Subtopic

Constitutional & Statutory Bodies

Under theme: Indian Polity & Governance

83 PYQs. Learn elimination tricks first, then attempt the questions below.

Questions83
Active years14
Tricks15

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Every PYQ in this subtopic — exam mode with autosave, negative marking, and explanations after you submit.

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Elimination tricks

15 from PYQs

Common distractors and how to eliminate wrong options in this subtopic.

  • 1

    Always remember that the Attorney General can participate in parliamentary proceedings but cannot vote.

  • 1

    Always verify claims of 'first' or 'oldest' for institutions; UPSC frequently uses these as distractors.

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  • 1

    Always verify specific details like funding sources; UPSC often introduces incorrect partners.

  • 1

    Always verify the legal basis (Act) for environmental institutions mentioned in the statements.

  • 1

    Always verify the specific constitutional authority responsible for an action (e.g., President for notificati…

  • 1

    Avoid arbitrary decisions like removing a contractor without due process or formal investigation.

  • 1

    Avoid assuming broad mandates: Do not assume NALSA's role extends beyond legal services or its relationship w…

  • 1

    Avoid assuming that all significant governance bodies are necessarily constitutional in their origin.

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    Avoid options that generalize the purpose beyond tribal welfare, such as promoting national integration or ec…

  • 1

    Be aware of recent amendments (like 2020) that change the powers and functions of financial institutions like…

  • 1

    Be aware of recent constitutional amendments, as they can change the status of existing bodies, such as the N…

  • 1

    Be aware of the existence and roles of key statutory bodies like IPAB, considering the exam year.

  • 1

    Be cautious of extreme percentages (e.g., 'more than 90%') in factual statements; they are often incorrect un…

  • 1

    Be cautious of plausible but incorrect geopolitical claims, such as military base rumors, which UPSC often us…

  • 1

    Be cautious with absolute negative statements (e.g., 'no regulatory body'); they are often incorrect in UPSC …

PYQs in this subtopic

2013
9
2014
3
2015
4
2016
4
2017
7
2018
4
2019
7
2020
1
2021
3
2022
10
2023
7
2024
6
2025
11
2026
7
UPSC Prelims 2026 hard Indian Polity Open full page

With reference to the organisations under the Government of India, consider the following details:

| Sl. No. | Organisation | Function | Controlling Union Ministry |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) | To coordinate between various law enforcement agencies | Ministry of Home Affairs |
| 2. | Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) | To investigate complex corporate frauds | Ministry of Finance |
| 3. | Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) | To preserve values in public life and ensure the health of the national economy | Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension |

In how many of the above rows are the given details correctly matched ?

UPSC Prelims 2026 medium Indian Polity Open full page

Consider the following statements about the provisions pertaining to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in India :

1. Provisions regarding the administration of the Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram are given in the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
2. Some tribes of India are entitled to exemption from paying Income Tax on certain incomes.
3. The Constitution of India provides for reservation of seats in Panchayats for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.

Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct ?

UPSC Prelims 2026 hard Indian Polity Open full page

Which of the following statements about a Zero First Information Report (Zero FIR) under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 is/are correct?

1. A Zero FIR can be lodged at a police station, even though the place of commission of a cognizable/non-cognizable offence is outside the territorial jurisdiction of that police station.
2. The Officer-in-Charge of the police station where a Zero FIR has been lodged may, with the permission of the competent authority, initiate a preliminary enquiry.
3. Under Zero FIR, it is obligatory for the informant to furnish information electronically.

Select the answer using the code given below:

Practice all 83 PYQs in one test

166 min · −33% negative · explanations after submit

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UPSC Prelims 2026 easy Indian Polity Open full page

Mr. X, a senior officer, was overseeing a critical vaccination programme during a pandemic. He found that a private service provider responsible for vaccine distribution was compromising on quality to make profits. Despite immense pressure to manage the issue due to vested interests, he raised his voice based on the principles of public administration which he learnt during various training programmes attended across his career. He reported the issue to the appropriate vigilance authority and halted the contract to ensure citizen welfare.

Which one among the following principles of public administration was most strongly demonstrated by Mr. X's actions?

UPSC Prelims 2026 hard Science & Technology Open full page

The Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) recently introduced a national standard to test and assess bomb disposal system. Which of the following statements with regard to this system is/are correct ?

1. The new standard is known as IS 19445 : 2025.
2. It will improve interoperability of equipment across agencies.
3. It was developed by TBRL, DRDO in collaboration with the 30th Central Scientific Research Institute, Russia.

Select the answer using the code given below :

UPSC Prelims 2026 medium Social Issues & Schemes Open full page

Which of the following statements with respect to the Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) is/are correct ?

1. The period of its implementation is 1st April, 2021 to 31st March, 2026.
2. The key objective of the Revamped RGSA is to develop the governance capabilities of the Panchayati Raj Institutions to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals.
3. The share of the Central funding for the Revamped RGSA is 100% for all States and Union Territories.

Select the answer using the code given below :

Practice all 83 PYQs in one test

166 min · −33% negative · explanations after submit

Practice
UPSC Prelims 2026 medium Social Issues & Schemes Open full page

Ms. X is a mid-level civil service official working in the urban development department of a major city. Recently, she was involved in approving a contract for a public infrastructure project — a new community park. During the approval process, she received a piece of confidential information indicating that one of the shortlisted contractors had a history of poor workmanship and allegations of corruption in other cities, though nothing had been legally proven. The Head of the Department, Mr. Y, advised her not to disclose this information to the project committee or the public because it could delay the project and damage the city's reputation. However, Ms. X believed that withholding such information compromised transparency and public trust.

What amongst the following should Ms. X do now?

1. Immediately disclose the information to the project committee and the public
2. Recommend removing the contractor from the shortlist to protect the project's integrity
3. Propose a 'limited disclosure' to an oversight committee, while keeping the information confidential from the public for the time being

Select the answer using the code given below:

UPSC Prelims 2025 hard Economy Open full page

Consider the following activities:

I. Production of crude oil
II. Refining, storage and distribution of petroleum products
III. Marketing and sale of petroleum products
IV. Production of natural gas

How many of the above activities are regulated by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board in our country?

UPSC Prelims 2025 hard Economy Open full page

Which of the following statements with regard to recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission of India are correct?

I. It has recommended grants of ₹4,800 crores from the year 2022–23 to the year 2025–26 for incentivizing States to enhance educational outcomes.
II. 45% of the net proceeds of Union taxes are to be shared with States.
III. ₹45,000 crores are to be kept as performance-based incentive for all States for carrying out agricultural reforms.
IV. It reintroduced tax effort criteria to reward fiscal performance.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

UPSC Prelims 2025 hard Economy Open full page

With reference to India, consider the following pairs:

| Organization                              | Union Ministry                                  |
|------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| I. The National Automotive Board            | Ministry of Commerce and Industry               |
| II. The Coir Board                            | Ministry of Heavy Industries                    |
| III. The National Centre for Trade Information| Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises |

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

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