Polity & Governance

CDS 202511 questions

1. Q1

   Which one of the following features is correct about the 'First Past the Post System' of election?

   • AA candidate who wins may not get the majority of votes
   • BMore than one representative may be elected from one constituency
   • CVoters vote for the party, not the candidate
   • DEvery party gets seats in the legislature in proportion to percentage of votes that it gets
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (A) A candidate who wins may not get the majority of votes

   Under the First Past the Post (plurality) system, the candidate securing the most votes in a single-member constituency wins, even if that total is less than 50% of votes cast, so a winner may lack an absolute majority. The other options describe features of proportional representation or multi-member/list systems, not FPTP.

2. Q2

   Match List-I with List-II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists: List-I (Special provision in the Constitution of India): A. Article 371, B. Article 371-A, C. Article 371-B, D. Article 371-I; List-II (State): 1. Nagaland, 2. Gujarat, 3. Assam, 4. Goa. Code: (a) A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2 (b) A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2 (c) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4 (d) A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4

   • A4 1 3 2
   • B4 3 1 2
   • C2 1 3 4
   • D2 3 1 4
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (C) 2 1 3 4

   Article 371 contains special provisions for Gujarat (and Maharashtra), Article 371-A for Nagaland, Article 371-B for Assam, and Article 371-I for Goa. Thus A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4, which is option C.

3. Q3

   Which of the following statements as per the Constitution of India is/are correct? 1. Provision for the reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha has been made vide 106th Amendment of the Constitution. 2. There are provisions for the reservation of seats for women in the Legislative Assemblies and Legislative Councils of the States. 3. There are provisions for the reservation of seats for women in Panchayats. Select the answer using the code given below:

   • A1 and 2
   • B2 and 3
   • C1 only
   • D3 only
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (D) 3 only

   The 106th Amendment (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023) reserves seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, not the Rajya Sabha or Legislative Councils, so statements 1 and 2 are wrong. Reservation for women in Panchayats already exists under Article 243-D, making only statement 3 correct (option D).

4. Q4

   Which one among the following pairs of Subjects and Lists under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India is not correctly matched?

   • AForest : Concurrent List
   • BTaxes on land and building : State List
   • CInsurance : Union List
   • DCensus : Concurrent List
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (D) Census : Concurrent List

   Census is Entry 69 of the Union List, not the Concurrent List, so pair D is incorrectly matched. Forest is in the Concurrent List, taxes on land and buildings are in the State List, and insurance is in the Union List, all of which are correctly matched.

5. Q5

   Which of the following statements with reference to the Preamble to the Constitution of India are correct? 1. The word 'secular' comes before the word 'socialist'. 2. The word 'justice' comes before the word 'equality'. 3. The word 'fraternity' comes after the word 'liberty'. Select the answer using the code given below:

   • A1 and 2 only
   • B2 and 3 only
   • C1 and 3 only
   • D1, 2 and 3
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (B) 2 and 3 only

   In the Preamble the order is 'SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR', so socialist precedes secular, making statement 1 wrong. The listed objectives run Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, so justice does come before equality and fraternity does come after liberty, making statements 2 and 3 correct (option B).

6. Q6

   Which one of the following statements about 'Motions' in the Parliament of India is correct?

   • AA Motion of No-Confidence can be admissible against an individual minister in the Council of Ministers.
   • BA No-Confidence Motion must set out grounds on which it is based.
   • CRajya Sabha is not empowered to entertain a motion of No-Confidence.
   • DA Censure Motion need not be based on specific grounds or charges.
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (C) Rajya Sabha is not empowered to entertain a motion of No-Confidence.

   A No-Confidence Motion can only be moved in the Lok Sabha, which alone can hold the Council of Ministers collectively responsible; the Rajya Sabha cannot entertain it, so statement C is correct. A no-confidence motion is against the entire Council (not an individual minister) and need not state grounds, while a censure motion must specify charges.

7. Q7

   Part IV-A of the Constitution of India deals with which one of the following areas?

   • AAppointment of Members to Public Service Commissions
   • BFundamental Duties
   • CFunctions of Public Service Commissions
   • DProvisions for the functioning of the State Governments
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (B) Fundamental Duties

   Part IV-A of the Constitution, inserted by the 42nd Amendment (1976), contains Article 51-A dealing with the Fundamental Duties of citizens. The provisions relating to Public Service Commissions fall under Part XIV, not Part IV-A.

8. Q8

   Which among the following is not a language listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India?

   • AManipuri
   • BGondi
   • CNepali
   • DDogri
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (B) Gondi

   Gondi is not among the 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Manipuri, Nepali and Dogri are all included in the Eighth Schedule.

9. Q9

   Which of the following criteria are specified for granting Special Category Status to States in India ? 1. Hilly and difficult terrain 2. Economic and infrastructural backwardness 3. Strategic coastal zone 4. Sizeable share of tribal population Select the answer using the code given below :

   • A1 and 2 only
   • B3 and 4 only
   • C1, 2 and 4 only
   • D1, 2, 3 and 4
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (C) 1, 2 and 4 only

   The Gadgil formula criteria for Special Category Status include hilly and difficult terrain, economic and infrastructural backwardness, a sizeable tribal population, low population density, and strategic location along international borders. A 'strategic coastal zone' is not a criterion, so the correct set is 1, 2 and 4 (option C).

10. Q10

    Which of the following statements with reference to National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) is/are correct? 1. It was constituted in the year 2006. 2. Under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the Institute has been entrusted to assist in national level policy formulation with reference to Disaster Management. Select the answer using the code given below:

    • A1 only
    • B2 only
    • CBoth 1 and 2
    • DNeither 1 nor 2
    Show answer & solution

    Correct answer: (C) Both 1 and 2

    The National Institute of Disaster Management was constituted in 2006 under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and is mandated to assist in national-level policy formulation, capacity building and training in disaster management. Both statements are therefore correct (C).

11. Q11

    Social Mobilisation and Institution Development (SM&ID) is one of the major components of:

    • ADeen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana
    • BNational Urban Digital Mission
    • CAtal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation
    • DRashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan
    Show answer & solution

    Correct answer: (A) Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana

    Social Mobilisation and Institution Development (SM&ID) is a core component of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY-NRLM/NULM), which organises the poor into self-help groups and federations for livelihood promotion. Hence A is correct.