UPSC Governance – Chapter 5: Role of Civil Services in a Democracy (21 MCQs)

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UPSC Governance – Chapter 5: Role of Civil Services in a Democracy (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 ideal-type model of bureaucracy based on legal-rational authority was given by:

Correct Answer: A [Max Weber]

Explanation:

Max Weber built the ideal-type bureaucracy on legal-rational authority, with hierarchy, written rules, merit and impersonality.

2.  

Which of the following is NOT a feature of Weber's ideal-type bureaucracy?

Correct Answer: A [Appointment by personal loyalty]

Explanation:

Weber stressed merit.

3.  

The principle that a minister takes public responsibility while the civil servant works behind the scenes is called:

Correct Answer: D [anonymity]

Explanation:

Under anonymity the minister answers publicly for the department, while the civil servant who advised remains unnamed and behind the scenes.

4.  

The conduct of Central Government employees is governed by the:

Correct Answer: C [Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964]

Explanation:

The Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 lay down the code of conduct for Central Government employees.

5.  

The seven directives on police reform were given by the Supreme Court in:

Correct Answer: B [Prakash Singh v. Union of India]

Explanation:

In Prakash Singh v. Union of India (2006) the Supreme Court issued seven directives to insulate the police from improper political control.

6.  

Under the Prakash Singh directives, the DGP of a State is to be chosen from:

Correct Answer: B [the three senior-most officers empanelled by the UPSC]

Explanation:

The State chooses the DGP from the three senior-most officers empanelled by the UPSC, and the DGP gets a minimum two-year tenure.

7.  

In T.S.R. Subramanian v. Union of India (2013), the Supreme Court directed the setting up of:

Correct Answer: A [Civil Services Boards]

Explanation:

The 2013 judgment asked for Civil Services Boards to handle transfers and postings, along with minimum tenure and written orders.

8.  

The Nolan Committee's seven principles of public life were given in:

Correct Answer: A [the United Kingdom, 1995]

Explanation:

Lord Nolan's Committee on Standards in Public Life in the United Kingdom set out the seven principles in 1995.

9.  

Drafting rules and regulations under an Act of Parliament by the executive is called:

Correct Answer: B [delegated legislation]

Explanation:

When Parliament lets the executive frame rules and regulations under an Act, the result is delegated (subordinate) legislation.

10.  

Consider the following statements:

1. Civil servants are part of the permanent executive.
2. Political neutrality requires civil servants to serve every elected government with equal loyalty.
3. Anonymity means that civil servants must answer questions in Parliament.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

Civil servants form the permanent executive and serve every elected government equally; statement 3 fails because ministers answer in Parliament.

11.  

Assertion (A): The Supreme Court asked for a minimum tenure for civil servants.

Reason (R): Frequent transfers weaken accountability and the quality of administration.

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

Explanation:

Both are true, and the Court sought minimum tenure precisely because frequent transfers weaken accountability and the quality of administration.

12.  

Which of the following is a Prakash Singh directive?

Correct Answer: D [Separation of investigation from law and order]

Explanation:

Separating investigation from law-and-order duties, to speed investigation and improve expertise, is one of the seven Prakash Singh directives.

13.  

The All India Services (Conduct) Rules were framed in:

Correct Answer: D [1968]

Explanation:

The All India Services (Conduct) Rules for IAS, IPS and IFoS officers were framed in 1968 under the All India Services Act, 1951.

14.  

The idea that civil servants should be committed to the values of the Constitution rather than to a party is linked to the debate on:

Correct Answer: A [committed bureaucracy]

Explanation:

The committed bureaucracy debate asked whether officials should be committed to a party's programme; today the accepted answer is commitment to constitutional values.

15.  

Revenue courts of the District Collector are an example of:

Correct Answer: D [administrative adjudication]

Explanation:

When the Collector decides revenue disputes in a revenue court, the executive is performing a quasi-judicial task, that is, administrative adjudication.

16.  

Which of the following bodies under the Prakash Singh directives deals with transfers, postings and promotions of police officers?

Correct Answer: C [Police Establishment Board]

Explanation:

The Police Establishment Board decides transfers, postings and promotions of police officers up to the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.

17.  

Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. Prakash Singh judgment
2. All India Services (Conduct) Rules
3. Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules
4. T.S.R. Subramanian judgment

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Explanation:

1964, 1968, 2006, 2013.

18.  

Which of the following is the main role of the civil service in a parliamentary democracy?

Correct Answer: B [Implementing the policy decided by the elected government]

Explanation:

In a parliamentary democracy the elected government decides policy, and the civil service exists chiefly to implement it faithfully.

19.  

"Openness" in the Nolan principles means that holders of public office should:

Correct Answer: B [act and take decisions in an open and transparent way]

Explanation:

The Nolan principle of Openness says holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner.

20.  

Article 311 of the Constitution provides:

Correct Answer: C [safeguards for civil servants against dismissal, removal or reduction in rank without an inquiry]

Explanation:

Article 311 bars dismissal or removal by an authority subordinate to the appointing one, and requires an inquiry before dismissal, removal or reduction in rank.

21.  
UPSC Prelims 2020

In the context of India, which one of the following is the characteristic appropriate for bureaucracy?

Correct Answer: D [An agency for the implementation of public policy]

Explanation:

the bureaucracy is the permanent agency that implements the policies of the elected government.

➤ 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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