Section Test :

Indian Policy and

Governance
Max. Marks : 50 No. of Qs. 25
1. With reference to membership of the Rajya Sabha, consider
the following statements:
1. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom
are nominated by the President of India for their
contributions to art, literature, science, and social
services.
2. The remainder of body is elected by the state and
territorial legislatures.
3. Members sat for six-year terms, with one-third of the
members retiring every two years.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
2. With reference to National Human Rights Commission of
India, consider the following statements:
1. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of
India is an autonomous public body constituted on 12
October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights
Ordinance of 28 September 1993.
2. It was given a statutory basis by the Protection of
Human Rights Act, 1993 (TPHRA).
3. The NHRC is the National Human Rights Institution,
responsible for the protection and promotion of
human rights, de ned by the Act as rights relating
to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual
guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the
International Covenants.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 3 only (d) 1 and 3
3. Consider the following statements with reference to
amendments in the fundamental rights:
1. Changes to the fundamental rights require a
constitutional amendment which has to be passed by
a special majority of both houses of Parliament.
38
Time : 20 min. Date : ........./......../................
2. This means that an amendment requires the approval
of two-thirds of the members present and voting.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 2 (d) None
4. Consider the following statements with reference to right
to property:
1. The Forty-Forth Amendment of 1968 deleted the
right to property from the list of fundamental rights.
2. A new provision, Article 200-A, was added to the
Constitution which provided that no person shall
be deprived of his/ her property save by authority of
law.
3. Thus if a legislature makes a law depriving a person
of his/ her property, there would be no obligation on
the part of the state to pay anything as compensation.
4. The aggrieved person shall have no right to move the
court under Article 32.
Select the incorrect answer using the codes given below:
(a) 3 and 4 (b) 1 and 2
(c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 4
5. Consider the following statements:
1. The conferment of a person, as a citizen of India,
is governed by Articles 5 to 11 (Part II) of Indian
Constitution.
2. The legislation related to this matter is the Citizenship
Act 1955, which has been amended by the Citizenship
(Amendment) Act 1986, the Citizenship (Amendment)
Act 1992, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2003,
and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2005.
3. Article 9 of Indian Constitution says that a person
who voluntarily acquires citizenship of any other
country is no longer an Indian citizen.
4. Indian nationality law largely follows the jus
sanguinis (citizenship by right of blood) as opposed
to the jus soli (citizenship by right of birth within the
territory).
5. The President of India is termed the rst citizen of
India. Legal provisions relating to acquisition and
termination of citizenship of India are contained in
the Citizenship Act, 1955.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (b) 2, 3, 4 and 5
(c) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
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6. Consider the following statements:
1. The Right of Citizens for Time Bound Delivery of
Goods and Services and Redressal of their Grievance
Bill, 2011 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on
December 20, 2011.
2. The bill lapsed due to dissolution of the 15th lok
sabha.
3. The bill makes it mandatory for every public and
private authority to publish a citizens charter within
four months of the commencement of the Act.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 2 (d) 1 and 3
7. Consider the following statements with reference to
signi cance the Prime Minister in power structure:
1. The Prime Minister is the senior member of cabinet in
the executive branch of government in a parliamentary
system.
2. The Prime Minister selects and can dismiss other
members of the cabinet;
3. allocates posts to members within the government;
4. is the presiding member and chairman of the cabinet
5. is responsible for bringing proposal of legislation.
6. The resignation or death of the Prime Minister
dissolves the cabinet.
7. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President to
assist the latter in the administration of the affairs of
the executive.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 (b) 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6
(c) 2, 4, 5 and 7 (d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
8. The Constitution de nes the duties of the Prime Minister,
and in the discharge of those duties reacts as a link between
the President and the Cabinet in this regard consider the
following statements .The Prime Minister is:
1. to communicate to the President all decisions of the
Council of Ministers,
2. to furnish such information relating to the administration
of the affairs of the Union and proposals for legislation
as the President may call for; and
3. if the President so requires, to submit for the
consideration of the Council of Ministers any matter
of which a decision has been taken by a minister but
which has not been considered by the council.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3 (d) 2 and 3
9. Consider the following statements:
1. The municipal bodies in most cases have been
left only with the functions of garbage collection,
garbage disposal, street lighting, construction and
maintenance of roads, etc.
2. In terms of scal federalism, functions whose bene ts
largely con ne to municipal jurisdictions and may be
termed as the essentially municipal functions.
3. Similarly, functions that involve substantial
economics of scale or are of national interest may not
be assigned to small local bodies.
Indian Policy and Governance Sec on Test
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 4
(c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 1 and 3
10. Consider the following statements:
1. The Twelfth Schedule of Constitution (Article 243 w)
provides an illustrative list of eighteen functions, that
may be entrusted to the municipalities.
2. Whereas Bihar, Gujarat,Himachal Pradesh, Haryana,
Manipur, Punjab and Rajasthan have included all the
functions as enlisted in the Twelfth Schedule in their
amended state municipal laws.
3. Andhra Pradesh has not made any changes in the
existing list of municipal functions. Karnataka, Kerala,
Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu,
Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal states have amended
their municipal laws to add additional functions in the
list of municipal functions as suggested in the twelfth
schedule.
4. Whereas functions like planning for the social and
economic development, urban forestry and protection
of the environment and promotion of ecological
aspects are obligatory functions for the municipalities
of Maharashtra, in Karnataka these are discretionary
functions.
5. In Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, water
supply and sewerage works are being carried out by
the state level Public Health Engineering Department
or Water Supply and Sewerage Boards, while liability
for repayment of loans and maintenance are with the
municipalities.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (b) 2, 3, 4 and 5
(c) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
11. Consider the following statements regarding national
policy on voluntary organisations:
1. A national policy on voluntary organisations was
announced in 2009.
2. Voluntary organisations are meant organisations
engaged in public service, based on ethical, cultural,
social, economic, political, religious, spiritual,
philanthropic, or scienti c and technological
considerations.
3. Voluntary organisations include formal as well
as informal groups, such as community based
organisations, non-governmental development
organisations, charitable organisations, support
organisations, networks or federations of such
organisations, as well as professional membership
associations.
Which of the above statement is/ are incorrect?
(a) only 1 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3 (d) 1 and 2
Indian Policy and Governance Sec on Test
12. The Constitution of India has no direct provision expressly
conferring right to information to the citizens. However,
the Supreme Court has been stating since 1975 that the
right to information is an intrinsic part of the right to
freedom of speech and expression and right to life and
personal liberty guaranteed by the Constitution of India.
In India, various laws and rules restrict the disclosure of
of cial information to the people and thus favour secrecy
in administration. They are given below.
1. Of cial Secrets Act 1923
2. Indian Evidence Act 1872
3. Commission of enquiry Act 1952
4. All India Services Rules 1954
Which of the above Acts is/are true?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 2 and 4 (d) 2, 3 and 4
13. Which of the following regarding Rajya Sabha is/ are
incorrect?
1. It is not subject to dissolution
2. Its member has a term of 5 years
3. One-third of its members retire after every 2 years
4. Its members should be above 35 years of age.
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 2 and 4 (d) 1 and 4
14. Consider the statements:
1. The Vice-President of India is the second highest
constitutional of ce in the country. He/ she serves
for a ve-year term, but can continue to be in of ce,
irrespective of the expiry of the term, until the
successor assumes of ce.
2. The Vice-President may resign his/ her of ce by
submitting his/ her resignation to the President of
India. The resignation becomes effective from the
day it is accepted.
3. The Vice-President can be removed from of ce by
a resolution of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha),
passed by a majority of its members at that time and
agreed to by the House of the People (Lok Sabha). A
resolution for this purpose may be moved only after
a notice of at least a minimum of 14 days has been
given of such an intention.
Which of the statements is/are true?
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 3 only (d) 1 and 3
15. Which of following is/are correct?
1. The President can send messages to the Parliament.
2. The President is not a part of the Parliament.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 2 both (d) None
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16. Consider the following statements:
1. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha conducts the business
in the house. He/she decides whether a bill is a money
bill or a non-money bill.
2. He/she maintains discipline and decorum in the house
and can punish a member for his/ her unruly behaviour
by suspending them.
3. He/she permits the moving of various kinds of motions
and resolutions like the motion of no con dence,
motion of adjournment, motion of censure and calling
attention notice as per the rules.
4. The Speaker decides on the agenda to be taken up for
discussion during the meeting. The date of election of
speaker is xed by the President.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
17. Consider the following statements with reference to
relationship between the fundamental rights, directive
principles and fundamental duties:
1. The Directive Principles have been used to uphold
the Constitutional validity of legislations in case of a
con ict with the fundamental rights.
2. Article 31C, added by the 25th Amendment in 1971,
provided that any law made to give effect to the
Directive Principles in Article 39(b)(c) would not be
invalid on the grounds that they derogated from the
fundamental rights conferred by Articles 14, 19 and
31.
3. The application of this article was sought to be
extended to all the Directive Principles by the 42nd
Amendment in 1976, but the Supreme Court struck
down the extension as void on the ground that it
violated the basic structure of the Constitution.
4. The Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles
have also been used together in forming the basis of
legislation for social welfare.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3 (d) 1 only
18. Consider the following statements:
The Citizens Charter shall
1. list the details of the goods and services provided by
a public authority;
2. the name of the person or agency responsible for
providing the goods or services;
3. the time frame within which such goods or services
have to be provided;
4. the category of people entitled to the goods and
services; and
5. details of the complaint redressal mechanism.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1, 2, 3and 4 (b) 2, 3, 4 and 5
(c) 1, 3 and 4 (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
 98
19. Consider the following statements:
1. The Cabinet Secretariat ensures that the President,
the Vice President and Ministers are kept informed
of the major activities of all Ministries/Departments
by means of monthly summary of their activities.
Management of major crisis situations in the country
and coordinating activities of various Ministries in
such a situation is also one of the functions of the
Cabinet Secretariat.
2. The secretariat assists in decision-making
in government by ensuring Inter-Ministerial
coordination, ironing out differences amongst
ministries/departments and evolving consensus
through the instrumentality of the standing/ad hoc
committees of secretaries. Through this mechanism
new policy initiatives are also promoted.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 2 (d) None
20. Consider the following statements with reference to right
to education:
1. Article 21A On 1 April 2011, India joined a group
of few countries in the world, with a historic law
making education a fundamental right of every child
coming into force.
2. Making elementary education an entitlement for
children in the 614 age group, the Right of Children
to Free and Compulsory Education Act will directly
bene t children who do not go to school at present.
3. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced the
operationalisation of the Act.
4. Children, who had either dropped out of schools or
never been to any educational institution, will get
elementary education as it will be binding on the part
of the local and state governments to ensure that all
children in the 614 age group get schooling.
5. As per the Act, private educational institutions should
reserve 25 per cent seats for children from the weaker
sections of society.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (b) 2, 3, 4 and 5
(c) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
21. Recently the term E-governance vision 2020 was in
news, because-
Indian Policy and Governance Sec on Test
1. The Election Commission of India is working on it.
2. Will provide inclusive, integrated single window
view of services to all stakeholders in all phases of
the electoral cycle using multiple channel of delivery.
3. Will have six strategic goals and 10 mission mode
projects wherein some of priority areas will be in
mobile apps, social media, knowledge and learning
management.
4. increase of use of Information, Communication and
Technology (ICT) in elections.
choose the correct option.
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1,2 and 4 (d) 1 and 4
22. Consider the following statement about RURBAN Mission
launched by Prime Minister recently?
1. launched from Kurubhat village in Dongargarh block
of Rajnandgaon district in Chhattisgarh.
2. seeks to develop smart village on the line of smart
cities and reduce the burden of migration to the cities
through adopting cluster approach.
3. Launched as Shyama Prasad Mukherjee National
Rurban Mission
4. In the rst stage, ve districts of the state will be
covered under the scheme.
Which of the above statement/s is/are incorrect?
(a) 1 and 2 (b) Only 4
(c) Only 3 (d) 1 and 4
23. Consider the following statements.
1. India hosted second edition meeting of Forum for
India-Paci c Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) on 21
August 2015 in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
2. The FIPIC meeting paves the way for agreements
in various potential areas between India and other
nations.
3. It includes sectors such as agriculture, sheries, food
processing, solar energy etc.
Which among the above is/are correct?
Codes:
(a) 2 only (b) 1 and 2only
(c) 2 and 3only (d) All of these
24. When is the World Day of Social Justice observed?
(a) February 20 (b) February 10
(c) January 20 (d) January 10
25. Which of the following state xed x matriculation
as minimum educational quali cation for elections to
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)?
(a) Gujarat (b) Haryana
(c) Punjab (d) Bihar

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
21. 22. 23. 24. 25.
Indian Policy and Governance Sec on Test
Solutions
1. (d) Rajya Sabha is the upper house and Lok Sabha is the
lower house. The two houses meet in separate chambers in the
Sansad Bhavan (located on the Sansad Marg or Parliament
Street) in New Delhi. Those elected or nominated (by the
President) to either house of Parliament are referred to as
members of Parliament or MPs.
2. (a) TPHRA mandates the NHRC to perform the following
functions: Proactively or reactively inquire into violations of
human rights or negligence in the prevention of such violation
by a public servant by leave of the court, to intervene in
court proceeding relating to human rights visit any jail or
other institution under the control of the state government,
where persons are detained or lodged for purposes of
treatment, reformation or protection, for the study of the
living conditions of the inmates and make recommendations
review the safeguards provided by or under the Constitution
or any law for the time being in force for the protection of
human rights and recommend measures for their effective
implementation review the factors, including acts of terrorism
that inhibit the enjoyment of human rights and recommend
appropriate remedial measures.
3. (c) However, the number of members voting should not be
less than the simple majority of the house whether the Lok
Sabha or Rajya Sabha. The right to education at elementary
level has been made one of the fundamental rights under the
Eighty-Sixth Amendment of 2002.
4. (b) The Constitution originally provided for the right to
property under Articles 19 and 31. Article 19 guaranteed to
all citizens the right to acquire, hold and dispose of property.
Article 31 provided that no person shall be deprived of his/
her property save by authority of law. It also provided that
compensation would be paid to a person whose property has
been taken for public purposes.
The provisions relating to the right to property were changed
a number of times. Thus, the right to property is no longer a
fundamental right, though it is still a constitutional right. If
the government appears to have acted unfairly, the action can
be challenged in a court of law by citizens.
5. (d) The commencement of this Constitution, every person
who has his domicile in the territory of India and
(a) who was born in the territory of India; or
(b) either of whose parents was born in the territory of India;
or
(c) who has been ordinarily resident in the territory of
99
India for not less than ve years immediately preceding
such commencement, shall be a citizen of India.
Notwithstanding anything in article 5, a person who has
migrated to the territory of India from the territory now
included in Pakistan shall be deemed to be a citizen of
India at the commencement of this Constitution
6. (c) The bill makes it mandatory for every public authority
to publish a Citizens Charter within six months of the
commencement of the Act. A public authority is de ned
as an institution of self-government constituted (a) under
the Constitution; (b) by law made by Parliament or a state
legislature. It also includes a government company, a non-
government organisation substantially nanced directly or
indirectly by the appropriate government, and a company
which supplies goods or services under an obligation imposed
by an Act.
7. (d) All statements are correct.
8. (b) With India following a parliamentary system of
government the Prime Minister is generally the leader of a
party (or coalition of parties) that has a majority in the Lok
Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament of India. The Prime
Minister, in common with all other ministers at central &
state level, either has to be a current member of one of the
houses of Parliament, or be elected within six months of being
appointed.
9. (c) For valid reasons, certain functions of higher authorities
are appropriate to be entrusted with the municipalities as
if under principal-agent contracts and may be called agency
functions that need to be nanced by intergovernmental
revenues. Thus instead of continuing the traditional distinction
between obligatory and discretionary functions, the municipal
responsibilities may be grouped into essentially municipal,
joint and agency functions.
10. (d) All statements are correct.
11. (a) All of the above statements regarding national policy
on voluntary organisations are correct to be covered under
the policy, voluntary organisations should private, self-
governing and informal groups with de ned aims and
objectives. They do not return the pro ts generated to their
owners or directors.
12. (b) Along with the above acts, two another laws and rules
restrict the disclosure of of cial information to the people
and thus favour secrecy in administration. They are Central
100
Civil Services (conduct) Rules, 1955 and Railway Services
(conduct) rules, 1956. Recognising the need for setting out
a practical regime for securing of information by citizens
from the public authorities, and to promote transparency and
accountability in the working of all public authorities, the
Parliament enacted the Right to Information Act 2005.
13. (c) The member in the Rajya Sabha has a term of 6 years.
A person should be at least of 30 years of age to contest the
election for Rajya Sabha. It is never dissolved as only one-
third of its members retire after every two years.
14. (b) The Constitution is silent on who performs the duties
of the Vice-President, when a vacancy occurs in the of ce of
the Vice-President of India, before the expiry of his/ her term,
or when the Vice-President acts as the President of India.
The only provision in the Constitution is with regard to the
Vice-Presidents function as the Chairperson of the Council of
States (Rajya Sabha), which is performed, during the period
of such vacancy, by the Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya
Sabha, or any other member of the Rajya Sabha authorised by
the President of India.
15. (a) The Parliament includes the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha
and the Parliament. The President is not a member of any of
the two houses.
16. (d) The Speaker is the presiding of cer of the lower house
(Lok Sabha) of Parliament of India. His/her role is similar
to that of Speakers elsewhere in other countries that use the
westminster system of government. The speaker is elected
in the very rst meeting of the Lok Sabha after the general
elections for a term of 5 years from amongst the members of
the Lok Sabha.
17. (a) The Supreme Court, after the judgment in the Kesavananda
Bharati case, has adopted the view of the Fundamental Rights
and Directive Principles being complementary to each other,
each supplementing the others role in aiming at the same goal
of establishing a welfare state by means of social revolution.
18. (d) Every public authority shall appoint Grievance Redress
Of cers (GRO) within six months of the Act coming
into force. These of cers shall be appointed at various
levels, i.e. central, state, district, Panchayat and municipality
to inquire and redress any complaints. The complaint
has to be acknowledged within two days of making the
complaint.
19. (c) The Cabinet Secretariat is responsible for the
administration of the Government of India (Transaction
of Business) Rules, 1961 and the Government of India
(Allocation of Business) Rules 1961, facilitating smooth
transaction of business in ministries/departments of the
Indian Policy and Governance Sec on Test
government by ensuring adherence to these rules.
20. (b) The centre and the states have agreed to share the nancial
burden in the ratio of 55:45, while the Finance Commission
has given Rs.250 billion to the states for implementing the
Act. The centre has approved an outlay of Rs.150 billion for
20102011. The school management committee or the local
authority will identify the drop-outs or out-of-school children
aged above six and admit them in classes appropriate to their
age after giving special training. The act came into force on 1
April 2010.
21. (c) The Vision 2020 will have ve strategic goals and 11
mission mode projects wherein some of priority areas will
be in mobile apps, social media, knowledge and learning
management.
22. (b) In the rst stage, four districts - Rajnandgaon, Dhamtari,
Kabirdham and Bastar of the state will be covered under the
scheme.
23. (d) India host second edition meeting of Forum for India-
Paci c Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) on 21 August 2015 in
Jaipur, Rajasthan. The meeting was attended by the heads of
14 island nations from Indo-Paci c oceanic region.
24. (a) World Day of Social Justice was observed on 20 February
2016 with the theme A Just Transition - environmentally
sustainable economies and societies.
25. (b) Haryana Assembly has passed Haryana Panchayati
Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2015 that seeks to x matriculation
as minimum educational quali cation for elections to
Panchayati Raj institutions (PRIs). With this Haryana became
second state in India after Rajasthan to x educational and
other quali cations for the candidates contesting Panchayat
elections.