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Q1Polity & Governance·Federalism and Local GovernancePYQ 2025
With reference to India, consider the following:
I. Inter-State Council
II. National Security Council
III. Zonal Councils
How many of the above were established as per the provisions of the Constitution of India?
- AOnly oneCorrect
- BOnly two
- CAll the three
- DNone
Explanation
Correct. Only the Inter-State Council is a constitutional body, established under Article 263. The National Security Council is an executive body created by a government order, and Zonal Councils were created by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
Q2Polity & Governance·Federalism and Local GovernancePYQ 2025
Consider the following statements:
Statement I: Panchayats at the intermediate level exist in all States.
Statement II: To be eligible to be a Member of a Panchayat at the intermediate level, a person should attain the age of thirty years.
Statement III: The Chief Minister of a State constitutes a commission to review the financial position of Panchayats and to make recommendations regarding distribution of State taxes and duties between the State and Panchayats.
- AI and II only
- BII and III only
- CI and III only
- DI, II and IIICorrect
Explanation
Correct per the official answer key. However, constitutionally: intermediate-level Panchayats are not mandatory in States with populations below 20 lakh; the minimum age is 21 years not 30; and the State Finance Commission is constituted by the Governor, not the Chief Minister. The PYQ answer key uses (d) as the correct option.
Q3Polity & Governance·Federalism and Local GovernancePYQ 2024
Which one of the following statements is correct as per the Constitution of India?
- AInter-State trade and commerce is a State subject under the State List
- BInter-State migration is a State subject under the State List
- CInter-State quarantine is a Union subject under the Union ListCorrect
- DCorporation tax is a State subject under the State List
Explanation
Correct. Inter-State quarantine appears in the Union List (Entry 81A). Matters that involve cross-State coordination, such as quarantine, are placed under Union jurisdiction to ensure uniformity.
Q4Polity & Governance·Federalism and Local GovernancePYQ 2021
Which one of the following in Indian polity is an essential feature that indicates that it is federal in character?
- AIndependence of the judiciary is safeguardedCorrect
- BThe Union Legislature has elected representatives from constituent units
- CThe Union Cabinet can have elected representatives from regional parties
- DFundamental Rights are enforceable by courts of law
Explanation
Correct. An independent judiciary is an essential federal feature because a federal Constitution requires an impartial umpire to interpret the Constitution, resolve Centre-State disputes, and maintain the constitutional distribution of powers.
Q5Polity & Governance·Federalism and Local GovernancePYQ 2017
Which one of the following is not a feature of Indian federalism?
- AThere is an independent judiciary in India.
- BPowers have been clearly divided between the Centre and the States.
- CThe federating units have been given unequal representation in the Rajya Sabha.
- DIt is the result of an agreement among the federating units.Correct
Explanation
Correct. Unlike the United States, the Indian federation was not created by a compact or agreement among sovereign constituent units. It was constitutionally created from the top down, with the Union creating the States rather than States coming together to form the Union.
Q6Polity & Governance·Federalism and Local GovernancePYQ 2017
Local self-government can be best explained as an exercise in:
- AFederalism
- BDemocratic decentralisationCorrect
- CAdministrative delegation
- DDirect democracy
Explanation
Correct. Local self-government involves the transfer of authority and representative decision-making to elected bodies at the local level, which is the essence of democratic decentralisation as envisaged by the 73rd and 74th Amendments.
Q7Polity & Governance·Federalism and Local GovernancePYQ 2016
Consider the following statements:
Statement 1: The minimum age prescribed for any person to be a member of Panchayat is 25 years.
Statement 2: A Panchayat reconstituted after premature dissolution continues only for the remainder period.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B2 onlyCorrect
- CBoth 1 and 2
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct. Statement 1 is wrong because the minimum age is 21 years, not 25. Statement 2 is correct because Article 243E(4) provides that a Panchayat reconstituted after premature dissolution continues only for the remainder of the original five-year term.
Q8Polity & Governance·Federalism and Local GovernancePYQ 2015
The provisions in the Fifth Schedule and Sixth Schedule in the Constitution of India are made in order to:
- AProtect the interests of Scheduled TribesCorrect
- BDetermine the boundaries between States
- CDetermine the powers, authorities, and responsibilities of Panchayats
- DProtect the interests of all the border States
Explanation
Correct. The Fifth and Sixth Schedules create special administrative arrangements for tribal areas and tribal populations, especially Scheduled Tribes. The Fifth Schedule covers Scheduled Areas in most States, while the Sixth Schedule covers autonomous tribal regions in the northeastern States.
Q9Polity & Governance·Federalism and Local GovernancePYQ 2015
The fundamental object of the 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.
- A1, 2 and 3 only
- B2 and 4 only
- C1 and 3 onlyCorrect
- D1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation
Correct. The Panchayati Raj system is fundamentally designed to ensure people's participation in development and democratic decentralization. These are the twin pillars underlying the 73rd Constitutional Amendment.
Q10Polity & Governance·Federalism and Local GovernancePYQ 2013
The Parliament can make any law for the whole or any part of India for implementing international treaties:
- AWith the consent of all the States
- BWith the consent of the majority of States
- CWith the consent of the States concerned
- DWithout the consent of any StatesCorrect
Explanation
Correct. Article 253 empowers Parliament to legislate for implementing treaties, agreements, or international decisions even on matters otherwise in the State List, without needing any State consent. This was repeated as a PYQ in both 2000 and 2013.
Q11Polity & Governance·Federalism and Local GovernancePYQ 2013
The Government enacted the Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act in 1996. Which one of the following is not identified as its objective?
- ATo provide self-governance
- BTo recognise traditional rights
- CTo create autonomous regions in tribal areasCorrect
- DTo free tribal people from exploitation
Explanation
Correct. PESA does not create autonomous regions on the model of the Sixth Schedule. It extends the Panchayati Raj framework with suitable modifications to Scheduled Areas under the Fifth Schedule, but these are not autonomous regions.
Q12Polity & Governance·Federalism and Local GovernancePYQ 2012
In the areas covered under the Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, what is the role/power of Gram Sabha?
1. Gram Sabha has the power to prevent alienation of land in the Scheduled Areas.
2. Gram Sabha has the ownership of minor forest produce.
3. Recommendation of Gram Sabha is required for granting prospecting licence or mining lease for any mineral in the Scheduled Areas.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B1 and 2 onlyCorrect
- C2 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Correct. PESA empowers the Gram Sabha to safeguard against land alienation in Scheduled Areas and confers ownership of minor forest produce on the Gram Sabha. The more expansive mining-lease formulation in Statement 3 is not accepted in the answer key.