UPSC 2016 Polity & Governance Previous Year Questions

Question 1

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 passed by the

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. Lok Sabha by a simple majority of its total membership | Lok Sabha by a majority of not less than two-thirds of its total membership | Rajya Sabha by a simple majority of its total membership | Rajya Sabha by a majority of not less than two-thirds of its members present and voting. Under Article 249, Parliament can legislate on State List matters in the national interest if Rajya Sabha passes a resolution by at least two-thirds of members present and voting.

Question 2

'Gadgil Committee Report' and 'Kasturirangan Committee Report', sometimes seen in the news, are related to

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. constitutional reforms | Ganga Action Plan | linking of rivers | protection of Western Ghats. The Gadgil and Kasturirangan reports dealt with ecological protection and development regulation in the Western Ghats.

Question 3

The Montague-Chelmsford Proposals were related to

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. social reforms | educational reforms | reforms in police administration | constitutional reforms. The Montagu-Chelmsford proposals formed the basis of constitutional reforms leading to the Government of India Act, 1919.

Question 4

With reference to 'Financial Stability and Development Council', consider the following statements: 1. It is an organ of NITI Aayog. 2. It is headed by the Union Finance Minister. 3. It monitors macroprudential supervision of the economy. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. 1 and 2 only | 3 only | 2 and 3 only | 1, 2 and 3. FSDC is not an organ of NITI Aayog. It is chaired by the Union Finance Minister and deals with financial stability, inter-regulatory coordination and macroprudential supervision.

Question 5

'Net metering' is sometimes seen in the news in the context of promoting the

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. production and use of solar energy by the households/consumers | use of piped natural gas in the kitchens of households | installation of CNG kits in motor cars | installation of water meters in urban households. Net metering lets solar power consumers feed surplus electricity into the grid and receive credit, promoting rooftop/household solar energy use.

Question 6

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?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. 1 only | 2 only | Both 1 and 2 | Neither 1 nor 2. The Chief Secretary is appointed by the State Government, not formally by the Governor as an independent appointment, and there is no fixed constitutional tenure. Both statements are incorrect.

Question 7

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.

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 1 only | 2 only | Both 1 and 2 | Neither 1 nor 2. Prorogation only ends a session; it does not lapse pending bills. A bill pending in Rajya Sabha that has not been passed by Lok Sabha does not lapse when Lok Sabha is dissolved, so only statement 2 is correct.

UPSC 2016 Polity & Governance PYQs with Answers