Political Theory (Prelims PYQs)
2023 Prelims PYQs
1] In essence, what does ‘Due Process of Law’ mean? [2023]
a) The principle of natural justice
b) The procedure established by law
c) Fair application of Law
d) Equality before law
Ans: a) The principle of natural justice
2] Which one of the following statements best reflects the Chief purpose of the ‘Constitution’ of a country? [2023]
a) It determines the objective for the making of necessary laws.
b) It enables the creation of political offices and a government.
c) It defines and limits the powers of government.
d) It secures social justice, social equality and social security.
Ans: c) It defines and limits the powers of government.
2021 Prelims PYQs
1] Which one of the following best defines the term ‘State’? [2021]
a) A community of persons permanently occupying a definite territory independent of external control and possessing an organised government.
b) A politically organised people of a definite territory and possessing an authority to govern them, maintain law and order, protect their natural rights and safeguard their means of sustenance.
c) A number of persons who have been living in a definite territory for a very long time with their own culture, tradition and government.
d) A society permanently living in a definite territory with a central authority, an executive responsible to the central authority and an independent judiciary.
Ans: a) A community of persons permanently occupying a definite territory independent of external control and possessing an organised government
2] Which one of the following factors constitutes the best safeguard of liberty in a liberal democracy? [2021]
a) A committed judiciary
b) Centralization of powers
c) Elected government
d) Separation of powers
Ans: d) Separation of powers
3] Constitutional government means: [2021]
a) A representative government of nation with federal structure
b) A government whose Head enjoys nominal powers
c) A government whose Head enjoys real powers
d) A government limited by the terms of the Constitution
Ans: d) A government limited by the terms of the Constitution
2020 Prelims PYQs
1] A Parliamentary System of Government is one in which: [2020]
a) All political parties in the Parliament are represented in the Government
b) The Government is responsible to the Parliament and can be removed by it
c) The Government is elected by the people and can be removed by them
d) The Government is chosen by the Parliament but cannot be removed by it before completion of a fixed term
Ans: b) The Government is responsible to the Parliament and can be removed by it
2] One common agreement between Gandhism and Marxism is: [2020]
a) The final goal of a stateless society
b) Class struggle
c) Abolition of private property
d) Economic determinism
Ans: a) The final goal of a stateless society
3] A constitutional government by definition is a: [2020]
a) Government by legislature
b) Popular government
c) Multi-party government
d) Limited government
Ans: d) Limited government
2019 Prelims PYQs
1] In the context of polity, which one of the following would you accept as the most appropriate definition of liberty? [2019]
a) Protection against the tyranny of political rulers
b) Absence of restraint
c) Opportunity to do whatever one likes
d) Opportunity to develop oneself fully
Ans: d) Opportunity to develop oneself fully
2018 Prelims PYQs
1] Which of the following reflects the most appropriate relationship between law and liberty? [2018]
a) If there are more laws, there is less Liberty
b) If there are no laws there is no liberty
c) If there is liberty, laws have to be made by people
d) If laws are changed too often liberty is in danger
Ans: b) If there are no laws there is no liberty
2] Which of the following are regarded as the main feature of the “Rule of Law”? [2018]
1. Limitations of powers
2. Equality before law
3. People’s responsibility to the Government
4. Liberty and Civil Rights
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
a) 1 and 3 only
b) 2 and 4 only
c) 1, 2 and 4 only
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Ans: c) 1, 2 and 4 only
2017 Prelims PYQs
1] One of the implications of equality in society is the absence of: [2017]
a) Privileges
b) Restraints
c) Competition
d) Ideology
Ans: a) Privileges
2] Which one of the following statements is correct? [2017]
a) Rights are claims of the State against the citizens
b) Rights are privileges which are incorporated in the Constitution of a State
c) Rights are claims of the citizens against the State
d) Rights are privileges of a few citizens against the many
Ans: c) Rights are claims of the citizens against the State
3] Local self-government can be best explained as an exercise in: [2017]
a) Federalism
b) Democratic decentralisation
c) Administrative delegation
d) Direct democracy
Ans: b) Democratic decentralisation
4] Democracy’s superior virtue lies in the fact that it calls into activity: [2017]
a) The intelligence and character of ordinary men and women
b) The methods for strengthening executive leadership
c) A superior individual with dynamism and vision
d) A band of dedicated party workers
Ans: a) The intelligence and character of ordinary men and women
5] The main advantage of the parliamentary form of government is that: [2017]
a) The executive and legislature work independently
b) It provides continuity of policy and is more efficient
c) The executive remains responsible to the legislature
d) The head of the government cannot be changed without election
Ans: c) The executive remains responsible to the legislature
2012 Prelims PYQs
1] Which of the following can be said to be essentially the parts of Inclusive Governance? [2012]
1. Permitting the Non-Banking Financial Companies to do banking
2. Establishing effective District Planning Committees in all the districts
3. Increasing the government spending on public health
4. Strengthening the Mid-day Meal Scheme
Choose the correct answer:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 3 and 4 only
c) 2, 3 and 4 only
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Ans: c) 2, 3 and 4 only
2011 Prelims PYQs
1] Karl Marx explained the process of class struggle with the help of which one of the following theories? [2011]
a) Empirical liberalism
b) Existentialism
c) Darwin’s theory of evolution
d) Dialectical materialism
Ans: d) Dialectical materialism
2010-1995 Prelims PYQs
1] Who among the following wrote 'The Communist Manifesto' along with Karl Marx? [2006]
a) Emile Durkheim
b) Friedrich Engels
c) Robert Owen
d) Max Weber
Ans: b) Friedrich Engels
2] Proportional representation is NOT necessary in a country where: [1997]
a) There are no reserved constituencies
b) A two-party system has developed
c) The first past the post system prevails
d) There is a fusion of Presidential and Parliamentary forms of governments
Ans: b) A two-party system has developed
3] In which one of the following countries are 75 percent of seats in both Houses of Parliament filled on the basis of first past the post system and 25 per cent on the basis of Proportional Representation system of elections? [1997]
a) Germany
b) Italy
c) France
d) Russia
Ans: b) Italy
4] Assertion (A): The emergence of economic globalism does not imply the decline of socialist ideology.
Reason (R): The ideology of Socialism believes in universalism and globalism.
In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct? [1997]
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 a correct explanation of A
c) A is true, but R is false
d) A is false, but R is true
Ans: a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
5] Of the four forms of political protests mentioned below, which one is derived from the name of the person who used it as a political weapon for the first time? [1996]
a) Boycott
b) Gherao
c) Bandh
d) Hartal
Ans: a) Boycott
6] Which one of the following countries has more or less evolved a two-party system? [1996]
a) Sri Lanka
b) Bangladesh
c) Pakistan
d) Myanmar
Ans: b) Bangladesh
7] Consider the table given below providing some details of the results of the election to the Karnataka State Legislative Assembly held in December, 1994.
| Political Party | Percentage of popular votes obtained | Number of seats secured |
| Janata Dal | 36 | 116 |
| Congress | 31 | 35 |
| BJP | 20.4 | 40 |
In terms of electoral analysis, the voter-seat distortion is to be explained as the result of the adoption of the: [1995]
a) Hare system
b) Cumulative vote system
c) First past the post system
d) Plural vote system
Ans: c) First past the post system
