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UPSC CSE Prelims 2014 — Polity Questions with Answers

All 12 Polity previous-year questions from UPSC CSE Prelims 2014, each with the correct answer and a full explanation. Practise them as a free, timed mock test with instant scoring.

1. Q1.Government Schemes

   Consider the following pairs of Programme/Project and Ministry: 1. Drought-Prone Area Programme - Ministry of Agriculture; 2. Desert Development Programme - Ministry of Environment and Forests; 3. National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas - Ministry of Rural Development. Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

   • a)1 and 2 only
   • b)3 only
   • c)1, 2 and 3
   • d)None

   Explanation: Drought-Prone Area Programme and Desert Development Programme are under the Ministry of Rural Development, and the watershed project too is under Rural Development, so none of the listed pairings is correct.

2. Q2.Parliament

   Which one of the following is the largest Committee of the Parliament?

   • a)Public Accounts Committee
   • b)Estimates Committee
   • c)Committee on Public Undertakings
   • d)Committee on Petitions

   Explanation: The Estimates Committee, with 30 members, is the largest parliamentary committee.

3. Q3.Constitution

   Which one of the following Schedules of the Constitution of India contains provisions regarding anti-defection?

   • a)Second Schedule
   • b)Fifth Schedule
   • c)Eighth Schedule
   • d)Tenth Schedule

   Explanation: The Tenth Schedule of the Constitution contains the anti-defection provisions.

4. Q4.Constitution

   In the Constitution of India, promotion of international peace and security is included in the

   • a)In the Preamble to the Constitution
   • b)In the Directive Principles of State Policy
   • c)In the Fundamental Duties
   • d)In the Ninth Schedule

   Explanation: Promotion of international peace and security is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy.

5. Q5.Planning

   Which of the following are associated with 'Planning' in India? 1. The Finance Commission 2. The National Development Council 3. The Union Ministry of Rural Development 4. The Union Ministry of Urban Development 5. The Parliament

   • a)1, 2 and 5 only
   • b)1, 3 and 4 only
   • c)2 and 5 only
   • d)1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

   Explanation: Planning in India is associated with the National Development Council and the Parliament among the options, so 2 and 5 are correct.

6. Q6.Executive

   Which of the following is/are the function/functions of the Cabinet Secretariat? 1. Preparation of agenda for Cabinet Meetings 2. Secretarial assistance to Cabinet Committees 3. Allocation of financial resources to the Ministries

   • a)1 only
   • b)2 and 3 only
   • c)1 and 2 only
   • d)1, 2 and 3

   Explanation: The Cabinet Secretariat prepares the agenda for Cabinet meetings and assists Cabinet committees, but does not allocate financial resources, so only 1 and 2 are correct.

7. Q7.Constitution

   Consider the following statements: A Constitutional Government is one which 1. places effective restrictions on individual liberty in the interest of State Authority 2. places effective restrictions on the Authority of the State in the interest of individual liberty

   • a)1 only
   • b)2 only
   • c)Both 1 and 2
   • d)Neither 1 nor 2

   Explanation: A constitutional government places effective restrictions on State authority in the interest of individual liberty, so only statement 2 is correct.

8. Q8.State Government

   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 President's 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

   • a)1 and 2 only
   • b)1 and 3 only
   • c)2, 3 and 4 only
   • d)1, 2, 3 and 4

   Explanation: Recommending President's rule and reserving certain bills for the President are discretionary gubernatorial powers, so 1 and 3 are correct.

9. Q9.Executive

   Consider the following statements: 1. The President shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of India, and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business. 2. All executive actions of the Government of India shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the Prime Minister.

   • a)1 only
   • b)2 only
   • c)Both 1 and 2
   • d)Neither 1 nor 2

   Explanation: Statement 1 reflects Article 77(3); executive actions are taken in the name of the President, not the Prime Minister, so only statement 1 is correct.

10. Q10.Parliament

    Consider the following statements regarding a No-Confidence Motion in India: 1. There is no mention of a No-Confidence Motion in the Constitution of India. 2. A Motion of No-Confidence can be introduced in the Lok Sabha only.

    • a)1 only
    • b)2 only
    • c)Both 1 and 2
    • d)Neither 1 nor 2

    Explanation: There is no mention of a No-Confidence Motion in the Constitution and it can be moved only in the Lok Sabha, so both statements are correct.

11. Q11.Judiciary

    The power of the Supreme Court of India to decide disputes between the Centre and the States falls under its

    • a)Advisory jurisdiction
    • b)Appellate jurisdiction
    • c)Original jurisdiction
    • d)Writ jurisdiction

    Explanation: Centre-State disputes fall under the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

12. Q12.Judiciary

    The power to increase the number of judges in the Supreme Court of India is vested in

    • a)The President of India
    • b)The Parliament
    • c)The Chief Justice of India
    • d)The Law Commission

    Explanation: The power to increase the number of Supreme Court judges is vested in the Parliament.