balancing other public interests.
- Q2.Directive Principles of State Policy
Which of the following parts of the Constitution of India is legally non-justiciable in nature?
- a)Part III
- b)Part IV
- c)Part III and Part IV both
- d)None of the above
Explanation: Part IV of the Constitution, dealing with Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), is declared non-justiciable by Article 37, meaning they cannot be enforced directly through a court of law.
- Q3.State Executive
Which Article of the Constitution of India provides for a Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister at the head to aid and advise the Governor?
- a)Article 163
- b)Article 164
- c)Article 165
- d)Article 166
Explanation: Article 163 mandates that there shall be a Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister at the head to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his functions, except in matters of discretion.
- Q4.Non-Constitutional Bodies
Which of the following is a non-constitutional and non-statutory body in India?
- a)NITI Aayog
- b)Finance Commission
- c)Union Public Service Commission
- d)National Commission for Scheduled Castes
Explanation: NITI Aayog was established via an executive resolution of the Union Cabinet in 2015, making it an extra-constitutional, non-statutory body, unlike the Finance Commission, UPSC, and NCSC which are constitutional bodies.
- Q5.Constitutional Development
In the federation established by The Government of India Act of 1935, residuary powers were given to the:
- a)The incentive given by a bank to a merchant for accepting payments through debit cards pertaining to that bank.
- b)The amount paid back by banks to their customers when they use debit cards for financial transactions for purchasing goods or services.
- c)The charge to a merchant by a bank for accepting payments from his customers through the bank’s debit cards.
- d)The incentive given by the Government to merchants for promoting digital payments by their customers through Point of Sale (PoS) machines and debit cards.
Explanation: Under the Government of India Act 1935, residuary powers were vested in the Governor General, who could assign a residuary subject to either the federal or provincial list at his discretion.
- Q6.Constitution
The Ninth Schedule was introduced in the Constitution of India during the prime ministership of:
- a)1 only
- b)2 only
- c)Both 1 and 2
- d)Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation: The Ninth Schedule was added by the First Constitutional Amendment Act, 1951, during Jawaharlal Nehru's prime ministership, primarily to protect land reform laws from judicial review.
- Q7.Important Acts
The Right to Information Act, 2005 was enacted to provide access to information held by which of the following?
- a)1 only
- b)2 only
- c)Both 1 and 2
- d)Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation: The RTI Act, 2005 empowers citizens to seek information from 'public authorities' to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority.
- Q8.Political Theory
Which one of the following reflects the most appropriate relationship between law and liberty?
- a)1 and 2
- b)2 only
- c)1 and 3
- d)3 only
Explanation: In political theory, law is the condition of liberty — without laws to restrain arbitrary power, freedom cannot exist. Hence 'if there are no laws, there is no liberty' is most appropriate.
- Q9.Constitutional Bodies
Consider the following statements about 'GST Council': 1. It is a constitutional body. 2. It is chaired by the Union Finance Minister. 3. The Union Government has a one-third weightage of the total votes cast.
- a)1 and 2 only
- b)2 and 3 only
- c)1 and 3 only
- d)1, 2 and 3
Explanation: All three are correct: the GST Council is a constitutional body under Article 279A, chaired by the Union Finance Minister, with the Centre holding one-third and States together two-thirds of the voting weight.
- Q10.Parliament
Consider the following statements about the Money Bill: 1. A Money Bill can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha. 2. The Rajya Sabha can amend a Money Bill. 3. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha certifies whether a Bill is a Money Bill.
- a)1 and 2 only
- b)1 and 3 only
- c)2 and 3 only
- d)1, 2 and 3
Explanation: Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the Rajya Sabha can only recommend changes to a Money Bill, which the Lok Sabha may accept or reject — it cannot amend it.
- Q11.Executive
Consider the following statements regarding Article 361 of the Constitution: 1. No criminal proceedings whatsoever shall be instituted against the President or a Governor in any court during his term of office. 2. The President or a Governor is not answerable to any court for the exercise of the powers and duties of his office.
- a)1 only
- b)2 only
- c)Both 1 and 2
- d)Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation: Both statements reflect Article 361: the President and Governors enjoy immunity from criminal proceedings during their term and are not answerable to any court for the exercise of official powers and duties.
- Q12.Emergency Provisions
If the President of India exercises his power as provided under Article 356 of the Constitution in respect of a particular State, then
- a)the Assembly of the State is automatically dissolved.
- b)the powers of the Legislature of that State shall be exercisable by or under the authority of the Parliament.
- c)Article 19 is suspended in that State.
- d)the President can make laws relating to that State.
- Q13.Government Schemes
With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the following statements: 1. It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment. 2. It, among other things, will also impart training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy. 3. It aims to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce of the country to the National Skill Qualification Framework. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- a)1 and 3 only
- b)2 only
- c)2 and 3 only
- d)1, 2 and 3
- Q14.Fundamental Rights
Right to Privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of Right to Life and Personal Liberty. Which of the following in the Constitution of India correctly and appropriately imply the above statement?
- a)Article 14 and the provisions under the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution
- b)Article 17 and the Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV
- c)Article 21 and the freedoms guaranteed in Part III
- d)Article 24 and the provisions under the 44th Amendment to the Constitution
BPSC 2018 — other subjects
Polity — other years
Ready to test yourself on BPSC 2018?
Start the timed mock free →