Prelims GS I · 214 questions · 2011–2026
Polity & governance: every Prelims question, by topic
UPSC syllabus: “Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.” Below, the topics inside it — most asked first — and how often each came up year by year.
Polity & governance in Prelims 2013: 18 questions
All years →- Q7 · Making of the Constitution, Preamble & featuresWith reference to Indian History, the Members of the Constituent Assembly from the Provinces were:…
- Q17 · Parliament & the Union executiveIn the context of India, which of the following principles is/are, implied institutionally in the parliamentary government? Members of the Cabinet are Members of the Parliament. Ministers hold the off…
- Q18 · Making of the Constitution, Preamble & features‘Economic Justice’ as one of the objectives of the Indian Constitution has been provided in…
- Q19 · Fundamental Rights, DPSP & DutiesAccording to the Constitution of India, which of the following are fundamental for the governance of the country?…
- Q20 · Making of the Constitution, Preamble & featuresConsider the following statements: An amendment to the Constitution of India can be initiated by an introduction of a bill in the Lok Sabha only. If such an amendment seeks to make changes in the fede…
- Q21 · Parliament & the Union executiveConsider the following statements: The Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha are not the members of that House. While the nominated members of the two Houses of the Parliament have no vo…
- Q22 · Parliament & the Union executiveConsider the following statements The Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts: Consists of not more than 25 Members of the Lok Sabha. Scrutinises appropriation and finance accounts of the Governmen…
- Q23 · Parliament & the Union executiveConsider the following statements: The Council of Ministers in the Centre shall be collectively responsible to the Parliament. The Union Ministers shall hold the office during the pleasure of the Pres…
- Q24 · Parliament & the Union executiveWhat will follow if a Money Bill is substantially amended by the Rajya Sabha?…
- Q25 · Federalism, states & centre–state relationsThe Parliament can make any law for whole or any part of India for implementing International treaties:…
- Q26 · Constitutional, statutory & regulatory bodiesWith reference to National Legal Services Authority consider the following statements: Its objective is to provide free and competent legal services to the weaker section of the society on the basis o…
- Q27 · Federalism, states & centre–state relationsWhich one of the following statements is correct?…
- Q28 · Panchayati Raj & local governmentThe Government enacted the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act in 1996. Which one of the following is not identified as its objective?…
- Q29 · Elections, rights issues & governanceUnder the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, who shall be the authority to initiate the process for determining the nature and extent of i…
- Q30 · Parliament & the Union executiveConsider the following statements: Attorney General of India can- take part in the proceedings of the Lok Sabha be a member of a committee of the Lok Sabha speak in the Lok Sabha vote in the Lok Sabha…
- Q31 · Federalism, states & centre–state relationsConsider the following statements: The National Development Council is an organ of the Planning Commission. The Economic and Social Planning is kept in the Concurrent List in the Constitution of India…
- Q32 · Federalism, states & centre–state relationsWho among the following constitute the National Development Council? The Prime Minister The Chairman, Finance Commission Ministers of the Union Cabinet Chief Ministers of the States…
- Q33 · Constitutional, statutory & regulatory bodiesWhich of the following bodies does not/do not find mention in the Constitution? National Development Council Planning Commission Zonal Councils…
Polity & governance in UPSC Prelims at a glance
UPSC has asked 214 questions on Polity & governance in GS Paper I from 2011 to 2026 — about 13 a year, the most in 2017 (22). The most-asked topic is Parliament & the Union executive (54 questions).
| Year | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Questions | 6 | 18 | 18 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 22 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 12 |
Counted from UPSC's own papers in the Vault, each question under its main subject · updated 8 Nov 2026.
- Parliament & the Union executive54 questions · asked in 16 of 16 years
- Fundamental Rights, DPSP & Duties34 questions · asked in 14 of 16 years
- Making of the Constitution, Preamble & features28 questions · asked in 13 of 16 years
- Federalism, states & centre–state relations28 questions · asked in 13 of 16 years
- Constitutional, statutory & regulatory bodies23 questions · asked in 14 of 16 years
- Judiciary21 questions · asked in 11 of 16 years
- Elections, rights issues & governance17 questions · asked in 8 of 16 years
- Panchayati Raj & local government9 questions · asked in 8 of 16 years
Latest questions
- 2026 · Q51 · Elections, rights issues & governanceश्री X, एक वरिष्ठ अधिकारी हैं, जो किसी विश्वमारी के दौरान एक निर्णायक टीकाकरण कार्यक्रम का निरीक्षण कर रहे थे। उन्होंने पाया कि टीके के वितरण के लिए उत्तरदायी एक निजी सेव…
- 2026 · Q52 · Elections, rights issues & governanceएक बहुजातीय ज़िले में, जहाँ आर्थिक प्रतिस्पर्धा और ऐतिहासिक शिकायतों के परिणामस्वरूप प्रायः सामुदायिक तनाव उत्पन्न होते हैं, वहाँ एक जनजातीय उपग्राम के निकट एक अपशिष्ट प्…
- 2026 · Q53 · Elections, rights issues & governanceसुश्री X, एक मध्यम-स्तरीय सिविल सेवा अधिकारी हैं, जो एक प्रमुख नगर के शहरी विकास विभाग में कार्यरत हैं। हाल ही में, वे एक सार्वजनिक अवसंरचना परियोजना — नए सामुदायिक उद्या…
- 2026 · Q54 · Fundamental Rights, DPSP & Duties‘X’, भारत के संविधान के भाग III के अनुच्छेद 13 में यथा उपबंधित, ‘विधि’ शब्द के अर्थ पर एक संगोष्ठी को संबोधित कर रहा था। ‘X’ ने स्पष्ट किया कि भारत के संविधान में ‘विधि’ …
- 2026 · Q55 · Making of the Constitution, Preamble & featuresभारत के संविधान के संदर्भ में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :…
The same ground in Mains
These official Mains syllabus lines cover Polity & governance. Prelims facts become Mains arguments.
- Constitution: evolution, features & basic structure
- Comparing constitutions
- Parliament & state legislatures
- Executive, judiciary & pressure groups
- Separation of powers & dispute redressal
- Federalism & devolution
- Constitutional bodies
- Statutory, regulatory & quasi-judicial bodies
- Representation of the People Act
- Government policies & interventions
- Welfare of vulnerable sections
- Governance, transparency & e-governance
Polity & governance PYQs as a PDF — free
All 48 PDFs →Every Polity & governance question from 2011 to 2026, topic-wise, with answers and explanations — 118 pages. Free; sign up once.
Polity & governance PYQs: quick answers
How many Polity & governance questions has UPSC asked in Prelims from 2011 to 2026?
214 questions in GS Paper I — about 13 a year, the most in 2017 (22). Every one is on this page, under its topic, with UPSC's answer and an explanation.
Which Polity & governance topic does UPSC ask most in Prelims?
Parliament & the Union executive: 54 questions between 2011 and 2026, asked in 16 of 16 years. The topics are listed above, most asked first, each with its year-by-year trend.
Are the answers UPSC's official answer keys?
From 2016, yes: every answer is from UPSC's final answer key (2016–2025); for 2011–2015, where UPSC published no key online, each answer is worked out from official sources and reviewed independently; for 2026 UPSC has so far published a provisional key, and those answers are labelled. Explanations cite official sources — NCERT and government pages first.
Can I download the Polity & governance PYQs as a PDF?
Yes — a print-ready PDF of every Polity & governance question with answers and explanations (118 pages, 2.2 MB), free after a one-time sign-up, from the Vault's downloads page.
Counted from UPSC's own papers in the Vault; answers are UPSC's keys.
