UPSC 2019 Polity & Governance Previous Year Questions

Question 1

Recently, scientists observed the merger of giant 'blackholes' billions of light-years away from the Earth. What is the significance of this observation?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 'Higgs boson particles' were detected. | 'Gravitational waves' were detected. | Possibility of inter-galactic space travel through 'wormhole' was confirmed. | It enabled the scientists to understand 'singularity'.. The merger of black holes was significant because it led to detection of gravitational waves.

Question 2

With reference to the Constitution of India, consider the following statements: 1. No High Court shall have the jurisdiction to declare any central law to be constitutionally invalid. 2. An amendment to the Constitution of India cannot be called into question by the Supreme Court of India. 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. High Courts can examine the constitutionality of central laws, and constitutional amendments can be reviewed by the Supreme Court under the basic structure doctrine. Neither statement is correct.

Question 3

In India, which of the following review the independent regulators in sectors like telecommunications, insurance, electricity, etc.? 1. Ad Hoc Committees set up by the Parliament 2. Parliamentary Department Related Standing Committees 3. Finance Commission 4. Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission 5. NITI Aayog. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. 1 and 2 | 1, 3 and 4 | 3, 4 and 5 | 2 and 5. Parliamentary ad hoc committees and Department-related Standing Committees can review independent regulators. Finance Commission, FSLRC and NITI Aayog are not regular review bodies for such regulators in this sense.

Question 4

Which one of the following suggested that the Governor should be an eminent person from outside the State and should be a detached figure without intense political links or should not have taken part in politics in the recent past?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. First Administrative Reforms Commission (1966) | Rajamannar Committee (1969) | Sarkaria Commission (1983) | National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (2000). The Sarkaria Commission recommended that Governors should be eminent outsiders, detached and without recent intense political links.

Question 5

Which Article of the Constitution of India safeguards one's right to marry the person of one's choice?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. Article 19 | Article 21 | Article 25 | Article 29. The right to marry a person of one's choice is protected under Article 21 as part of life and personal liberty.

Question 6

Consider the following statements: 1. As per recent amendment to the Indian Forest Act, 1927, forest dwellers have the right to fell the bamboos grown on forest areas. 2. As per the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, bamboo is a minor forest produce. 3. The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 allows ownership of minor forest produce to forest dwellers. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 1 and 2 only | 2 and 3 only | 3 only | 1, 2 and 3. Under the Forest Rights Act, bamboo is minor forest produce and forest dwellers can have ownership/access rights over MFP. The statement about a recent Indian Forest Act amendment giving forest dwellers right to fell bamboo in forest areas is not correct as framed.

Question 7

With reference to the Legislative Assembly of a State in India, consider the following statements 1. The Governor makes a customary address to Members of the House at the commencement of the first session of the year. 2. When a State Legislature does not have a rule on a particular matter, it follows the Lok Sabha rule on that matter. Which of the statements given above: is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. 1 only | 2 only | Both 1 and 2 | Neither 1 nor 2. The Governor addresses the State Legislative Assembly at the first session each year. In absence of State rules, legislative practice may follow Lok Sabha rules/procedure where applicable.

Question 8

With reference to the Constitution of India, prohibitions or limitations or provisions contained in ordinary laws cannot act as prohibitions or limitations on the constitutional powers under Article 142. It could mean which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. The decisions taken by the Election Commission of India while discharging its duties cannot be challenged in any court of law. | The Supreme Court of India is not constrained in the exercise of its the powers by laws made by Parliament. | In the event of grave financial crisis in the country, the President of India can declare Financial Emergency without the counsel from the Cabinet. | State Legislatures cannot make laws on certain matters without the concurrence of Union Legi

Question 9

Under which Schedule of the Constitution of India can the transfer of tribal land to private parties for mining be declared null and void?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. Third Schedule | Fifth Schedule | Ninth Schedule | Twelfth Schedule. The Fifth Schedule protects Scheduled Areas/tribal interests and can be used to invalidate transfer of tribal land to private parties for mining.

Question 10

Consider the following statements: 1. The Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959 exempts several posts from disqualification on the grounds of Office of Profit. 2. The above-mentioned Act was amended five times. 3. The term Office of Profit is well-defined in the Constitution of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. 1 and 2 only | 3 only | 2 and 3 only | 1, 2 and 3. The 1959 Act exempts various offices from office-of-profit disqualification and has been amended several times including five times by the relevant point. The Constitution does not define Office of Profit precisely.

UPSC 2019 Polity & Governance PYQs with Answers