1. Polity Analysis: vs CSAT 2013
    1. Polity: Analysis vs other exam
    2. Polity Brief Analysis: CSAT 2014 itself
  2. How to approach Polity in CSAT-2015?
  3. Answers: Polity Executive (2MCQ)
    1. President’s Powers
    2. Governor’s discretionary power
  4. Answers: Legislature related (3MCQ)
    1. No Confidence motion
    2. Parliament Committees
    3. 10th Sch. Anti-defection
  5. Answers: Judiciary related (2MCQ)
    1. SC jurisdiction
    2. SC No. of Judges
  6. Answers: Organizations (2MCQ)
    1. Five year Planning
    2. Cabinet Secretariat, Functions of
  7. Answers: Constitution- Basics (2MCQ)
    1. DPSP
    2. Constitutional Government

Polity Analysis: vs CSAT 2013

CSAT 2014 Polity analysis

CSAT 2013 2014
18 MCQ from Polity Only 11. Drastic reduction – to make “space” for environment and agriculture (perhaps for IFoS?)
no current affairs same
majority were easy and could be solved from Laxmikanth same
majority MCQs from “executive, legislature and Constitution-basics” same
Question  involving NDC and Planning commission Yes
DPSP list item Yes
Governor removal Governor power
bodies asked yes

Polity: Analysis vs other exam

Among CDS, CAPF and CSAT conducted this year, You can see some continuity and some divergence.

CDS & CAPF 2014 CSAT-2014 (prelims)
CAPF 2014:Consider the following statements about Constitutional Government:

  1. It is a form of limited government
  2. One where Constitution is the basis of public authority
  3. One where Monarch is the formal Head of the State
  4. One where there is always universal adult franchise

Then you had to find out correct statements.

 CSAT 2014: 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

Then you had to find out correct statements.
CAPF: asked about functions of governor Yes they too asked.
Both CDS and CAPF asked questions about function of parliamentary Committee. Asked name of Largest Committee. (So in a way, although “ascending-descending” order type MCQs did not come in Economy but that type of question came here in polity.
Asked current affairs based polity e.g. Expenditure limit in Lok Sabha Nothing from current based polity- election, representation of people’s act, VVPAT etc. nothing
Ventured into ULB, PRI Did not
Ventured into more details of parliamentary procedures, powers of Dy.Speaker etc. beyond what’s given in Laxmikanth. Did not.
Asked questions from Chapters on President and Parliament. That’s evergreen topic, just like Buddhism, Jainism. Here too, questions came from President and parliament.
Asked about “Bodies” (e.g. membership in NHRC) some
Some questions from NCERT political science  (e.g. correct meaning of democracy) Nope.

 

Polity Weightage: CDS, CAPF and CSAT
2014 CDS(I) CAPF CSAT
Polity MCQs 23 20 11
Total MCQs 120 125 100
% wise 19% 16% 11%
Compared tolast yearof the same exam Drastic Increase Increased decreased

Polity Brief Analysis: CSAT 2014 itself

  • Debatable. Depends on preparation level
  • 9 out of 11 questions, could be solved DIRECTLY from the book  M.Laxmikanth’s book, Therefore putting them under Easy to Moderate level difficulty.
Q difficulty
President power Easy
Gov.power Easy but prone to silly mistakes.
no confidence Easy / debatable depending on how you interpret “only”
Largest Committee Moderate. In the pre-CSAT era, Public Administration players used to religiously mugup Committee membership tables for prelims. But in the recent years, players would have stopped bothering with trivial highest-lowest, ascending-descending orders.
10th Schedule Ridiculously easy. Some serious players may have even felt this MCQ to be an insult to their intelligence.
Sc jurisdiction Same as above
DPSP international peace Same as above
SC no. of judges Easy. Although some may have got confused about “president” instead of parliament. thinking that President signs and appoints them so he ‘decides’.
Bodies associated with planning Easy / debatable depending on how your interpret “planning”

Detailed explanation scroll down to see individual MCQs

Outside Laxmikanth

Cabinet Secretariat
  • Easy / Moderate
  • One can solve it through ‘logic’ as well, but usually players hesitate doing that in UPSC (which is a good thing otherwise because as such gut-feeling=grave digging.)
  • Half of the answer given in India Yearbook 2014, Chapter2 Polity. But it’s silent on ‘cabinet agenda’.
  • Verbatim answer given in Laxmikanth’s Public Administration book.
Constitutional Government Difficult because multiple interpretations. I could not locate Verbatim answer.

How to approach Polity in CSAT-2015?

Yes, after all the purpose of doing this answerkey majoori is not cut-off speculation but to fine tune strategy for next year.

  1. NCERT Political science must be read. Even though no questions came from CSAT-2014), but it has its utilities.
  2. Indian Polity by M.Laxmikanth (Tata Macgrawhill Publication) must be used as Base-book for polity theory. All chapters, appendix must be prepared in thorough detail, all mock questions must be solved. Although recent exams have been mainly focused President, parliament and DPSP chapters and overall easier nature of question compared to last year. BUT you cannot take anything for granted in UPSC.
  3. India Yearbook’s Chapter 3 (Polity) must be read.
  4. Polity Current affairs must be prepared throughout the year, from TheHINDU.
  5. Because, even though current polity not asked in CSAT-2014, but Mains-2013 GS paper II descriptive questions on polity, had the current flavor.
  6. Besides Current Polity important for interviews and backup exams (SSC, CAPF) etc. anyways.

Answers: Polity Executive (2MCQ)

President’s Powers

Q1. 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.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

Ref: Laxmikanth 4th edition. Pg 17.7 Topic: Executive Powers of President.

  1. Statement 1 is correct. (Article 77(3) uses the same wording “Shall”).
  2. All executive actions of the Government of India shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the PRESIDENT (not prime minister). Therefore, statement 2 is wrong.

Therefore, Answer: (a) 1 only

Governor’s discretionary power

Q2. 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

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 1 and 3 only.
  3. 2, 3 and 4 only.
  4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

We must use elimination method, otherwise there is good chance of making silly mistakes.

Ref. Laxmikanth Page26.10, bottom lines: The governor has Constitutional discretion in following cases:

  • Reservation of bill for consideration of the President.
  • Recommendation of the imposition of President’s rule.

Therefore, statement 1 and 3 are definitely right. Eliminate all choices, that donot have (1 and 3) together.

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 1 and 3 only.
  3. 2, 3 and 4 only.
  4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Now we are left with B and D. Let’s focus attention to statement 2. Appointing the Ministers

As per Laxmikanth Chapter chief minister, Page 27.2, last section.

“The chief minister enjoys following powers….Governor only appoints those persons as ministers who are recommended by the Chief Minister.”

In other words Governor doesn’t have “Discretion” in appointment of the minister.

Therefore, #2 is wrong.  Eliminate choices involving number 2.

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 1 and 3 only.
  3. 2, 3 and 4 only.
  4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Therefore, B is the final answer.

Answers: Legislature related (3MCQ)

No Confidence motion

1. 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.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c) both 1 and 2

Ref: Laxmikanth chapter on parliament, Page 22.15

  • Art 75 says that the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to Loksabha. In other words, Lok Sabha can remove them by passing a no-confidence motion. But the word “no confidence motion” itself is not given in Constitution itself, it comes from Rule 198 of LokSabha Rules. Therefore statement 1 is right, NCM not in Constitution.
  • Same chapter page 22.29. Rajya Sabha cannot pass cannot remove council of ministers by passing no-confidence motion. Meaning- statement 2 also correct- no confidence motion can be introduced, only in Lok Sabha.
  • Therefore, Answer C Both 1 and 2 correct.

Counter view:

No confidence motion can be introduced in Vidhan Sabha therefore statement #2 is wrong. because it uses the word “only” Therefore, answer is (B) only 2.

Final Answer? UPSC’s official answerkey. sometimes they drag the “only” logic, sometimes they don’t. (as i’ve observed in some of the economy questions in past exam, so pendulum can swing either way.)

 

Parliament Committees

Q2. Which one of the following is the largest Committee of the Parliament?

  1. The Committee on Public Accounts
  2. The Committee on Estimates
  3. The Committee on Public Undertakings
  4. The Committee on Petitions

Ref: Laxmikanth Chapter on Parliament. Page 22.30 to 22.33

Committee on No. of members
Public Accounts 22
Estimates 30
Public Undertakings 22
Petitions. LS(15) , RS(10)

Therefore, largest Committee is Estimates, given its 30 members. Hence answer is (b)

10th Sch. Anti-defection

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

  1. Second Schedule
  2. Fifth Schedule
  3. Eighth Schedule
  4. Tenth Schedule

Ans: (d) Tenth Schedule

Ref: Laxmikanth ch.67, opening paragraph

The 52nd Amendment act of 1985, added 10th schedule to the Constitution. This is often referred to as anti-defection law.

Answers: Judiciary related (2MCQ)

SC jurisdiction

Q1. The power of the Supreme Court of India to decide disputes between the Centre and the States falls under its

  1. advisory jurisdiction
  2. appellate jurisdiction.
  3. original jurisdiction  
  4. writ jurisdiction

Laxmikanth Chapter on Supreme court. Page 25.5. Topic “original jurisdiction”.

“…As a federal court, the supreme court decides the disputes between centre and one or more states….”

Therefore, Answer (C)Original Jurisdiction

SC No. of Judges

Q2. The power to increase the number of judges in the Supreme Court of India is vested in

  1. the President of India
  2. the Parliament
  3. the Chief Justice of India
  4. The Law Commission

Laxmikanth Chapter on Supreme court. Page 25.1 Topic “organization of Supreme court”:- …Parliament has increased number of judges from 10 in 1956 to…..”

Therefore, answer: (b) Parliament.

Answers: Organizations (2MCQ)

Five year Planning

Q1. 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

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. 1, 2 and 5 only
  2. 1, 3 and 4 only
  3. 2 and 5 only
  4. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Approach 1:

Finance commission is involved in distribution of taxes and grants. It is not involved in planning. So by just eliminating all options involving statement 1, we get answer [C] only 2 and 5 correct.

Approach 2 (just to cross check)

Laxmikanth chapter on National development council, Page 49.1

The draft five-year plan, prepared by the planning commission ‘s first submitted to the union Cabinet. After its approval, it is placed before the National development Council, for its acceptance. Then, the plan is presented to Parliament, with its approval, it emerges as the official plan and published in the official Gazette.

Therefore, 2(NDC) and 5(Parliament) correct. Answer [C]

Counter-argument:

all those are “stakeholders” and therefore involved. Hence answer (D) 1 to 5. Anyways, UPSC’s official answerkey=final judge.

Sidenote: there was also an MCQ on “theme” of five year plan but I classify it under economy.

Cabinet Secretariat, Functions of

Q2. 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

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 1 and 2 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3

Statement number 1 and 2 are correct. As per following resources

  1. M.Laxmikanth’s Public Administration book, Chapter on Union Government page 427. Both functions given verbatim.
  2. Cabinet Secretariat Website :- http://cabsec.nic.in/about_functions.php
  3. India yearbook 2014, Chapter 3 Polity, page 40. Accordingly statement #2 is correct. (Although its silent on 1 and 3).

Statement #3 outside the realms of cabinet Secretariat. Financial resources are allotted to ministries, as per the provisions in budget prepared by finance ministry. Therefore, answer C only 1 and 2.

Answers: Constitution- Basics (2MCQ)

DPSP

Q1. In the Constitution of India, promotion of international peace and security is included in the

  1. Preamble to the Constitution
  2. Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)
  3. Fundamental Duties
  4. Ninth Schedule

Ref: Laxmikanth Chapter 8 on Directive principles of State Policy, page 8.3

Article 51: to promote international peace and security and maintain just an honorable relations between nations between nations; to foster respect for international law and treaty obligations, and to encourage settlements of international disputes by arbitration.

Therefore, answer (B) DPSP

Constitutional Government

Q2. 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

Which of the statements given above is / are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only.
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

While both statements are correct as such. But are both necessary to explain “what is a Constitutional government?

Viewpoint1 Viewpoint2
Answer C, both correct Answer B, only 2
  • Art 19 – State can put “reasonable” restrictions. Art22 Preventive detention (but with caveats)=>1 is right.
  • Art. 20, 21, 22, => protection against excessive punishment, of life, liberty, arrest-detection=>2 is right.
  • While both is right, no doubt. But which one of them are essential to explain the term “Constitutional government”?
  • Only second term: places effective restriction on the authority of state.
  • Source: Indian Government and politics by Abbas Hoveyda Page9. A state is a Constitutional state, if it limits its powers and recognizes the rights of individuals as fundamental for their development.

Final answer: official UPSC answerkey.

Any corrections, do post in comments but with reference source.