1. Prologue
  2. Making of the Constitution
  3. Federalism & Emergency
  4. Citizenship and Election
  5. Fundamental rights, duties, weaker section
  6. Parliament
  7. Local Bodies
  8. Judiciary
  9. Bodies: Constitutional / Statutory
  10. Thinkers / Theories / Keywords
  11. Misc / Yearbook / Ministries & Dept

Prologue

  • Time Limit: 30 minutes. 2 Marks for correct answer; -0.66 marks for wrong answers.
  • Mitron, my [T25] series contains 25 Mock MCQ sets primarily aimed at UPSC IAS/IPS Civil Service exam aspirants.
  • I usually don’t give direct answers below the MCQs but indirect hints. Because, then you’ve read the MCQ again & apply logical reasoning skills. This will improve your mental faculties compared to a scenario where direct answers are spoon-fed.
  • This 42nd set contains Polity and Constitution from UPSC’s IES, Geologist and CDS exams conducted in 2020.
  • धीरे धीरे करते हुए, so far I’ve done 42 sets x 25 questions each = 1050 MCQs और पता भी नहीं चला!
  • Given the fact that UPSC Prelims even asks contemporary topics even from 2-3 years preceding the exam, so you should go through all of them available at Mrunal.org/Prelims
  • Majority of these MCQs can be solved from

Making of the Constitution

Q. Who among the following stated in the Constituent Assembly that on 26th January, 1950, India was going to enter a life of contradictions? (UPSC-CDS-i-2020)

(a) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

(b) Jawaharlal Nehru

(c) Mahatma Gandhi

(d) S. P. Mukherjee

HINT:

  • “We are going to enter into a life of contradictions. In politics we will have equality and in social and economic life we will have inequality. In politics we will be recognizing the principle of one man one vote and one vote one value. In our social and economic life, we shall, by reason of our social and economic structure, continue to deny the principle of one man one value. How long shall we continue to live this life of contradictions? How long shall we continue to deny equality in our social and economic life? If we continue to deny it for long, we will do so only by putting our political democracy in peril. We must remove this contradiction at the earliest possible moment or else those who suffer from inequality will blow up the structure of political democracy which the Assembly has to laboriously built up.”
  • This speech was made by the Drafting committee chairman Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on the 26th January, 1950 in Constituent Assembly.
  • So the answer is (a)

Federalism & Emergency

Q. Who among the following determines as to whether a particular matter (not enumerated in any of the 3 lists) falls under the residuary power of the Parliament?(UPSC-Geologist-2020)

  1. Lok Sabha
  2. Rajya Sabha
  3. Supreme Court
  4. President of India

HINT:

  • Constitution’s Seventh Schedule distributes the legislative power in the Union list, State list and the concurrent list.
  • The residuary subjects (ie, which are not mentioned in any of the three lists) are given to the Centre.
  • The Supreme Court determines as to whether a particular matter (not enumerated in any of the 3 lists) falls under the residuary power of the Parliament.

Q. Which one of the following Articles was defended by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar on the plea that it would be used as ‘a matter of last resort”? (UPSC-CDS-i-2020)

(a) Article 352

(b) Article 359

(c) Article 356

(d) Article 368

HINT:

  • Article 352 gives power to president to declare Emergency
  • Article 359 authorises the president to suspend the right to move any court for the enforcement of fundamental rights during national emergency.
  • Article 356 is related to president rule in the state. Ambedkar said that Art 356 should be the last resort to restore democracy in a state
  • Article 368 gives power to parliament to amend the constitution

Q. Which one of the following is NOT vested in the Union by the Constitution (Fortieth Amendment) Act? (UPSC-Geologist-2020)

  1. All mines and minerals lying in the ocean within its territorial waters
  2. All resources of the exclusive economic zone
  3. Fisheries
  4. All things of value in the ocean within its continental shelf

HINT:

  • The 40th Amendment of the Constitution Empowered the Parliament to specify from time to time the limits of the
    • territorial waters,
    • continental shelf,
    • exclusive economic zone (EEZ)
    • maritime zones of India.
  • State List: item #22 is Fisheries.

Q. The Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India deals with: (UPSC-Geologist-2020)

  1. languages.
  2. Union, State and Concurrent Lists.
  3. land reforms.
  4. anti-defection.

HINT:

Schedule Contains
First Schedule List of states and union territories of India
Second Schedule Salaries of officials holding public office, Presidents, judges, and Comptroller and Auditor General of India etc
Third Schedule Forms of oaths and Affirmations of offices for elected officials including judges
Fourth Schedule Allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha
Fifth Schedule Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes
Sixth Schedule Administration of Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram
Seventh Schedule Legislative powers of the union list, state list, and concurrent lists
Eight Schedule Languages
Ninth Schedule Protecting certain laws from judicial review e.g. Zamindari abolition /land reform laws
Tenth Schedule Anti-defection
Eleventh Schedule Panchayat Raj
Twelfth Schedule Municipalities

Citizenship and Election

Q. Overseas Indians can exercise franchise in an election to the Lok Sabha under which of the following conditions? (UPSC-CDS-i-2020)

1.They must be citizens of India.

2. Their names must figure in the electoral roll.

3. They must be present in India to vote.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 2 only

(d) 1 only

HINT:

  • a citizen of India, absent from the country owing to employment, education etc, has not acquired citizenship of any other country and is otherwise eligible to be registered as a voter in the address mentioned in your passport.
  • Such an overseas elector is allowed to vote in person at the polling station on production of his/her original passport.
  • Ref: https://ecisveep.nic.in/voters/overseas-voters/

Fundamental rights, duties, weaker section

Q. Which one of the following was added as a fundamental duty through the Constitution (86th Amendment) Act, 2002? (UPSC-CDS-i-2020)

(a) To strive towards excellence in individual and collective activity

(b) To provide opportunities for education to one’s child between the age of 6 and 14 years

(c) To work for the welfare of women and children

(d) To promote peace and harmony

HINT:

  • Fundamental right 21A. The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years in such manner as the State may, by law, determine.”.
  • DPSP Article 45: The State shall endeavour to provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete the age of six years.
  • Fundamental Duty Article 51/a/k: who is a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or, as the case may be, ward between the age of six and fourteen years
  • So, answer is (b)

Q. Which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India protects a person against double jeopardy? (UPSC-CDS-i-2020)

(a) Article 20

(b) Article 21

(c) Article 22

(d) Article 23

HINT:

  • Article 20 grants protection against arbitrary and excessive punishment to an accused person, whether citizen or foreigner or legal person like a company or a corporation.
  • No person shall be prosecuted and punished for the same offence more than once.
  • Source – Laxmikant 6th Edition – cha. 7 Fundamental Rights – Protection in Respect of Conviction for Offences

polity fundamental rights

Q. What is the ground on which the Supreme Court can refuse relief under Article 32? (UPSC-CDS-i-2020)

(a) The aggrieved person can get remedy from another court

(b) That disputed facts have to be investigated

(c) That no fundamental right has been infringed

(d) That the petitioner has not asked for the proper writ applicable to his/her case

HINT:

  • Article 32 gives the right to constitutional remedies for violation of fundamental rights.
  • If no fundamental right has been infringed then the Supreme Court can refuse relief under Article 32

Q. The Justice J S Verma Committee was constituted in 2012 to propose legal reforms regarding the safety of which of the following sections of Indian Society? (UPSC-Geologist-2020)

  1. Dalits and Backward castes
  2. Women
  3. Religious minorities
  4. Children

HINT:

  • After Nirbhaya Gangrape on 16th December 2012, Government set up a 3 member Committee headed by the justice J.S.Verma to look into rape laws.
  • 2013: The Committee submitted its report with major recommendations on laws related to rape, sexual harassment, trafficking, child sexual abuse, medical examination of victims, police, electoral and educational reforms.

Q. Which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India deals with Uniform Civil Code? (UPSC-Geologist-2020)

  1. Article 44
  2. Article 40
  3. Article 39A
  4. Article 41

HINT:

  • DPSP Article 44 “State shall endeavour to provide for its citizens a uniform civil code (UCC) throughout the territory of India.”
  • Ruling party’s election manifesto highlighted the uniform civil code many times.
  • So, answer is a

Q. Which one of the following was NOT a feature of Criminal Tribes Act, 1871? (UPSC-Geologist-2020)

  1. Communities of craftsmen, traders and pastoralists were classified as criminal tribes
  2. The tribes were declared criminal on the basis of their profession
  3. The notified criminal tribes were expected to live only in the notified village settlements
  4. The criminal tribes were not allowed to move out without a permit

HINT:

  • Lifted verbatim from NCERT History textbook Class12
  • In 1871, the colonial government inIndia passed the Criminal Tribes Act.  By this Act many communities of craftsmen, traders and pastoralists were classified as Criminal Tribes.  They were stated to be criminal by nature and birth. Once this Act came into force, these communities were expected to live only in notified village settlements.  They were not allowed to move out without a permit.  The village police kept a continuous watch on them.

Parliament

Q. Which one of the following is NOT a parliamentary standing committee on financial matters? (UPSC-Geologist-2020)

  1. Estimates committee
  2. Public Accounts committee
  3. Committee on Members of Parliament Local Area Development Schemes
  4. Committee on Public Undertakings

HINT:

  • This is lifted verbatim from Government India Yearbook Ch3 on Polity:
  • Broadly, Parliamentary Committees are of two kinds—
  • 1) Ad Hoc Committees: appointed as and when need arises and they cease to exist as soon as they complete the task assigned to them.
  • 2) Standing Committees:  work on a continuous basis, usually appointed every year.

Among the Standing Committees, the three Financial Committees— Committees on i) Estimates, ii) Public Accounts and iii) Public Undertakings— constitute a distinct group as they keep an unremitting vigil over Government expenditure and performance.

Local Bodies

Q. The power to legislate on all matters relating to elections to Panchayats lies with (UPSC-CDS-i-2020)

(a) the Parliament of India

(b) the State Legislatures

(c) the State Election Commission

(d) the Election Commission of India

HINT:

  • The Election Commission of India conducts election of state assemblies, Parliament , president and Vice President.
  • The parliament has passed 73rd Constitutional amendment, wherein
  • The State legislature can enact law related to Panchayat elections. And according to those laws, the State Election Commission conducts elections to Panchayat.

Q. The 11th Schedule of the Constitution of India distributes powers between (UPSC-CDS-i-2020)

(a) the Union and the State Legislatures

(b) the State Legislatures and the Panchayat

(c) the Municipal Corporation and the Panchayat

(d) the Gram Sabha and the Panchayat

HINT:

  • Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) Article 40: State shall take steps to organise village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government.
  • Consequently, 73rd Constitutional amendment in 1992 → 11th schedule added to distributes powers between the State Legislatures and the Panchayat
  • So, the answer is (b)

Q.The provisions of the Constitution of India pertaining to the institution of Panchayat do not apply to which one of the following States? (UPSC-CDS-i-2020)

(a) Meghalaya

(b)Tripura

(c) Assam

(d) Goa

HINT:

  • PART IX of our Constitution deals with the Panchayats.
  • But, As per Article 243M of the Constitution, following are exempted from PART IX
    • State of Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram
    • Sixth Schedule Areas
    • Hill areas of Manipur

Q. Which one of the following statements with regard to the functioning of the Panchayats is not correct?(UPSC-CDS-i-2020)

(a) Panchayats may levy, collect and appropriate taxes, duties, tolls, etc.

(b) Only a person who has attained the age of 25 years will be eligible to be a member of a Panchayat.

(c) Every Panchayat shall ordinarily continue for five years from the date of its first meeting

(d) A Panchayat reconstituted after premature dissolution shall continue only for the remainder of the full period.

HINT:

  • Minimum age to become a member of a Panchayat is 21 years.

Judiciary

Q. The power of the Supreme Court to decide in the case of a dispute between two or more States is called (UPSC-CDS-i-2020)

(a) original jurisdiction

(b) inherent jurisdiction

(c) plenary jurisdiction

(d) advisory jurisdiction

HINT:

original jurisdiction As a federal court, the Supreme Court decides the disputes between different units of the Indian Federation i.e. union and states
Advisory jurisdiction President has the power to seek an opinion from the apex court under Article 143 of the Constitution.
Inherent jurisdiction/appellate jurisdiction Supreme Court hears appeals from lower courts.
Plenary jurisdiction Unqualified and absolute legal authority of a court to hear and determine causes of action.

Bodies: Constitutional / Statutory

Q. The First Delimitation Commission in India was constituted in (UPSC-CDS-i-2020)

(a)1949

(b)1950

(c) 1951

(d)1952

HINT:

  • Where single-member constituencies are used for electing political representatives, a periodic readjustment of the Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies is mandatory.
  • Such exercise is called delimitation.
1st 1952
2nd 1962
3rd 1973
4th (Justice Kuldip Singh) 2002

Q. Which one of the following statements regarding the Solicitor General of India is NOT correct?(UPSC-Geologist-2020)

  1. It is a constitutional position under Article 76 of the Constitution of India
  2. He is appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet
  3. He assists the Attorney General of India
  4. It is a statutory position

HINT:

  • The Solicitor General assists the Attorney General.
  • The Solicitor General is appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet
  • Under Article 76 of the Constitution of India only for the attorney general. The constitution does not provide the position of The Solicitor General of India.

Thinkers / Theories / Keywords

Q. The basic ethical principle of ‘Beneficence’ states that: (UPSC-IES-2020)

(a) all our thoughts and actions must be directed to ensure that others benefit from these thoughts and actions

(b) our actions must result in the least harm to the others

(c) we should not impose our views on others

(d) our actions must be fair to everyone

HINT:

  • Beneficence is defined as an act of charity, mercy, and kindness with a strong connotation of doing good to others.

Q. ‘Euthanasia’ refers to the: (UPSC-IES-2020)

(a) loyalty of the people that take pride in being part of their organization and care for the organization above their own well-being

(b) ills in the society that are caused by ignorance and lack of respect for the laws of the land (c) emotional intelligence to understand how people perform various functions

(d) killing of a terminally ill person suffering acutely with no hope of survival

HINT:

  • ‘Euthanasia’ refers to the killing of a terminally ill person suffering acutely with no hope of survival
  • SC declared historic judgement on Aruna Shanbaug case , new concept of living will was emerged by the judgement.
  • So, correct answer is (d)

Q. Which one of the following is not the characteristic of Good Governance and e-Governance that are closely linked and depend on each other? (UPSC-IES-2020)

(a) Accountable

(b) Transparent

(c) Consciousness

(d) Consensus-oriented

HINT:

  • Question is vaguely worded.
  • World bank has given 8 major characteristics of Good governance viz. participatory, consensus-oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive and follows the rule of law.
  • If we assume e-governance to be a part of good governance, then the same characteristics should fall here as well. Then ‘Consciousness’ is not part of e-governance.

Misc / Yearbook / Ministries & Dept

Q. Who among the following is the ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board? (UPSC-Geologist-2020)

  1. Cabinet Secretary
  2. Chairman, UPSC
  3. Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training
  4. Prime Minister of India

HINT:

  • This is lifted verbatim from Government India Yearbook Ch3 on Polity:
  • The Cabinet Secretariat functions directly under the Prime Minister. The administrative head of the Secretariat is the Cabinet Secretary who is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board.

Q. Who among the following is the head of the Kendriya Hindi Samiti which lays the guidelines for the propagation and progressive use of Hindi as official language of the Union?

  1. Home Minister of India
  2. Prime Minister of India
  3. Union Minister of Human Resources Development
  4. Union Minister of Culture

HINT:

  • This is also from Government India Yearbook Ch3 on Polity:
  • 1967: Kendriya Hindi Samiti was constituted. It is chaired by Prime Minister to lay the guidelines for the propagation and progressive use of Hindi as the official language of the Union.

Visit Mrunal.org/prelims for Previous Rounds of [T25] Mock MCQ Question / Answers.