Practice SetsPractice Sets · Paper I

Polity PYQ Practice: Set 04

Authored CAPF-level polity MCQs (moderate to hard) on federalism, emergency provisions and special provisions, with answer key and explanations, not verbatim PYQs

CAPF wiki•10 min read•4 sections

At a glance

PaperPaper ISubjectPolity

Authored practice, not a verbatim PYQ. Twenty-five questions on federalism, centre-state relations, the three emergencies, and special provisions, with the internal-security and human-rights angle the CAPF exam favours. Attempt closed-book, then check the key.

Questions

Q1The division of legislative powers between the Union and the States is set out in which Schedule?

ASixth Schedule
BSeventh Schedule
CEighth Schedule
DNinth Schedule

Q2Which list in the Seventh Schedule includes "Defence of India" and "Police of the Union"?

AState List for police; Union List for defence
BBoth in the Concurrent List
CBoth in the Union List
DBoth in the State List

Q3 (statement-based). Consider the following about the distribution of subjects:

"Public order" and "Police" are in the State List.
"Criminal law and procedure" is in the Concurrent List.
Residuary powers rest with the State Legislatures. How many are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Q4A proclamation of National Emergency under Article 352 can be made on the ground of:

AFinancial instability only
BFailure of constitutional machinery in a state
CWar, external aggression or armed rebellion
DBreakdown of law and order in a district

Q5"Internal disturbance" as a ground for National Emergency was replaced by "armed rebellion" by which amendment?

A42nd Amendment, 1976
B44th Amendment, 1978
C38th Amendment, 1975
D59th Amendment, 1988

Q6President's Rule in a state is imposed under which Article?

AArticle 352
BArticle 356
CArticle 360
DArticle 365

Q7 (assertion-reason). Assertion (A): The misuse of Article 356 has been judicially restrained. Reason (R): In S R Bommai (1994) the Supreme Court held that the proclamation of President's Rule is subject to judicial review and the floor test is the proper test of majority.

(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true, R is false
(d) A is false, R is true

Q8A Financial Emergency is declared under which Article?

AArticle 352
BArticle 356
CArticle 360
DArticle 365

Q9Which body adjudicates disputes relating to inter-state river water under a central law made under Article 262?

AThe Supreme Court directly
BAn Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal
CThe Inter-State Council
DThe NITI Aayog

Q10Match List I (Provision) with List II (Article):

ANational Emergency
BPresident's Rule
CFinancial Emergency
DInter-State Council

Article 263
Article 352
Article 360
Article 356 Codes:

(a) A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
(b) A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1
(c) A-4, B-2, C-3, D-1
(d) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3

Q11During a National Emergency, the Union Parliament can legislate on subjects in the:

AUnion List only
BState List as well
CConcurrent List only
DNone of the lists

Q12The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution provides for the administration of tribal areas in which states?

AJammu and Kashmir, Ladakh
BAssam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram
CMaharashtra and Gujarat
DPunjab and Haryana

Q13 (statement-based). Consider the following about Article 371 special provisions:

Article 371A makes special provisions for Nagaland.
Article 371G makes special provisions for Mizoram.
Article 371J relates to the Hyderabad-Karnataka region. How many are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Q14The body recommended by the Sarkaria Commission and constituted under Article 263 to promote centre-state coordination is the:

AFinance Commission
BInter-State Council
CNITI Aayog
DNational Development Council

Q15Under Article 355, it is the duty of the Union to:

ADissolve a state assembly
BProtect every state against external aggression and internal disturbance
CAppoint the Chief Minister
DControl the state police directly

Q16 (assertion-reason). Assertion (A): India is often described as a federation with a strong unitary bias. Reason (R): Features such as a single Constitution, single citizenship, an all-India services cadre and the emergency provisions tilt the balance towards the Centre.

(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true, R is false
(d) A is false, R is true

Q17A proclamation of National Emergency, once made, must be approved by both Houses within one month and thereafter can continue for:

AOne month at a time
BSix months at a time with renewal
COne year only
DIndefinitely without review

Q18The deployment of central armed police forces in a state for internal security is best understood as flowing from:

AThe exclusive control of states over their police
BThe Union's responsibility under Article 355 and its powers over central forces
CThe Concurrent List entry on agriculture
DThe residuary powers of the states

Q19Which Finance Commission article provides for distribution of taxes between the Union and the States?

AArticle 280
BArticle 263
CArticle 312
DArticle 324

Q20Match List I (Tribunal or body) with List II (Function):

AFinance Commission
BInter-State Council
CRiver Water Disputes Tribunal
DNITI Aayog

Recommends tax devolution between Centre and states
Promotes coordination between Centre and states
Adjudicates inter-state water disputes
Policy think-tank (replaced the Planning Commission) Codes:

(a) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
(b) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
(c) A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
(d) A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3

Q21The 44th Amendment, 1978, provided that a proclamation of National Emergency requires the written recommendation of the Cabinet to be conveyed to the President because:

AThe President wanted more power
BTo prevent a unilateral declaration by the Prime Minister, as had been alleged in 1975
CThe Supreme Court ordered it
DThe states demanded it

Q22 (statement-based). Consider the following about the effect of President's Rule:

The state legislative assembly may be dissolved or kept in suspended animation.
Parliament exercises the legislative powers of the state.
The High Court of the state is also suspended. How many are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Q23All-India Services (such as the IAS and IPS) are created under which Article, requiring a Rajya Sabha resolution?

AArticle 309
BArticle 312
CArticle 315
DArticle 320

Q24Which schedule was added by the 73rd Amendment to list subjects for Panchayats?

ATenth Schedule
BEleventh Schedule
CTwelfth Schedule
DNinth Schedule

Q25 (assertion-reason). Assertion (A): A Financial Emergency has never been proclaimed in India. Reason (R): A National Emergency on the ground of war or external aggression has been proclaimed at least once.

(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true, R is false
(d) A is false, R is true

Answer key

Reveal the answer key and full worked solutions

Q	Answer
1	(b) Seventh Schedule
2	(c) Both in the Union List
3	(b) Only two
4	(c) War, external aggression or armed rebellion
5	(b) 44th Amendment, 1978
6	(b) Article 356
7	(a) Both true, R is the correct explanation
8	(c) Article 360
9	(b) An Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal
10	(a) A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
11	(b) State List as well
12	(b) Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram
13	(c) All three
14	(b) Inter-State Council
15	(b) Protect every state against external aggression and internal disturbance
16	(a) Both true, R is the correct explanation
17	(b) Six months at a time with renewal
18	(b) Union's responsibility under Article 355 and powers over central forces
19	(a) Article 280
20	(a) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
21	(b) To prevent a unilateral declaration by the PM, as alleged in 1975
22	(b) Only two
23	(b) Article 312
24	(b) Eleventh Schedule
25	(b) Both true, R not the correct explanation

Explanations

Q1. The Seventh Schedule contains the three lists (Union, State, Concurrent) dividing legislative powers. See the schedules of the constitution and federalism and centre state relations.
Q2. Defence and Union police forces are both Union List subjects. See federalism and centre state relations.
Q3. Statements 1 and 2 are correct; residuary powers rest with the Union Parliament, not the states, so statement 3 is false. See federalism and centre state relations.
Q4. Article 352 allows a National Emergency on the grounds of war, external aggression or armed rebellion. See citizenship and emergency provisions.
Q5. The 44th Amendment, 1978, replaced "internal disturbance" with the narrower "armed rebellion". See citizenship and emergency provisions.
Q6. President's Rule (failure of constitutional machinery) is imposed under Article 356. See citizenship and emergency provisions.
Q7. Both true and correctly linked: S R Bommai (1994) made Article 356 judicially reviewable and prescribed the floor test, restraining its misuse. See citizenship and emergency provisions.
Q8. A Financial Emergency is declared under Article 360. See citizenship and emergency provisions.
Q9. Article 262 lets Parliament provide for adjudication of inter-state river water disputes by a tribunal and bar the courts. See federalism and centre state relations.
Q10. National Emergency 352, President's Rule 356, Financial Emergency 360, Inter-State Council 263. See citizenship and emergency provisions and federalism and centre state relations.
Q11. During a National Emergency, Parliament can legislate on State List subjects. See citizenship and emergency provisions.
Q12. The Sixth Schedule covers tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram through Autonomous District Councils. See the schedules of the constitution.
Q13. All three are correct: 371A Nagaland, 371G Mizoram, 371J Hyderabad-Karnataka. See special provisions articles 370 and 371.
Q14. The Inter-State Council under Article 263 was set up in 1990 following the Sarkaria Commission. See federalism and centre state relations.
Q15. Article 355 makes it the Union's duty to protect every state against external aggression and internal disturbance. See citizenship and emergency provisions and human rights and internal security.
Q16. Both true and correctly linked: the listed features explain the strong unitary bias within the federal scheme. See federalism and centre state relations.
Q17. After approval, a National Emergency can continue for six months at a time, with parliamentary renewal each time. See citizenship and emergency provisions.
Q18. Internal-security deployment of central forces flows from the Union's Article 355 duty and its control over central armed police forces. See human rights and internal security.
Q19. Article 280 establishes the Finance Commission to recommend tax distribution. See constitutional and statutory bodies.
Q20. Finance Commission devolution, Inter-State Council coordination, tribunal for water disputes, NITI Aayog as policy think-tank. See federalism and centre state relations and constitutional and statutory bodies.
Q21. The 44th Amendment required the Cabinet's written advice to prevent a unilateral emergency as alleged during 1975. See citizenship and emergency provisions.
Q22. Statements 1 and 2 are correct; the High Court continues to function during President's Rule, so statement 3 is false. See citizenship and emergency provisions.
Q23. Article 312 allows creation of new All-India Services on a Rajya Sabha resolution supported by a special majority. See constitutional and statutory bodies.
Q24. The 73rd Amendment added the Eleventh Schedule listing 29 Panchayat subjects. See local government and the schedules of the constitution.
Q25. Both true but unconnected: no Financial Emergency has ever been declared, while a National Emergency on external grounds has occurred (1962, 1971); the two facts are independent, so R is not the explanation. See citizenship and emergency provisions.

Cross-references

Framework and honesty rule: 00 pipeline
Polity module index: Index
Previous set: set 03 · Next set: set 05

← BackAll of Practice Sets