UPSC 2021 Polity & Governance PYQs with Answers

Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are not titles prohibited by Article 18 when used properly; Padma Awards were suspended more than once; and Bharat Ratna is ordinarily restricted to a maximum of three per year, not five. Hence all three statements are not correct.

Constitutional government is government limited by the Constitution and subject to constitutional restraints.

On 26 January 1950, India was declared a Sovereign Democratic Republic. Socialist and Secular were added to the Preamble later by the 42nd Amendment.

After the 44th Amendment, right to property is a constitutional/legal right under Article 300A available to any person, not a Fundamental Right.

Concentration of wealth violates Directive Principles, especially Article 39(b) and 39(c), which seek equitable distribution and prevention of wealth concentration.

Separation of powers is the best safeguard of liberty because it prevents concentration and abuse of power.

Article 128 allows retired Supreme Court judges to sit in the Supreme Court when requested by the CJI with the President's prior consent. High Courts also have inherent power to review their own judgments, so the UPSC key treating only statement 1 as correct reflects the specific wording/comparison in this question.

A State is best defined as a community permanently occupying definite territory, independent of external control, and possessing an organized government.

An independent judiciary is an essential federal feature because it adjudicates Centre-State disputes and safeguards constitutional division of powers.

Unguided and uncontrolled discretionary power violates Article 14 because it enables arbitrariness and unequal application of law.

Right to the City is not an agreed enforceable human right monitored country-wise by UN-Habitat. It does emphasize reclaiming public spaces/participation and access to services/facilities for city occupants, including informal/unauthorized settlements in the UPSC framing.

The right to privacy has been held to be protected under Article 21 as part of life and personal liberty.

The Department of Personnel was constituted in 1970 on ARC recommendations and placed under the Prime Minister. The Iyengar Committee did not make the specific minister-secretary recommendation as stated.

Unlike the sovereign British Parliament, Indian Parliament is limited by the Constitution and judicial review. Constitutional validity of parliamentary amendments/laws may be examined by Constitution Benches of the Supreme Court.

The Chausath Yogini temple near Morena is a circular Kachchhapaghata-period temple, and its form has led to popular claims of similarity/inspiration for Parliament House. It is not the only circular temple and is linked to Yogini/Shaiva-Shakta worship, not Vaishnava cult.

Magnetite nanoparticles can arise from vehicle brakes, engines/exhaust and power plants/combustion sources. Microwave ovens and telephone lines are not typical sources.

Demand for a good rises when the price of its substitute rises and when the good's own price falls. A higher complement price reduces demand, and higher income reduces demand for inferior goods.

The RBI Governor is appointed by the Central Government and derives statutory powers from the RBI Act. The Constitution does not give the Centre a specific power to issue directions to RBI in public interest; RBI is governed by statute.