Subject: Polity

IMP: Civilsdaily IAS Prelims 2017 Test Series Module Launched – Click here

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• Only five questions from polity.
• Only three directly from Lamikant
• All five were doable
• Can be solved after reading titbits and past paper solutions

1. Which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. A bill pending in the Lok Sabha lapses on its prorogation.
2. A bill pending in the Rajya Sabha, which has not been passed by the Lok Sabha, shall not lapse on dissolution of the Lok Sabha.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

• Very simple question
• Covered in tit-bits/ solved papers
• No bill lapses on prorogation, otherwise GST bill would have lapsed so many times
• Bill pending in RS, not passed by LS i.e originated in RS, pending in RS won’t lapse as new LS can still take decision on that bill after passage by RS

2. Consider the following statements:

1. The Chief Secretary in a State is appointed by the Governor of that State.
2. The Chief Secretary in a State has a fixed tenure

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

• Very simple
• Chief secretary govt officer £ would be appointed by the govt not governor £ remember Kejriwal/ Jung Controversy
• No fixed tenure at state level <demand for fixing the tenure>
• At the central level, assured tenure of 2 years for Cabinet, Home, defence, foreign secretary as well as RAW and IB chief

3. With reference to the ‘Gram Nyayalaya Act’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. As per the Act, Gram Nyayalayas can hear only civil cases and not criminal cases
2. The Act allows local social activists as mediators/reconciliators.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

• Very simple
• Statement 1, only £ wrong, can also try criminal cases
• 2nd is such an innocuous statement. Even high courts allow mediation. At village level, obviously social workers would be mediators

4. The Parliament of India acquires the power to legislate on any item in the State List in the national interest if a resolution to that effect is passes by the

(a)    LokSabha by a simple majority of its total membership

(b)    LokSabha by a majority of not less than two-thirds of its total membership

(c)    RajyaSabha by a simple majority of its total membership

(d)    RajyaSabha by a majority of not less than two-thirds of its members present and voting

• Covered in titbits
• Special powers of RS
• Rs primacy over LS (Art 249 and 312)
• Special majority of ⅔ present and voting

5. Consider the following statements:

1.    The minimum age prescribed for any person to be a member of Panchayat is 25 years.
2.    A Panchayat reconstituted after premature dissolution continues only for the remainder period.

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

• Simple
• Panchayat – age 21 years
• Panchayat term of 5 years. Regular election so prematurely constituted last only till next scheduled elections

Three quick points before solutions and analysis

1. This is the solution and analysis of polity questions from CAPF 2016 conducted by UPSC couple of weeks back.
2. Questions on political theories were also asked <they were asked last year too> but since such questions are not asked in CSE, they are not discussed
3. Almost in fact all the questions can be solved after reading tit-bits and last 6 years solutions and analysis and some logic

1. Which one of the following is a characteristic of Presidential form of Government?
(a) President is not a part of legislative body
(b) It does not separate Legislative and Executive functions
(c) President follows the principle of collective responsibility
(d) The tenure of the President depends on the Legislature

• Asked multiple times as characteristic of parliamentary form.
• Complete separation of Legislature and executive. President not part of Legislature, minister not part of Legislature. Not accountable to Legislature
• In parliamentary form, executive is the part of legislature as in India

Learning – Parliamentary v/s presidential form of govt, advantages  disadvantages

2. Which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India contains provisions for the abolition and creation of Legislative Councils?
   (a) Article 171
   (b) Article 169
   (c) Article 356
   (d) Article 182

Article number but very important . We covered it in titbit.

Learning – provisions under art 169, Legilsative councils v/s RAjya Sabha, States having legislative councils

3. The provision under Article 51A of the Constitution of India relates to the :
   (a) uniform civil code for the citizens
   (b) orginsation of village panchayats
   (c) right to education
   (d) fundamental duties

• Very simple. Covered in titbit.
• Has been asked multiple times, FRs, FDs, DPSPs and Preamble is very very imp

Learning – Learn  FRs, FDs, DPSPs and Preamble by heart

4. The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir came into force on :
   (a) 15 August 1946
   (b) 15 August 1947
   (c) 26 January 1950
   (d) 26 January 1957

You only needed to know, it came into force after Indian constitution came into force. Only one such option

Learning – article 370, amendment of article 370, Governor’s rule v/s president’s rule

5. Which of the following statements regarding the Constituent Assembly are correct?
   1. It was not based on adult franchise
   2. It is resulted from direct election
   3. It was a multi part body
   4. It worked through several committees
   Select the correct answer using the code given below:
   (a) 1, 2 and 4 only
   (b) 2 and 3 only
   (c) 1 and 4 only
   (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

• 4 is definitely correct as we know about drafting committee, committee on fundamental rights
• 2 is definitely incorrect as there were indirect elections by members of provincial legislative assembly <asked multiple times, discussed in CSE polity analysis
• eliminate 2, include 4, answer 1 and 4 only

Learning – election to constituent assembly, cabinet mission plan, chairpersons of important committees

6. Who among the following may be the Chairman of the Zila Parishad?
(a) Chief Miniester
(b) District Collector
(c) Member of Parliament in the Distric
(d) Elected from its own members

• 73rd and 74th amendment very important as we discussed before
• 1st 3 options are anyway bogus
• CEO is an IAS officer but he / she is not district collector either

Learning – Direct election v/s election from among st members for chairperson of 3 tiers of rural and urban local bodies, district planning committee, metropolitan planning committee

7. Which one of the following is not a feature of Indian federalism?
   (a) Every State Government has powers of its own
   (b) Courts have the power to interpret the Constitution and the powers of different levels of government
   (c) States are subordinate to the Central Government
   (d) Sources of revenue for each level of  Government are clearly specified

States are not subordinate in federal set up but derive their power from constitution

Learning – Unitary features of Indian federalism, Parliament power to legislate on state list

8. Which one of the following statements regarding Human Rights is not correct?
   (a) Human Rights derive their inspiration from moral principles
   (b) They are applicable subject to their adoption by States
   (c) The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was adopted by the United Nations
   in the year 1948
   (d) The universalism of Human Rights is challenged by the cultural relativists

• A,b are easily correct.
• D is also correct as cultural relativist would believe in different rights for different culture and thus challenge universalism of human rights.
• C is the only option left which should be incorrect
• International Covenant on civil and political rights was adopted in 1966 and came into force in 1976

Learning – Bill of human rights, UN human rights council v/s UN human rights committee

9. The theory of Separation of Powers is a division of powers between:
   (a) Central and State Governments
   (b) Different branches of Government
   (c) the polity and the economy
   (d) state and local governments

• Discussed in titbit.
• Separation of power is separation among different branches of government. Among Legislature, executive and judiciary

Learning – Theory of Separation of power v/s theory of checks and balances, doctrine of color able legislation v/s doctrine of pith and substance

10. The Tenth Schedule to the Constitution of India relates to :
    (a) the provisions relating to the formation of District Councils
    (b) the land reforms
    (c) the States and Union Territories
    (d) the anti-defection law.

Asked multiple times

Learning – 52nd and 85th amendment, authority adjudicating anti defection law, role of Election commissioner in anti defection law, role of EC in disqualification 

11. The amending power of the Parliament is set forth in which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India?
(a) Article 368
(b) Article 360
(c) Article 13(2)
(d) Article 370

Easy article. Covered in titbits

Learn – Amendment by simple majority v/s special majority v/s special plus half the states

12. With regard to a Constitution Amendment Bill, which one of the following statements is not correct?
(a) The Speaker of Lok Sabha can call a joint sitting of both the Houses to pass the Bill
(b) Each House needs to pass the Bill separately by a prescribed special majority
(c) The Bill can be introduced in either House Parliment
(d) The Bill can be sponsored by a private member

• Covered in titbits
• Both houses have to pass the bill separately
• No joint sitting for money bill and constitution amendment bill

Learning – Constitution amendment bill and 24th amendment, basic structure doctrine

13. ‘Cut Motion’ can be introduced after the presentation of :
(a) any Bill introduced in the Parliament
(b) the Railway and General Budgets
(c) any Private Member’s Bill
(d) a Constitution Amendment Bill

• Covered in titbit
• Cut the budget

Learning – Different types of cut motion, Guillotine

14. Consider the following statements about the Morley – Minto reforms of 1909 :
    1. They were named after the British Parliamentarians, Minto and Morley
    2. They Provided for limited self government by increasing the number of elected Indians in the Legislative Councils
    3. They contained provisions that ensured that British officials retained their majority in the
    Imperial Legislative Council
    Which of the statements given above is / are correct?
    (a) 1 only
    (b) 2 and 3 only
    (c) 1 and 3 only
    (d) 1, 2 and 3

• Covered in titbits
• Morley secretary of state, thus parliamentarian as parliamentary form of govt in Britain.
• Minto viceroy thus not parliamentarian.
• Eliminate statement 1, reach the conclusion

Learning – Morley Minto reform, Montagu Chelmsford reform,  GOI act 1935, cabinet mission plan

• Outlay: Rs. 10,000 crore
• Target: 50 lakh apprentices to be trained by 2019-20
• Implementing Agency: Director General of Training (DGT) under Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)

Incentivising employers:

• It incentivises employers to engage apprentices
• 25% of the total stipend payable to an apprentice would be shared with employers directly by Government of India
• It is for the first time a scheme has been designed to offer financial incentives to employers to engage apprentices

Basic training:

• It also supports basic training which is an essential component of apprenticeship training
• 50% of the total expenditure incurred on providing basic training would be supported by Government of India

Benefits:

• Will catalyze the entire apprenticeship ecosystem in the country and will offer a win-win situation for all stakeholders
• It is expected to become one of the most powerful skill-delivery vehicle in the country

Why Apprentices Training?

• Apprenticeship Training is considered to be one of the most efficient ways to develop skilled manpower for the country
• It provides for an industry led, practice oriented, effective and efficient mode of formal training
• The National Policy of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 2015 launched by the Prime Minister focuses on apprenticeship as one of the key components for creating skilled manpower in India.
• The present scheme also aims to achieve the objective as stated in the National Policy, 2015
• The policy proposes to work pro-actively with the industry including MSME to facilitate tenfold increase opportunities in the country by 2020-20

In an earlier blog post (How to approach prelims 2016) I discussed the importance of solving test papers, making educated guesses, analysis of mistakes etc. I also emphasized on solving past year question papers and analyzing the trend.

In this series, I shall discuss questions and explanations of last 7 years (2015 to 2009) prelims polity section. Attempt has been made to solve the questions as one would do in exam hall i.e using elimination method, pausing and thinking at red flags (all, none, only, weird statements), applying some tikdams where necessary.

After every question, I have mentioned some learning objectives – things which are the most important  from exam point of view, things which have been asked again and again. You have to learn them all without any exception.

Key insights from the analysis 

1. Average number of questions asked in last 5 years is 15 and almost every question is solvable with decent knowledge and logic.
2. Lots of questions and statements are repeated year after year <solve past 15 year papers without fail>
3. More than questions, topics are repeated year after year
4. Even when you don’t know all the options, often answer wallh option is clearly visible <importance of reading all the options>
5. UPSC don’t ask article numbers. Not a single question with article number was asked in past 7 years <don’t worry about remembering all the articles or don’t get depressed if you can’t solve such questions of various test series>
6. UPSC doesn’t ask questions which need remembering very intricate yet very useless details. For instance – reservation in local bodies is at least 1/3 or as near as 1/3 or something else or which laws are not applicable to J & K <You are getting my point right>
7. Almost all polity questions are doable i.e if you have read polity and constitution decently enough i.e understood essence of important articles, you would able to solve with >90% accuracy.

If you have been consistent with prelims tit-bits, you would realize that apart from discussing confusing things, primary objective was to discuss topics which are most imp. from exam perspective. Initially response was great but as with most endeavors, your response fizzled out and I also lost the motivation to read, analyse and push the tit-bits.

Must Read Topics

• Learn FRs, DPSPs, FDs and Preamble by heart, FR v/s DPSP
• Three committees of parliament – PAC, estimates committee and Committee on public undertakings
• Three motions – No Confidence motion, adjournment motion, calling attention motion
• Passage of bills including money bill and constitution amendment bill in Parliament and states, budgetary process
• Relative powers of LS and RS
• Discretionary power of president v/s governor
• Appointment, removal and independence of judiciary,
• Evolution of local bodies from the time of independence, 73rd, 74th amendment, mandatory and optional provisions

Let’s look at the question papers now –

Prelims 2015

£1. Consider the following Statements regarding the DPSP/ Directive Principles of State Policy:

1. The Principles spell out the socio-economic democracy in the country
2. The provisions contained in these Principles are not enforceable by any court.

Which of the statements given below are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 & 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Such questions have been asked n number of times.

FRs – political democracy v/s DPSP – socio economic democracy, FRs enforceable v/s DPSP not enforceable

Learning -Difference b/w F.R. and DPSP, Conflict b/w FR and DPSP, Learn all FRs, DPSPs and FDs and preamble by heart

£2. Consider the following statements :

1. The Rajya Sabha has no power either to reject or to amend a Money Bill
2. The Rajya Sabha cannot vote on the Demands for Grants.
3. The Rajya Sabha cannot discuss the Annual Financial Statement.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Again asked n number of times.

RS limited financial power, can discuss but not amend the money bill. Annual financial statement is a money bill, can’t amend hence can’t vote

Learning – Relative powers of LS and RS i,e instances where LS enjoys primacy, instances where RS enjoys primacy

£3. When a bill is referred to a joint sitting both the Houses of the Parliament, has to be passed by

(a) a simple majority of member present and voting

(b) three-fourths majority of member present and voting

(c) two-thirds majority of the House

(d) absolute majority of the House

again asked n number of times

Joint sitting requires simple majority

Learning – Different types of majorities, passage of ordinary bill, money bill, constitution amendment bill in parliament as well as states with bicameral legislatures

£4. Consider the following statements:

1. The Executive Power of the union of India is vested in the Prime Minister.
2. The Prime Minister is the ex officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

statement 1 is asked n number of times, power vests in president not PM, even if you don’t know about the statement 2, you should attempt this question

Cabinet secretary is ex officio chairman <Scroll down you would know that questions related to cabinet secretariat have been asked many times in the past>

£5.The provisions in the Fifth Schedule and Sixth Schedule in the Constitution of India are made in order to

(a) protect the interests of Scheduled Tribes

(b) determine the boundaries between states

(c) determine the powers, authorities, and responsibilities

of Panchayats

(d) protect the interests of all the border States

asked n number of times

Learning – All 12 schedules esp. 9th and 10th, amendment of schedules, difference b/w 5th and 6th schedule

£7. With reference to the Union Government consider the following statements.

1. The Department of Revenue is responsible for the preparation of Union Budget that is presented to the parliament
2. No amount can be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of India without the authorization of Parliament of India.
3. All the disbursements made from Public Account also need the Authorization from the Parliament of India

Which of the following statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 2 only

(d) 1, 2, and 3

Consolidated fund, Public account and Contingency fund have been asked n number of times

Deptt of economic affairs prepare the budget <scroll down and you would know this question has been asked in the past>. Public accounts not under parliamentary control

Learning – Consolidated fund, Public account and Contingency fund, Parliamentary oversight over govt finances, passage of budget

£8. Who/Which of the following is the Custodian of the Constitution of India?

(a) The President of India

(b) The Prime Minister of India

(c) The Lok Sabha Secretariat

(d) The Supreme Court of India

controversial, president takes oath to protect, preserve and defend the constitution

Whatever UPSC says and UPSC said Supreme Court

8. Consider the following statements:

1. The Legislative Council of a state in India can be larger in size than half of the Legislative Assembly of that particular state.
2. The Governor of a state nominates the Chairman of Legislative Council of that particular state.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

logical fallacy, purpose of acts is to limit the size of councils or to tell min. and max number

Chairman is elected from amongst the members

Learning – 91st amendment, election and nomination to upper house of states and parliament

9. To uphold and protect the Sovereignty Unity and Integrity of India” is a provision made in the

(a) Preamble of the Constitute

(b) Directive Principles of State Policy

(c) Fundamental Rights

(d) Fundamental Duties

N number of times. Even if don’t remember, it can not be a right <state is meant to protect sovereignty> , it can not be a directive to the state, it has to be the duty of citizens

Learning – Learn by heart FDs, FRs, DPSPs and preamble

10. The fundamental object of Panchayati Raj system is to ensure which among the following?

1. People’s participation in development
2. Political accountability
3. Democratic decentralization
4. Financial mobilization

Select the correct answer using the code given below

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 2 and 4 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

common sense , financial mobilization can not be fundamental objective  <better ways to mobilize finance>, political accountability is again not directly achieved through this  

Learning – evolution of Local self govt from the time of British <Rippon, Mayo>, Committee on local self govt, 73rd and 74th amendment, 11th and 12th schedule

11. The ideal of “Welfare State” in the Indian Constitution is enshrined in its

(a) Preamble

(b) Directive Principles of State Policy

(c) Fundamental Rights

(d) Seventh Schedule

Sort of internal repeat, Socio-economic democracy and welfare state one and the same thing.

Learning – FRv/s DPSP

12. There is a Parliamentary System of Government in India because the

(a) Lok Sabha is elected directly by the people

(b) Parliament can amend the constitution

(c) Rajya Sabha cannot be dissolved

(d) Council of Ministers is responsible to the Lok Sabha

Asked many times , Common sense, in parliamentary system, executive responsible to legislature while in presidential executive not responsible

Learning – Merits and demerits of 2 system, separation of power in 2 systems  

• Bottom line – 9/12 absolute joke
• 1, president v/s supreme court controversial
• 2, Deptt of economic affairs related to budget and Cabinet secretary ex officio chairperson needed some factual knowledge <but if you had solved past year papers, you would easily have marked DEA and you would have known about the role of cabinet secretary>