UPSC Governance – Chapter 2: Machinery of Government and Public Administration (21 MCQs)

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UPSC Governance – Chapter 2: Machinery of Government and Public Administration (21 MCQs) – 21 questions, subject: Governance. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

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1.  

The Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules are made under:

Correct Answer: B [Article 77]

Explanation:

Article 77(3) empowers the President to make rules for the transaction of business and its allocation among ministers; both 1961 Rules rest on it.

2.  

The administrative head of a department of the Government of India is the:

Correct Answer: D [Secretary]

Explanation:

The Secretary is the administrative head of a department and the minister's chief adviser on policy and administration.

3.  

The basic work unit of a ministry is the:

Correct Answer: D [section]

Explanation:

The section, headed by a Section Officer, is the basic work unit that handles files and records.

4.  

Which of the following gives executive direction and technical advice to a ministry?

Correct Answer: A [Attached office]

Explanation:

Attached offices provide the executive direction and technical advice needed to carry out a ministry's policies.

5.  

Article 166 of the Constitution deals with the:

Correct Answer: D [conduct of business of the Government of a State]

Explanation:

Article 166 deals with the conduct of business of the Government of a State, the State counterpart of Article 77.

6.  

Which of the following lays down how cases are decided – by a minister, the Cabinet or a Cabinet committee?

Correct Answer: C [Transaction of Business Rules]

Explanation:

The Transaction of Business Rules, 1961 lay down which cases a minister, the Cabinet or a Cabinet committee decides.

7.  

The chief administrator of a district is the:

Correct Answer: D [District Collector]

Explanation:

The District Collector (District Magistrate or Deputy Commissioner) heads revenue, magistracy, elections and development coordination in the district.

8.  

The head of the civil service in a State is the:

Correct Answer: B [Chief Secretary]

Explanation:

The Chief Secretary heads the State secretariat and is the senior-most civil servant of the State.

9.  

The Bharat Ratna and the Padma awards were instituted in:

Correct Answer: A [1954]

Explanation:

The Bharat Ratna and the three Padma awards were instituted in 1954.

10.  

Consider the following statements:

1. Woodrow Wilson wrote "The Study of Administration".
2. Executive action of the Government of India is taken in the name of the President.
3. Subordinate offices frame the policy of a ministry.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

Wilson wrote The Study of Administration (1887) and Article 77 requires executive action in the President's name; subordinate offices only execute decisions.

11.  

Assertion (A): National awards should not be used as a prefix or suffix to a person's name.

Reason (R): Using the awards as a prefix or suffix would make them work as titles, which Article 18(1) does not allow.

Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]

Explanation:

Both are true and R explains A: Balaji Raghavan (1995) held that prefix or suffix use would turn awards into titles barred by Article 18(1).

12.  

A wing in a ministry is usually headed by:

Correct Answer: B [a Joint Secretary or Additional Secretary]

Explanation:

A wing groups several divisions and is headed by an Additional Secretary or a Joint Secretary.

13.  

Excluding posthumous awards and awards to foreigners, NRIs and OCIs, the total number of Padma awards given in a year should normally not exceed:

Correct Answer: C [120]

Explanation:

the Padma award rules cap the yearly total at 120, excluding posthumous, foreign, NRI and OCI awardees.

14.  

Bodies set up as societies or trusts with their own governing boards but funded by the government are called:

Correct Answer: C [autonomous bodies]

Explanation:

Autonomous bodies are societies, trusts or statutory entities with their own governing boards, funded by the government.

15.  

In which year did the Supreme Court decide Balaji Raghavan v. Union of India on national awards?

Correct Answer: B [1995]

Explanation:

The Supreme Court decided Balaji Raghavan v. Union of India on 15 December 1995, holding the awards are not titles.

16.  

Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. Ministry of Cooperation
2. Allocation of Business Rules
3. Bharat Ratna instituted
4. Ministry of Jal Shakti

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [3-2-4-1]

Explanation:

1954, 1961, 2019, 2021.

17.  

The senior-most civil servant of the Government of India is the:

Correct Answer: C [Cabinet Secretary]

Explanation:

The Cabinet Secretary, administrative head of the Cabinet Secretariat under the Prime Minister, is the senior-most civil servant.

18.  

The Padma awards are announced every year on the eve of:

Correct Answer: D [Republic Day]

Explanation:

The Padma awards are announced every year on the eve of Republic Day, 26 January.

19.  

A tehsil or taluk is headed by a:

Correct Answer: C [Tahsildar]

Explanation:

A Tahsildar heads the tehsil or taluk, the revenue unit below the sub-division.

20.  

Under the Allocation of Business Rules, the Cabinet Secretariat functions directly under the:

Correct Answer: A [Prime Minister]

Explanation:

it is under the direct charge of the Prime Minister.

21.  
UPSC Prelims 2021

Consider the following statements in respect of Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards:

1. Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are titles under the Article 18 (1) of the Constitution of India.
2. Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, were suspended only once.
3. The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of five in a particular year.

Which of the above statements are not correct?

Correct Answer: D [1, 2 and 3]

Explanation:

all three are incorrect: the awards are not titles, they were suspended twice, and the normal limit is three.

➤ Full notes, maps, tables, a reason for every option and Mains PYQs – U12 · Governance (UPSC book, ₹249): www.shanmugamiasacademy.in/study-materials/upsc-governance

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