BPSC GS-Paper II: (Section-I) Indian Polity Previous years questions

Syllabus: The part relating to Indian Polity, will include questions on the political system in India including Bihar.

 

68th BPSC (Polity):

• Q1. Write short answer of the following questions:
  • Analyse critically the dynamic secularism in India.
  • Regional politics plays its role in India. Explain.
  • The positive directions in the Constitution of India are as a charter of social and economic democracy in the country. Explain with examples.
  • Explain the judicial review jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India.
  • Bihar has witnessed improvement in its political culture in last decades. Give examples.
• Q2.
  • (a) Paramountcy of National Interest is enshrined in the Zonal Councils in the country.” Examine critically, the nature and working of the Zonal Councils in India, in the light of the above statement.
    Or
  • (b) Caste plays a role in Indian politics. There is a change in its functioning over the decades. How do you look at its changing role over the last many decades? Does, the logic of development subside the character of caste? Give your reasons.
• Q3.
  • (a) Election Commission of lndia has played an important role in conducting the elections. Critically examine its role in making the elections free and fair over the decades. Compliment your answer with reference to the conduct of elections in pre-Sheshan and post-Sheshan era in Bihar. How does it contribute to the strengthening of the democracy?
    Or
  • (b) Discuss the as the composition and powers of the Rajya Sabha and identify its role as the Second Chamber of the Parliament.

Constitution (Preamble, Fundamental rights and DPSP etc):

• Indian Parliament is a non-sovereign law making institute.” Evaluate this statement. [65th BPSC-2020]
• “The Indian Constitution postulates in its Preamble that India shall be a socialist, secular, democratic republic.” What are the constitutional provisions to enforce this declaration? [BPSC-2019]
• What is the difference between Constitution and Constitutionalism? Critically discuss the doctrine of ‘basic structure’ as enunciated by the Supreme Court of India. [BPSC-2019]
• What is judicial review ? Critically examine about the doctrine of basic structure as enunciated by the Supreme Court of India. [2016]
• DPSP:
  • “The Directive principles of State Policy are not mere pious declaration but clear directions for the guidance of State Policy.” Comment and show how far they have been applied in practice. [2018] OR
  • Discuss the Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in the Indian Constitution and state their importance. [1995] OR
  • Discuss various ‘Directive principles’. How were these implemented in Bihar after 1950? [2012]
• Rights:
  • Do you agree with the view that our Constitution has given Fundamental Rights by one hand and taken them back by another hand? [65th BPSC-2020]
  • Discuss about the Fundamental Rights as enshrined in the Indian Constitution. How has the judicial interpretations of Article 21 expanded the scope of Right to Life? [2016]
  • Make a critical evolution of right to property as it exists today. [2001]
• Preamble:
  • Evaluate the nature and significance of the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. [2002] OR Examine the relevance and significance of the philosophy enshrined in the preamble of the constitution of India. [1999]
• What is the meaning of “Parliamentary Sovereignty”? Do you consider Indian Parliament a “Sovereign” or a non-sovereign’ or both? Give your views. [1995]
• Describe the fundamental duties as enumerated in the Constitution of India. [1993]

Center-state relation:

• Indian federal structure is constitutionally oriented towards the Central Government. Explain. [66th BPSC/2021]
• Centrally Sponsored Schemes have always been a point of contention between the Centre and States. Discuss by citing relevant examples. [2019]
• Analyse tension areas between Centre and States in the Indian federal system. Describe the current state of relations between Union Govemment and Bihar State. [2016] OR Explain the recent trends in Indian federalism. Do the states need more autonomy? [2009] OR Analyze the emerging trends in Indian Federalism. [1997]
• Discuss Indian Federal System and Centre State Administrative Relation with special reference to National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC). [2012]
• “The coalition experiment at the Centre has neither strengthened democracy nor has it made conditions conductive for participatory and cooperation federation”. Do you agree? [1999]
• Comment upon “Article 356 of the Constitution should be read with article 355 to appreciate its spirit.” [1999]
• Why is the Constitution of India called quasi-federal? [1993]

Politics:

• Caste politics has acquired dominating and enduring mode of politics in India. Explain this phenomenon with special reference to contemporary political developments in Bihar. [BPSC Auditor-2022]
• The Parliament of India is an effective forum of national integration. Discuss. [66th-BPSC]
• “The system of Indian Political Parties is not nationalistic but it is individualistic.” Explain this fact in the context of Bihar State. [65th BPSC-2020]
• Do you agree that Indian Politics today primarily revolves around development politics rather than ascriptive politics? Discuss with reference to Bihar. [2019]
• What are the implications of growing regional political parties on the Indian party politics in recent times? [2019] OR “Too many political parties are the bane of Indian politics.” Explain this fact in the context of Bihar. [2019]
• Examine the concept of ‘Hindutva’ . Is it against secularism? [2018]
• Identify the major pressure groups in Indian politics and examine their role in it. [2018]
• Examine the role of Caste in electoral politics of India. To what extent did caste factor play role in 2015 Bihar election? [2016] OR Discuss the role of caste in Indian Politics. [1997] OR ‘Caste and Class play important role in Indian politics.’- Explain the statement with special reference to Bihar. [2009]
• Write an essay on the politician- criminal nexus with special reference of Bihar. [2007]
• Issue of Reservation is nothing but consolidation of Vote-banks of political parties. What do  you suggest methods other than reservation for providing social justice to depressed class. [2007]
• Discuss the role of language in Indian Politics. Enumerate the provisions for linguistic minorities in Bihar. [2005]
• What are the main reasons for the emergence of coalition politics in India? Discuss the prospects of these coalitions. [2002] OR “Coalition politics in India has become a remarkable feature, but it is yet to provide a stable Government”.- Comment. [2009]
• Comment on ‘Regionalism in Indian Politics’. [2002]
• What is the role of caste in class formation in India?  [2001]
• Analyze the emerging trends in Indian democracy.[2001]
• Comment on ‘India is a liberal democratic state’. [2001]
• Write a brief and critical essay on “Caste as a factor in Bihar Politics since 1977” and highlight the special reasons for the present state of affairs. [1999]

Judicial activism:

“Judicial activism is a recent phenomenon in the Indian governance.” Comment and bring out the main arguments in favour and against of judicial activism. [2019]

OR

Comment on ‘Judicial Activism – Meaning and Evaluation’. [2002]

OR

Comment upon “Judicial Action is a double edged weapon in a parliamentary democracy”. [1999]

Governor and Chief minister:

Q. Critically examine the role of Governor in the State politics in India, particularly in Bihar. Is he a mere puppet? [BPSC-2019] OR Discuss the powers and actual position of the Governor in Bihar politics. [BPSC-2018] OR Discuss the powers and actual position of the Governor in Bihar politics. [BPSC-2018] OR Discuss the power and functions of the Governor and his role in Bihar. [BPSC-2012] OR Discuss the powers of the Governor and explain his role with reference to the recent developments in Bihar. [BPSC-1997] OR Examine the status and powers of the Governor of an Indian State. [BPSC-1993]

Q. How the Chief Minister of State is appointed? Critically examine the powers, functions and achievements of present Bihar Chief Minister. [2002]

President:

• The role of the President of India is like an old man in family who has all the authorities, however, he cannot do anything effective if the naughty-young members of family do not listen him.” Evaluate. [66th BPSC/2021]
• Examine the system of election of the Indian President [1997]

Election:

• Critically examine the role of Election Commission of India in the conduct of free and fair election. What purpose does the. Electoral Identity Card serve in this regard? [2019] OR Examine the power and working of the Election Commission of India and its role in free and fair election. [2012]
• Elections are like the heart beats of a democracy. If they happen too fast or too irregularly, democracy collapses. “Explain your views on mid-term polls in context of India Politics. [2007]
• What do you understand by election campaign? Throw light on the important methods of election campaign in Bihar. [2005]
• Discuss the role of bureaucracy in conducting free and fair elections under the guidance of Election commission of India. [2005]
• Comment on ‘Election Commission of India’. [2002]
• Comment on ‘Electoral process in Bihar’. [2001]

Local Government:

• Analyze the functioning of the rural local governments in India since 1991 with special reference to Bihar. [2009]
• Describe the basic provisions of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act. [2005]
• What is amendment procedure in India? What are the main contents of 73 amendment? How many amendments have been done in Indian Constitution? [2002]
• Describe the objectives and features of the Panchayat Raj in India. [1993]

Miscellaneous:

• What do you understand by E-governance? Discuss the position of E-governance implementation in Bihar. [65th BPSC-2020]
• How is human development measured? What are seven commitments of Bihar Government for achieving human development agenda? Explain the schemes of the Government for achieving these goals. [66th BPSC-2021]