Statutory & Regulatory Bodies MCQs for UPSC Prelims

41 practice questions on Statutory & Regulatory Bodies from the Polity & Governance section of the UPSC Prelims syllabus. 41 come with a written explanation and 19 are actual previous year questions. Try the sample set below - the answer stays hidden until you ask for it.

8 Easy 25 Medium 8 Hard 19 from past papers

Sample questions

Q1
Previous year question hard

Which of the following are included in the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court? 1. A dispute between the Government of India and one or more States 2. A dispute regarding elections to either House of the Parliament or that of Legislature of a State 3. A dispute between the Government of India and a Union Territory 4. A dispute between two or more States Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

  1. A 1 and 2
  2. B 2 and 3
  3. C 1 and 4
  4. D 3 and 4
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - 1 and 4

Article 131 confers exclusive original jurisdiction on the Supreme Court in disputes between the Government of India and one or more states, and in disputes between states, so statements 1 and 4 are correct. Statement 2 is wrong because election disputes relating to Parliament or state legislatures are tried as election petitions before High Courts (only disputes about the election of the President and Vice-President go directly to the Supreme Court, under Article 71, which is a separate jurisdiction). Statement 3 is wrong because Article 131 speaks of states; a Union Territory is administered by the Union itself and is not a party contemplated under this article. Hence (c).

Q2
Previous year question hard

In India, which of the following review the independent regulators in sectors like telecommunications, insurance, electricity, etc.? 1. Ad Hoc Committees set up by the Parliament 2. Parliamentary Department Related Standing Committees 3. Finance Commission 4. Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission 5. NITI Aayog Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A 1 and 2
  2. B 1, 3 and 4
  3. C 3, 4 and 5
  4. D 2 and 5
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - 1 and 2

Independent sectoral regulators such as TRAI, IRDAI and the electricity regulators are accountable to Parliament, which can scrutinise them through Ad Hoc Committees constituted for a specific purpose and through the Department Related Standing Committees, so statements 1 and 2 are correct. The Finance Commission only recommends the sharing of taxes between the Centre and States and has no review role over regulators. The Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC) was a one-time body that recommended reforms rather than a continuing reviewer, and NITI Aayog is a think tank with no oversight authority over these regulators. Hence only options containing 1 and 2 are correct.

Q3
Previous year question hard

The North Eastern Council (NEC) was established by the North Eastern Council Act, 1971. Subsequent to the amendment of NEC Act in 2002, the Council comprises which of the following members? 1. Governor of the Constituent State 2. Chief Minister of the Constituent State 3. Three Members to be nominated by the President of India 4. The Home Minister of India Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. A 1, 2 and 3 only
  2. B 1, 3 and 4 only
  3. C 2 and 4 only
  4. D 1, 2, 3 and 4
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - 1, 2 and 3 only

After the 2002 amendment to the NEC Act, the Council consists of the Governor and the Chief Minister of each of the eight constituent north-eastern states, plus three members nominated by the President. The Union Home Minister is not a member under the Act; the 2018 decision making the Home Minister the ex-officio Chairman was an executive arrangement, not part of the 2002 statutory composition asked about here. Hence only statements 1, 2 and 3 reflect the Act's composition.

Q4
Previous year question medium

Consider the following statements: 1. The India Sanitation Coalition is a platform to promote sustainable sanitation and is funded by the Government of India and the World Health Organization. 2. The National Institute of Urban Affairs is an apex body of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in Government of India and provides innovative solutions to address the challenges of Urban India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A 1 only
  2. B 2 only
  3. C Both 1 and 2
  4. D Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - 2 only

The India Sanitation Coalition is a multi-stakeholder platform hosted at FICCI that brings together businesses, government and civil society for sustainable sanitation; it is not a body funded by the Government of India and the WHO, so statement 1 is incorrect. The National Institute of Urban Affairs is the premier think tank of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, undertaking research and providing innovative solutions for urban India, so statement 2 is correct. The answer is therefore 2 only.

Q5
Previous year question easy

Consider the following statements: 1. Aadhaar card can be used as a proof of citizenship or domicile. 2. Once issued, Aadhaar number cannot be deactivated or omitted by the Issuing Authority. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A 1 only
  2. B 2 only
  3. C Both 1 and 2
  4. D Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D - Neither 1 nor 2

Both statements are wrong, so 'D' is the answer. Aadhaar is only a proof of identity and residence, not of citizenship or domicile, so statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is also incorrect because the Issuing Authority (UIDAI) can deactivate or omit an Aadhaar number, for instance on grounds of biometric failure or invalid enrolment. Hence neither statement is correct.

Q6
Previous year question medium

With reference to 'Quality Council of India (QCI)', consider the following statements : 1. QCI was set up jointly by the Government of India and the Indian Industry. 2. Chairman of QCI is appointed by the Prime Minister on the recommendations of the industry to the Government. Which of the above statements is/are correct?

  1. A 1 only
  2. B 2 only
  3. C Both 1 and 2
  4. D Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - Both 1 and 2

The Quality Council of India was set up in 1997 jointly by the Government of India (through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry) and Indian industry associations such as ASSOCHAM, CII and FICCI, so statement 1 is correct. Its Chairman is nominated by the Prime Minister on the recommendation of industry to the Government, making statement 2 correct as well. Both statements being accurate, the answer is 'Both 1 and 2'. Options limiting the answer to one statement are therefore wrong.

Q7
Previous year question medium

Which of the following bodies does not/do not find mention in the Constitution? 1. National Development Council 2. Planning Commission 3. Zonal Councils Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

  1. A 1 and 2 only
  2. B 2 only
  3. C 1 and 3 only
  4. D 1, 2 and 3
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D - 1, 2 and 3

None of the three bodies is mentioned in the Constitution, so all of statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct and the answer is (d). The National Development Council was created by an executive resolution of the Government in 1952; the Planning Commission was set up by an executive resolution in 1950 and was a non-constitutional, non-statutory body; and the Zonal Councils were established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 (a statute, not the Constitution). Since each of them is extra-constitutional, all three find no mention in the Constitution, giving option (d).

Q8
Previous year question medium

With reference to India, consider the following statements: 1. Government law officers and legal firms are recognised as advocates, but corporate lawyers and patent attorneys are excluded from recognition as advocates. 2. Bar Councils have the power to lay down the rules relating to legal education and recognition of law colleges. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A 1 only
  2. B 2 only
  3. C Both 1 and 2
  4. D Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - 2 only

Under the Advocates Act, 1961 only individual persons enrolled with a State Bar Council are advocates; a legal firm, being an entity and not a person, cannot itself be recognised as an advocate, and corporate lawyers or patent attorneys who are enrolled can be advocates. So statement 1 draws the line wrongly on both counts and is incorrect. The Bar Council of India is statutorily empowered to set standards of legal education and to recognise universities and law colleges whose degrees qualify for enrolment, so statement 2 is correct. This rules out the options treating statement 1 as correct.

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More Polity & Governance topics

Parliament 100 Constitutional Bodies 93 Schedules & Special Provisions 85 Centre-State Relations & Federalism 84 Fundamental Rights 57 Judiciary 57 Governance, Transparency & Accountability 54 Amendment of Constitution 49 Local Government 48 Directive Principles 45 Elections & Representation 44 Union Executive 43 Social Justice & Welfare 39 State Legislature & Executive 38 Constitutional Framework 37 Citizenship 32 Emergency Provisions 32 Bills & Acts 31 Rights Issues & Mechanisms 31 Fundamental Duties 27