IA S BABA

UPSC CSE MAINS PAST 10 YEARS TOPIC WISE QUESTIONS

TOPIC: POLITY

UPSC EXAM
 UPSC CSE Mains Past 10 Years – Polity

UPSC CSE MAINS PAST 10 YEARS TOPIC WISE QUESTIONS

2022
1. “Right of movement and residence throughout the territory of India are freely available to the
Indian citizens, but these rights are not absolute. “Comment.

2. Discuss the role of the Vice –Presidents of India as the chairman of the Rajyasabha.

3. Discuss the role of the National Commission for Backward Classes in the wake of its transformation
from a statutory body to a constitutional body.

4. Discuss the procedures to decide the disputes arising out of the election of a Member of the
Parliament or State Legislature under The Representation of the People Act, 1951. What are the
grounds on which the election of any returned candidate may be declared void? What remedy is
available to the aggrieved party against the decision? Refer to the case laws.

5. Discuss the essential conditions for exercise of the legislative powers by the Governor. Discuss the
legality of re-promulgation of ordinances by the Governor without placing them before the
Legislature.

6. Discuss the role of the Election Commission of India in the light of the evolution of the Model Code
of Conduct.

2021
7. How have the recommendations of the 14th France Commission of India enabled the States to
improve their fiscal position?

8. “Besides being a moral imperative of a Welfare State, primary health str ucture is a necessary
precondition for sustainable development.”

9. “‘Earn while you learn’ scheme needs to be strengthened to make vocational education and skill
training meaningful”

10. Though the Human Rights Commissions have contributed immensely to th e protection of human
rights in India, yet they have failed to assert themselves against the mighty and powerful. Analysing
their structural and practical limitations, suggest remedial measures.

11. Has digital literacy, particularly in rural areas, coupled with lack of Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) accessibility hindered socio-economic development? Examine with justification.

2020
12. "There is a need for simplification of procedure for disqualification of persons found guilty of
corrupt practices under the Representation of peoples Act” Comment

13. “Recent amendments to the Right to information Act will have profound impact on the autonomy
and independence of the Information Commission”. Discuss

14. How far do you think cooperation, competition and confrontation have shaped the nature of
federation in India? Cite some recent examples to validate your answer

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 UPSC CSE Mains Past 10 Years – Polity
15. “Once a speaker, Always a speaker’! Do you think the practice should be adopted to impart
objectivity to the office of the Speaker of Lok Sabha? What could be its implications for the robust
functioning of parliamentary business in India.

16. Rajya Sabha has been transformed from a ‘useless stepney tyre’ to the most useful supporting
organ in past few decades. Highlight the factors as well as the areas in which this transformation
could be visible.

2019
17. On what grounds a people’s representative can be disqualified under the Representation of People
Act, 1951? Also mention the remedies available to such person against his disqualification.

18. “Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution is a limited power and it cannot be enlarged into
absolute power.” In the light of this statement explain whether Parliament under Article 368 of the
Constitution can destroy the Basic Structure of the Constitution by expanding its amending power?

19. “The reservation of seats for women in the institutions of local self- government has had a limited
impact on the patriarchal character of the Indian Political Process.” Comment.

20. “The Attorney-General is the chief legal adviser and lawyer of the Government of India.” Discuss

21. Do you think that constitution of India does not accept principle of strict separation of powers
rather it is based on the principle of ‘checks and balance’?

22. From the resolution of contentious issues regarding distribution of legislative powers by the
courts,‘Principle of Federal Supremacy’ and ‘Harmonious Construction’ have emerged. Explain.

23. What can France learn from the Indian Constitution’s approach to secularism?

2018
24. How far do you agree with the view that tribunals curtail the jurisdiction of ordinary courts? In view
of the above, discuss the constitutional validity and competency of the tribunals in India?

25. India and USA are the two large democracies. Examine the basic tenets on which the two political
systems are based.

26. How is the Finance Commission of India constituted? What do you know about the terms of
reference of the recently constituted Finance Commission? Discuss.

27. Assess the importance of the Panchayat system in India as a part of local government. Apart from
government grants, what sources the Panchayats can look out for financing development projects?

28. Multiplicity of various commissions for the vulnerable sections of the society leads to problems of
overlapping jurisdiction & duplication of functions. Is it better to merge all commissions into an
umbrella human rights commission? Argue your case.

29. In the light of recent controversy regarding the use of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), what are
the challenges before the Election Commission of India to ensure the trustworthiness of elections in
India?

30. Whether National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) can enforce the implementation of
constitutional reservation for the Scheduled Castes in the religious minority institutions? Examine.

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 UPSC CSE Mains Past 10 Years – Polity
31. Under what circumstances can the Financial Emergency be proclaimed by the President of India?
What consequences follow when such a declaration remain in force?

32. Why do you think the committees are considered to be useful for parliamentary work? Discuss, in
this context, the role of the Estimates Committee.

33. “The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has a very vital role to play.” Explain how this is
reflected in the method and terms of his appointment as well as the range of powers he can
exercise.

34. Whether the Supreme Court Judgment (July 2018) can settle the political tussle between the Lt.
Governor and elected government of Delhi? Examine.

2017
35. Explain the salient features of the constitution (One Hundred and First Amendment) Act, 2016. Do
you think it is efficacious enough ‘to remove cascading effect of taxes and provide for common
national market for goods and services?

36. Examine the scope of Fundamental Rights in the light of the latest judgement of the Supreme Court
on Right to Privacy.

37. The Indian Constitution has provisions for holding a joint session of the two houses of the
Parliament. Enumerate the occasions when this would normally happen and also the occasions
when it cannot, with reasons thereof

38. To enhance the quality of democracy in India the Election Commission of India has proposed
electoral reforms in 2016. What are the suggested reforms and how far are they significant to make
democracy successful?

39. “The local self-government system in India has not proved to be effective instrument of
governance”. Critically examine the statement and give your views to improve the situation.

40. Critically examine the Supreme Court’s judgement on ‘National Judicial Appointments Commission
Act, 2014’ with reference to appointment of judges of higher judiciary in India

41. ‘Simultaneous election to the Lok Sabha and the State Assemblies will limit the amount of time and
money spent in electioneering but it will reduce the government’s accountability to the people’
Discuss.

42. How do pressure groups influence Indian political process? Do you agree with this view that
informal pressure groups have emerged as powerful as formal pressure groups in recent years?

2016
43. Exercise of CAG’s powers in relation to the accounts of the Union and the States is derived from
Article 149 of the Indian Constitution. Discuss whether audit of the Government’s policy
implementation could amount to overstepping its own (CAG) jurisdiction

44. Discuss each adjective attached to the word ‘Republic’ in the ‘Preamble’. Are they defendable in the
present circumstances?

45. What was held in the Coelho case? In this context, can you say that judicial review is of key
importance amongst the basic features of the Constitution

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46. Did the Government of India Act, 1935 lay down a federal constitution? Discuss.

47. What is quasi-judicial body? Explain with the help of concrete examples.

48. Discuss the essentials of the 69th Constitutional Amendment Act and anomalies, if any, that have
led to recent reported conflicts between the elected representatives and institution of Lieutenant
Governor in the administration of Delhi. Do you think that this will give rise to a new trend in the
functioning of the Indian Federal Politics?

49. To what extent is Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, bearing marginal note “Temporary
provision with respect to the State of Jammu and Kashmir”, temporary? Discuss the future
prospects of this provision in the context of Indian polity.

50. “The Indian party system is passing through a phase of transition which looks to be full of
contradictions and paradoxes.” Discuss.

2015
51. Khap panchayats have been in the news for functioning as extra –constitutional authorities, often
delivering pronouncements amounting to human rights violations. Discuss critically the actions
taken by the legislative, executive and the judiciary to set the things right in this regard.

52. Resorting to ordinances has always raised concern on violation of the spirit of separation of powers
doctrine. While noting the rationales justifying the power to promulgate ordinances, analyse
whether the decisions of the Supreme Court on the issue have further facilitated resorting to this
power. Should the power to promulgate the ordinances be repealed?

53. What are the major changes brought in the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 through the
recent Ordinance promulgated by the President? How far will it improve India’s dispute resolution
mechanism? Discuss.

54. Does the right to clean environment entail legal regulation on burning crackers during Diwali?
Discuss in the light of Article 21 of Indian Constitution and Judgement(s) of the Apex court in this
regard

55. Discuss the possible factors that inhibit India from enacting for its citizen a uni form civil code as
provided for in the Directive Principles of State Policy.

56. The concept of cooperative federalism has been increasingly emphasised in recent years. Highlight
the drawbacks in the existing structure and the extent to which cooperative f ederalism would
answer the shortcomings.

57. In absence of well–educated and organised local level government system, ‘Panchayats’ and
‘Samitis’ have remained mainly political institutions and not effective instruments of governance.
Critically discuss.

2014
58. What do you understand by the concept “freedom of speech and expression”? Does it cover hate
speech also? Why do the films in India stand on a slightly different plane from other forms of
expression? Discuss

59. Instances of President’s delay in commuting death sentences has come under public debate as
denial of justice. Should there be a time limit specified for the President to accept/reject such
petitions? Analyse.

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 UPSC CSE Mains Past 10 Years – Polity
60. National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in India can be most effective when its tasks are
adequately supported by other mechanisms that ensure the accountability of a government. In light
of the above observation assess the role of NHRC as an effective complement to the judiciary and
other institutions in promoting and protecting human rights standards.

61. Starting from inventing the ‘basic structure’ doctrine, the judiciary has played a highly proactive
role in ensuring that India develops into a thriving democracy. In light of the statement, evaluate
the role played by judicial activism in achieving the ideals of democracy.

62. Though the federal principle is dominant in our Constitution and that principle is one of its basic
features, but it is equally true that federalism under the Indian Constitution leans in favour of a
strong Centre, a feature that militates against the concept of strong federalism. Discuss.

63. The ‘Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and its Members’ as envisaged in Article 105
of the Constitution leave room for a large number of un-codified and un-enumerated privileges to
continue. Assess the reasons for the absence of legal codification of the ‘parliamentary privileges’.
How can this problem be addressed?

2013
64. The role of individual MPs (Members of Parliament) has diminished over the years a nd as a result
healthy constructive debates on policy issues are not usually witnessed. How far can this be
attributed to the anti-defection law which was legislated but with a different intention?

65. Discuss Section 66A of IT Act, with reference to its alleged violation of Article 19 of the Constitution

66. Recent directives from Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas are perceived by the ‘Nagas’ as a
threat to override the exceptional status enjoyed by the State. Discuss in light of Article 371A of the
Indian Constitution

67. ‘The Supreme Court of India keeps a check on arbitrary power of the Parliament in amending the
Constitution.’ Discuss critically.

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