Political Science MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Political Science - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is Trygve Lie.

Key Points

• Trygve Halvdan Lie was elected the first Secretary-General of the United Nations on February 1, 1946.
• On February 2, 1946, the General Assembly formally inaugurated him at its 22nd meeting. Mr. Lie was re-elected by the General Assembly on November 1, 1950, for a third term beginning February 1, 1951.
• In November 1952, he resigned as Secretary-General of the United Nations.
• The United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG or SG) is the UN's highest administrative officer and heads the UN Secretariat, one of the UN's six main institutions.
• Chapter XV (Articles 97 to 101) of the United Nations Charter defines the secretary and general's secretariat's roles. 

Important Points

• Carl Hammarskjöld was a Swedish economist and diplomat who served as the UN's second Secretary-General from April 1953 until September 1961, when he died in a plane crash.
• U Thant was a Burmese diplomat who served as the UN's third Secretary-General from 1961 to 1971, the first non-Scandinavian to do so.
• Kofi Atta Annan was a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the United Nations' seventh Secretary-General from 1997 to 2006. 

The correct answer is United Nations Environment ProgrammeKey Points

• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system.
• It was established by Maurice Strong, its first director, after the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in June 1972
• Its mandate is to provide leadership, deliver science and develop solutions on a wide range of issues, including climate change, the management of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and green economic development.
• The organization also develops international environmental agreements; publishes and promotes environmental science and helps national governments achieve environmental targets.

Additional Information

 World Organization and Headquarters

The correct answer is - 1, 2, and 4

Key Points

• The Indian Constitution limits the power of the government
  • The Constitution ensures a system of checks and balances to prevent misuse of power.
  • This is achieved through provisions like the Fundamental Rights, which restrict arbitrary actions by the state.
  • It establishes mechanisms such as judicial review by the Supreme Court and High Courts.
• The Constitution reflects ideals agreed upon by all citizens
  • It incorporates values like justice, equality, liberty, and fraternity, as mentioned in the Preamble.
  • These ideals are meant to unify diverse groups within India under a common framework.
  • The Constitution was created through a democratic process, ensuring representation of all sections of society.
• The Constitution defines the political system of the country
  • India follows a parliamentary system of government, as outlined in the Constitution.
  • It specifies the roles and powers of the executive, legislature, and judiciary.
  • The Constitution establishes India as a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic.

Additional Information

• Protection to minorities
  • The statement "It provides no protection to minorities" is incorrect.
  • India’s Constitution explicitly protects minorities through provisions like:
    • Article 29: Safeguards the rights of minorities to conserve their culture, language, and script.
    • Article 30: Grants minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions.
  • These articles ensure the social and cultural inclusion of minority groups.
• Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles
  • The Constitution balances individual rights and state responsibilities through:
    • Fundamental Rights: Protect citizens against state actions (e.g., Article 14: Equality before the law).
    • Directive Principles of State Policy: Guide the government in achieving socio-economic goals (e.g., Article 38: Promoting welfare of the people).
• Judicial Independence
  • The Constitution ensures the judiciary remains independent, enabling it to act as the guardian of constitutional principles.
  • This independence is crucial for upholding the Fundamental Rights and ensuring accountability of other branches of government.

The correct answer is - 1) 1, 3, and 4

Key Points

• Federalism
  • India is a federal country with powers divided between the central and state governments as outlined in the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
  • The federal system ensures governance at multiple levels and promotes regional autonomy.
• Separation of Powers
  • The Indian Constitution incorporates the doctrine of separation of powers by dividing governance responsibilities among the executive, legislature, and judiciary.
  • This ensures a system of checks and balances to prevent misuse of authority.
• Secularism
  • The Indian Constitution declares India a secular state, meaning the state does not promote or favor any religion and treats all religions equally.
  • It guarantees the freedom of religion under Articles 25–28.

Additional Information

• Presidential System vs Parliamentary System
  • India follows a parliamentary system of governance, not a presidential system.
  • In a parliamentary system, the executive is accountable to the legislature, and the head of state (President) is separate from the head of government (Prime Minister).
  • The presidential system, such as in the USA, features a single executive authority.
• Features of Federalism in India
  • India's federal structure is described as quasi-federal, meaning it has a strong central government but also allows state autonomy.
  • Key federal features include a dual government, division of powers, and an independent judiciary.
• Importance of Secularism
  • Secularism in India ensures equality and prevents religious discrimination.
  • It allows individuals to freely practice, profess, and propagate their religion while maintaining harmony among diverse religious groups.

The correct answer is - a-i, b-ii, c-iii, d-iv

Key Points

• B.R. Ambedkar
  • He was appointed as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution.
  • Played a pivotal role in drafting the Constitution and is widely regarded as the Father of the Indian Constitution.
• Rajendra Prasad
  • Served as the President of the Constituent Assembly, overseeing the discussions and adoption of the Constitution.
  • Later became the first President of India.
• Sardar Patel
  • Known as the "Iron Man of India", he was instrumental in the integration of princely states into the Indian Union.
  • Played a significant role in ensuring a unified and stable India post-independence.
• Jawaharlal Nehru
  • Proposed the Objectives Resolution in the Constituent Assembly, which laid the foundation for the guiding principles of the Constitution.
  • Later became India's first Prime Minister.

Additional Information

• Drafting Committee
  • Consisted of 7 members, chaired by B.R. Ambedkar.
  • The committee was tasked with preparing the draft Constitution, which was debated and finalized by the Constituent Assembly.
• Objectives Resolution
  • Proposed by Jawaharlal Nehru on December 13, 1946.
  • Outlined the aims and aspirations of the Indian Constitution, emphasizing justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity.
  • It was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on January 22, 1947.
• Integration of Princely States
  • Led by Sardar Patel with the help of V.P. Menon, this was a critical step in unifying India.
  • Through diplomacy and, in some cases, force, over 500 princely states were integrated into the Indian Union.
• Constituent Assembly
  • Set up in December 1946 to frame the Indian Constitution.
  • Presided over by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the assembly consisted of 299 members representing various regions and communities of India.

The correct answer is Bombay.

Mistake PointsThe question is asking about the first nuclear reactor, NOT a nuclear power plant. It was the Apsara nuclear reactor located at Trombay, Bombay (Mumbai).

Important Points

• India's and Asia's first nuclear reactor, Apsara was inaugurated by Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru on 20 January 1957. 
• The reactor was designed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) and built with assistance from the United Kingdom, which also provided the initial fuel supply consisting of 80 per cent enriched uranium.
• Apsara is a light water swimming pool-type reactor with a maximum power output of one megawatt thermal (MWt). 
• There are 7 more reactors are under construction with a combined generation capacity of 4,300 MW.
• Kudankulam reactor has the highest capacity of 2000 MW in India.

The correct answer is 1, 2 and 3.

• The Directive Principles of State Policy are enumerated in Part IV of the Constitution from Articles 36 to 51.
• The framers of the Constitution borrowed this idea from the Irish Constitution of 1937, which had copied it from the Spanish Constitution.
• Dr B R Ambedkar described these principles as ‘novel features’ of the Indian Constitution.

Key Points

• The Directive Principles along with the Fundamental Rights contain the philosophy of the Constitution and are the soul of the Constitution.
  • Maternity Benefit Act - In India, Article 42 of the Indian Constitution contains the directive that the State shall make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work and maternity benefits.
  • National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 - To implement the right to work - Article 41 of the Indian Constitution.
  • Environment Protection Act, 1986 - Corresponds to Article 48A which calls to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard forests and wildlife.

The correct answer is 1993.

Key Points

• The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is an embodiment of India's concern for the promotion and protection of human rights.
• It was established on 12 October 1993.
• It was given a statutory basis by the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
• Human Rights is defined by the act as "Rights relating to Life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the constitution or embodied in the international covenants and enforceable by courts in India."
• NHRC performs the given functions:
  • Inquire into violations of human rights by the government of India
  • Study treaties and other international instruments on human rights
  • Engage in human rights education among various sections of society

 Thus, we can say that the National Human Rights Commission was constituted in 1993.

The correct answer is Chief minister.

Key Points

• The Chief Minister of a state suggests the allocation of portfolios, but the official power to assign portfolios to the cabinet ministers rests with the Governor.
• It's important to note that the Governor exercises this function as a part of his or her formal powers and acts on the advice of the Chief Minister.
• Chief Minister is the real executive authority i.e., de facto executive.
• The Constitution does not contain any specific procedure for the selection and appointment of the Chief Minister.
• Article 164 only says that the Chief Minister shall be appointed by the governor.
• The governor has to appoint the leader of the majority party in the state legislative assembly as the Chief Minister.
• But, when no party has a clear majority in the assembly, then the governor may exercise his personal discretion and then ask him to prove the majority within a reasonable period.

Option 2 is correct.

• Operation Shakti was the code name of the nuclear tests conducted by India in Pokhran in 1998. 
• Pokhran-II tests, initiated on 11 May 1998, consisted of five detonations.
• The first detonation was a fusion bomb and the remaining four were detonations of fission bombs. The tests were assigned the code- Operation Shakti.
• The five nuclear bombs were designated Shakti-I, Shakti-II, Shakti-III, Shakti-IV, and Shakti-V.
• Please note that four of the devices were weapons-grade plutonium and the other one was Thorium/U-233.
• The development and test teams were led by Bhabha Atomic Research Center and DRDO.

The correct answer is MN Roy.

• People's plan was prepared by M.N. Roy.
  • M.N. Roy, a radical humanist leader, formulated the People's Plan in 1945
  • The plan gave priority to agriculture and production and was drafted on behalf of the Indian Federation of Labour.
  • Jaiprakash Narayan came up with the Sarvodaya Plan in 1950.
  • Nehru-Mahalanobis Model came in the year 1955.
  • Bombay plan was drawn up by a group of Industrialists in Bombay city, Mr. JRD Tata was among those industrialists.
  • National Planning Committee was formed by Indian National Congress in 1938 and it was chaired by S C Bose.

Important Points

• The Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950. 
  • Subsequently, Planning Commis­sion was set up on 15 March 1950 and the plan era started on 1 April 1951 with the launch­ing of the First Five Year Plan (1951-56).
  • The idea of economic planning for five years was taken from the Soviet Union under the socialist influence of first Prime Minister Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru.

Additional Information

• Sir Chintaman Dwarkanath Deshmukh was an Indian civil servant and the first Indian to be appointed governor of the Reserve Bank of India by British Raj authorities in 1943.
• Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel, endeared as Sardar, was an Indian statesman.
  • He served as the first deputy Prime Minister of India from 1947 to 1950.
• Jayaprakash Narayan, popularly known as JP or Lok Nayak, was an Indian independence activist, theorist, socialist and political leader.
  • He is best remembered for leading the opposition in the mid-1970s against Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, whom he called for a "complete revolution" to overthrow.

The correct answer is To organise village panchayat.Key Points

• Gandhian principle of Directive Principles of State Policy refers to the principles advocated by Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation, which were incorporated in the Constitution of India as a guiding framework for the government.
• One of the key Gandhian principles is to organize village panchayats, which are local self-governance institutions that promote community participation and decision-making at the grassroots level.
• The Indian Constitution contains several articles like Article 40, Article 43, Article 43 B, Article 46, Article 47, and Article 48.

Additional Information

• To Separate judiciary from executive:
  • This principle aims to ensure the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, which is already enshrined in the Constitution of India as a fundamental right.
  • The principle of separation of powers, which is a key feature of the Indian Constitution, already mandates a clear separation between the three branches of government - legislature, executive, and judiciary.
• To secure uniform civil code:
  • This principle is aimed at promoting gender equality and social justice, but it remains a highly contentious issue in India due to opposition from some religious communities.
  • The government has not yet been able to implement a uniform civil code due to opposition from various quarters.
• To provide equal pay for equal work:
  • This principle is aimed at promoting gender equality in the workplace, but it remains a major challenge in India where women continue to face discrimination and unequal pay.
  • The government has taken several measures to address this issue, including enacting laws and policies to ensure equal pay for equal work, but the implementation remains a challenge.

Separate electorates are usually demanded by minorities who feel it would otherwise be difficult for them to get fair representation in government. For example, a separate electorate for Muslims means that Muslims will choose their separate leader by separate elections for Muslims.

Important Points

Act 1909:

• The Indian Councils Act 1909 was an act of the British Parliament that introduced a few reforms in the legislative councils and increased the involvement of Indians (limited) in the governance of British India.
• It was more commonly called the Morley-Minto Reforms after the Secretary of State for India John Morley and the Viceroy of India, the 4th Earl of Minto. 
• One of the important provision of this act was that it introduced separate electorates for the Muslims.
• Some constituencies were earmarked for Muslims and only Muslims could vote their representatives.

Thus, we can conclude that the "Separate Electorate system" was introduced in Act 1909.

Key Points

Major provisions of the Act 1909 are as follows: 

• The legislative councils at the Centre and the provinces increased in size.
  • Central Legislative Council – from 16 to 60 members
  • Legislative Councils of Bengal, Madras, Bombay and United Provinces – 50 members each
  • Legislative Councils of Punjab, Burma and Assam – 30 members each
• The legislative councils at the Centre and the provinces were to have four categories of members as follows:
  • Ex officio members: Governor-General and members of the executive council.
  • Nominated official members: Government officials who were nominated by the Governor-General.
  • Nominated non-official members: nominated by the Governor-General but were not government officials.
  • Elected members: elected by different categories of Indians.
• The elected members were elected indirectly. The local bodies elected an electoral college that would elect members of the provincial legislative councils. These members would, in turn, elect the members of the Central legislative council.
• The elected members were from the local bodies, the chambers of commerce, landlords, universities, traders’ communities and Muslims.
• In the provincial councils, non-official members were in the majority. However, since some of the non-official members were nominated, in total, a non-elected majority was there.
• Indians were given membership to the Imperial Legislative Council for the first time.
• The members could discuss the budget and move resolutions. They could also discuss matters of public interest.
• They could also ask supplementary questions.
• No discussions on foreign policy or on relations with the princely states were permitted.
• Lord Minto appointed (on much persuasion by Morley) Satyendra P Sinha as the first Indian member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council.
• Two Indians were nominated to the Council of the Secretary of State for Indian affairs.

Additional Information  

• The Pitt’s India Act, 1784 also called the East India Company Act, 1784 was passed by the British Parliament to correct the defects of the Regulating Act of 1773.
  • This act resulted in dual control of British possessions in India by the British government and the Company with the final authority resting with the government.
  • This act continued in effect until 1858.
• The Indian Councils Act 1861 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that transformed India's executive council to function as a cabinet run on the portfolio system.
• The Regulating Act of 1773 was passed by the British Parliament to control the territories of the East India Company majorly in Bengal.
  • This act was passed due to the misgovernment by the British East India government that introduced a situation of bankruptcy and the government had to interfere with the affairs of the Company.

The correct answer is KC Wheare.

Key Points

• Federalism can be formed by way of integration (US) or disintegration (Canada). 
• Indian federalism resembles “CANADIAN MODEL”.
• The word federalism is nowhere mentioned in the Indian Constitution. 
• Article 1 describes India as a UNION of states.
• It is not a result of an agreement between states and states have no right to secede from the federation. 
• It’s an Indestructible union of destructible states.
• KC Wheare described it as “Quasi federalism”.
• Granville Austin called it “Cooperative federalism” (need for national integrity and unity).
• Morris Jones defined it as 'Bargaining Federalism'.
• 'Federalism with Centralizing tendency' by Ivor Jenning.
• Unitary bias (dominance of centre in financial powers, central grants, Niti Aayog).

Important Points

• In SR Bommai case SC characterized “Federalism” as part of “Basic structure”.

The correct answer is Yashwant Sinha

Key Points

• Yashwant Sinha was the candidate of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in the 15th Presidential Election in India
• Yashwant Sinha is an Indian administrator and politician.
• His constituency was Hazaribagh.
• He served as the Minister of Finance from 1990 until 1991 under Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar and again from March 1998 to July 2002 under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• He also served as the Minister of External Affairs from July 2002 until May 2004