31 practice questions on Rights Issues & Mechanisms from the Polity & Governance section of the UPSC Prelims syllabus.
31 come with a written explanation and 10 are actual previous year questions.
Try the sample set below - the answer stays hidden until you ask for it.
9 Easy13 Medium9 Hard10 from past papers
Sample questions
Q1
Previous year questioneasy
A Writ of Prohibition is an order issued by the Supreme Court or High Courts to:
Aa government officer prohibiting him from taking a particular action
Bthe Parliament/Legislative Assembly to pass a law on Prohibition
Cthe lower court prohibiting continuation of proceedings in a case
Dthe Government prohibiting it from following an unconstitutional policy
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C - the lower court prohibiting continuation of proceedings in a case
Prohibition is a judicial writ issued by a superior court to a lower court or tribunal to stop it from continuing proceedings in a case that lies beyond its jurisdiction. It is preventive in nature and operates only against judicial and quasi-judicial bodies, which is why the option about a lower court is correct. It does not lie against administrative officers or governments for executive actions, and it has nothing to do with directing legislatures to enact laws, so the other three options misdescribe the writ.
Q2
Previous year questionhard
In India, if a religious sect/community is given the status of a national minority, what special advantages it is entitled to?
1. It can establish and administer exclusive educational institutions.
2. The President of India automatically nominates a representative of the community to Lok Sabha.
3. It can derive benefits from the Prime Minister's 15 Point Programme.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A1 only
B2 and 3 only
C1 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C - 1 and 3 only
Under Article 30, religious and linguistic minorities have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice, so statement 1 is correct. Notified minorities are also covered under the Prime Minister's New 15 Point Programme for the welfare of minorities, so statement 3 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the President's power to nominate to the legislature is limited (for example, the Anglo-Indian community to the Lok Sabha and persons of distinction to the Rajya Sabha), and there is no automatic Lok Sabha nomination for every notified minority community. Hence only 1 and 3 are correct.
Q3
Previous year questionmedium
With reference to consumers' rights/privileges under the provisions of law in India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Consumers are empowered to take samples for food testing.
2. When a consumer files a complaint in any consumer forum, no fee is required to be paid.
3. In case of death of a consumer, his/her legal heir can file a complaint in the consumer forum on his/her behalf.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
A1 only
B2 and 3 only
C1 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C - 1 and 3 only
Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Under the food safety framework, consumers can have samples of food articles tested, and under the Consumer Protection Act the legal heir or representative of a deceased consumer can file or continue a complaint. Statement 2 is wrong because a prescribed fee has to be paid when filing a complaint in a consumer forum (small-value claims have enjoyed fee exemptions at times, but it is not the case that no fee is ever required). Hence (c) is correct and options including statement 2 are wrong.
Q4
Previous year questionhard
India is home to lakhs of persons with disabilities. What are the benefits available to them under the law?
1. Free schooling till the age of 18 years in government-run schools.
2. Preferential allotment of land for setting up business.
3. Ramps in public buildings.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A1 only
B2 and 3 only
C1 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D - 1, 2 and 3
Under the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, children with disabilities are entitled to free education up to the age of 18 years (statement 1), there is preferential allotment of land at concessional rates for setting up business and related purposes under Section 43 (statement 2), and barrier-free access including ramps in public buildings is mandated under Sections 44 to 46 (statement 3). All three benefits are available under the law, and the official UPSC 2011 key gives (d) 1, 2 and 3.
Q5
Previous year questionhard
In India, Legal Services Authorities provide free legal services to which of the following type of citizens?
1. Person with an annual income of less than Rs. 1,00,000
2. Transgender with an annual income of less than Rs. 2,00,000
3. Member of Other Backward Classes (OBC) with an annual income of less than Rs. 3,00,000
4. All Senior Citizens
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A1 and 2 only
B3 and 4 only
C2 and 3 only
D1 and 4 only
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A - 1 and 2 only
Under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 and the applicable income ceilings notified at the time, a person with annual income below Rs. 1,00,000 qualified for free legal aid, and transgender persons with annual income below Rs. 2,00,000 were specifically covered, so statements 1 and 2 are correct. Membership of OBC is not by itself a category entitled to free legal services under Section 12 of the Act, which lists SCs, STs, women, children, persons in custody, victims of trafficking and disaster, among others. Senior citizens are not automatically covered as a class; their eligibility depends on the income criteria prescribed by the respective State governments. Therefore only 1 and 2 are correct.
Q6
Previous year questionhard
Consider the following statements :
1. 'Right to the City' is an agreed human right and the UN-Habitat monitors the commitments made by each country in this regard.
2. 'Right to the City' gives every occupant of the city the right to reclaim public spaces and public participation in the city.
3. 'Right to the City' means that the State cannot deny any public service or facility to the unauthorized colonies in the city.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A1 only
B3 only
C1 and 2
D2 and 3
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D - 2 and 3
Statement 1 is incorrect because 'Right to the City' is an aspirational concept, not a formally agreed international human right monitored country-by-country by UN-Habitat. Statement 2 captures its essence (reclaiming public spaces and ensuring public participation), and the official UPSC key treats statement 3 (no denial of public services to unauthorised colonies) as also correct, giving 2 and 3, option (d). This was a contested question: some coaching keys marked 1 and 2 instead, so the official answer is retained here with low confidence.
Q7
Previous year questionmedium
With reference to India, consider the following statements :
1. Judicial custody means an accused is in the custody of the concerned magistrate and such accused is locked up in police station, not in jail.
2. During judicial custody, the police officer in charge of the case is not allowed to interrogate the suspect without the approval of the court.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A1 only
B2 only
CBoth 1 and 2
DNeither 1 nor 2
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B - 2 only
Statement 1 is wrong because it describes police custody, not judicial custody; in judicial custody the accused is held in jail under the magistrate's authority, not locked up in a police station. Statement 2 is correct: once a person is in judicial custody, the investigating officer cannot interrogate the accused without the court's permission. Since only the second statement is accurate, the answer is 2 only, option (b).
Q8
Previous year questionmedium
Consider the following:
1. Right to education.
2. Right to equal access to public service.
3. Right to food.
Which of the above is/are Human Right/Human Rights under "Universal Declaration of Human Rights"?
A1 only
B1 and 2 only
C3 only
D1, 2 and 3
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D - 1, 2 and 3
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) recognises the right to education in Article 26 (statement 1), the right of equal access to public service in one's country in Article 21(2) (statement 2), and the right to food as part of an adequate standard of living and well-being in Article 25 (statement 3). Since all three are explicitly covered by the UDHR, the correct answer is 1, 2 and 3.
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