Daily Prelims MCQs - Polity - 31st July 2025
- TPP
- Jul 31
- 8 min read
Welcome to today’s handpicked set of Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) from the Polity — crafted specially for the UPSC Prelims! These questions aren’t just a quiz — they’re a smart way to see how current affairs connect with core concepts, just like UPSC asks in the exam.
Each question is based on recent news and backed by clear explanations to help you build strong links between dynamic events and static knowledge.
Today’s topics include: Sessions of the Indian Parliament, Government of India Act, 1935, inheritance rights and ancestral property, State Legislative Assemblies, Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952, election process for the Vice-President of India and more...
Click Here to read the Monthly Current Affairs Pointers (CAP).
QUESTION 1
With regard to the sessions of the Indian Parliament, consider the following statements:
India follows a predetermined annual schedule for convening Parliament.
Conventionally, the Parliament is convened three times within a calendar year.
The Monsoon Session is typically the lengthiest among all sessions of Parliament.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer (a)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect: Unlike some countries, India does not adhere to a fixed timetable for convening Parliament. The schedule is decided by the government, and although conventions exist, they are not legally binding.
Statement 2 is correct: By established practice, Parliament usually assembles for three sessions each year — the Budget Session, Monsoon Session, and Winter Session.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Contrary to what might be assumed, the Budget Session — beginning in late January and continuing until late April or early May — is typically the longest. It is often split into two parts to allow Standing Committees time to examine the budget.
The Monsoon Session, starting around July and ending in August, spans approximately three weeks, making it shorter than the Budget Session.
The Winter Session, generally held from November to December, is also about three weeks long.
QUESTION 2
Regarding the summoning of the Indian Parliament, consider the following statements:
The origin of this provision can be traced back to the Government of India Act, 1935.
The Constitution of India does not contain any reference to the procedure for summoning Parliament.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (a)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: The practice of summoning the legislature in India is rooted in the Government of India Act, 1935, which served as a legislative framework before the adoption of the Constitution. This historical provision required that the central legislature be summoned at least once a year, and that no more than 12 months should pass between two sessions.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The Constitution of India clearly addresses the summoning of Parliament under Article 85. This article empowers the President to summon each House of Parliament from time to time, ensuring that the time gap between two sessions does not exceed one year.
QUESTION 3
With reference to inheritance rights and ancestral property in the context of tribal communities, consider the following statements:
Tribal women do not have an equal entitlement to ancestral property.
In the absence of a codified law on intestate succession applicable to Scheduled Tribes, courts have relied on the principle of “justice, equity and good conscience”, as reflected in the Central Provinces Laws Act, 1875.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (b)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Supreme Court of India has affirmed that a tribal woman has an equal right to ancestral property. The Court emphasized that withholding such a right—unless explicitly restricted by applicable law—perpetuates gender-based discrimination, which stands in contradiction to constitutional principles and must be corrected by the legal system.
Statement 2 is correct: In a landmark case, Justices Sanjay Karol and Joymalya Bagchi addressed the absence of a dedicated legal framework for intestate succession among Scheduled Tribes. The bench applied the doctrine of “justice, equity, and good conscience”, invoking provisions of the Central Provinces Laws Act, 1875, to ensure fairness in inheritance. This interpretation led to the overturning of a July 1, 2022 decision by the Chhattisgarh High Court, which had denied a tribal woman her rightful inheritance.
QUESTION 4
Which Article of the Indian Constitution lays down the provision for reserving seats for women in State Legislative Assemblies?
(a) Article 331
(b) Article 332
(c) Article 332-A
(d) Article 333
Answer (c)
Explanation:
The constitutional provision for women’s reservation in the Legislative Assemblies of States is explicitly mentioned in Article 332-A.
According to this Article:
Seats are to be set aside for women in every State Legislative Assembly.
Approximately one-third of the seats reserved under clause (3) of Article 332 (which deals with SC/ST representation) shall also be allocated to women belonging to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes.
Additionally, one-third of all seats filled through direct elections in a State Assembly — including those already reserved for SC/ST women — will be reserved for women in general.
This provision is a key part of the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023, which introduced women’s reservation in legislatures.
QUESTION 5
Regarding the procedure for the removal of a judge in India, consider the following statements:
A motion for removal must be endorsed by at least 50 Members from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
Once such a motion is submitted, it is mandatory for the presiding officer of the concerned House to accept it.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (d)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect: According to the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, the minimum number of signatories required for a motion to remove a judge is 100 members in the Lok Sabha or 50 members in the Rajya Sabha. Therefore, the claim that only 50 members are needed from each House is incorrect.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Submission of such a motion does not obligate the Speaker or the Chairman (as the case may be) to admit it. The presiding officer has discretionary powers and may choose to accept or reject the notice.
If the motion is admitted, a three-member inquiry committee is formed, typically consisting of two sitting judges and one eminent jurist, to investigate the charges and determine whether there is a prima facie case for removal.
As an illustration, a recent incident involved 145 Lok Sabha MPs and 63 Rajya Sabha MPs submitting a notice against Justice Yashwant Varma (then serving at the Allahabad High Court), following allegations related to the discovery of large sums of cash after a fire incident. This case highlighted both the procedural threshold and the discretionary authority of the presiding officer.
QUESTION 6
Among the following former Vice-Presidents of India, who resigned before completing their tenure in order to run for the office of President?
V.V. Giri
R. Venkataraman
Shankar Dayal Sharma
Select the correct answer using the code below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer (a)
Explanation:
V.V. Giri and R. Venkataraman both stepped down as Vice-Presidents mid-term to participate in the Presidential elections.
After V.V. Giri's resignation, he was succeeded by Gopal Swarup Pathak as Vice-President.
Similarly, R. Venkataraman’s resignation led to Shankar Dayal Sharma assuming the Vice-Presidency.
Shankar Dayal Sharma, however, completed his full tenure as Vice-President before being elected President. He did not resign mid-term to contest the election, which makes statement 3 incorrect.
As a point of current relevance, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar became only the third Vice-President in India’s history to resign before the end of his term, after V.V. Giri and R. Venkataraman.
QUESTION 7
With respect to the Vice-President of India, consider the following statements:
The Constitution mandates that any vacancy in the Vice-President’s office must be filled within six months.
A newly elected Vice-President is entitled to a fresh five-year term starting from the date they take office, regardless of when their predecessor left.
The Constitution does not make any provision for the appointment of an acting Vice-President.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer (c)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect: Unlike the case of a Presidential vacancy, where the Constitution (Article 62) requires that the post be filled within six months, no such time-bound requirement exists for a vacancy in the Vice-President’s office. The Constitution simply directs that the election be held "as soon as possible", and the Election Commission determines the timeline under the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952.
Statement 2 is correct: When a new Vice-President is elected following a vacancy, they do not serve the remainder of the previous office-holder's term. Instead, they begin a new five-year term from the date they formally assume office.
Statement 3 is correct: There is no provision in the Constitution for an acting Vice-President. However, since the Vice-President also serves as the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the Deputy Chairman steps in to preside over the proceedings of the House during any interim vacancy.
QUESTION 8
Regarding the election process for the Vice-President of India, consider the following assertions:
The electoral college for the Vice-Presidential election consists of members from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, but excludes nominated members.
A candidate is declared elected only upon securing a specified quota of votes, which is calculated as half of the valid votes polled plus one, disregarding any fraction.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (b)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is ncorrect: The Constitution provides that the Vice-President is elected by an electoral college consisting of all members of both Houses of Parliament — this includes elected as well as nominated members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. This is unlike the Presidential election, where nominated members are excluded and state legislatures participate. In the Vice-Presidential election, state assemblies have no role.
Statement 2 is correct: The election is conducted through a secret ballot using the proportional representation system with a single transferable vote (STV).
To win, a candidate must secure a quota of votes, calculated using the formula:
Quota = (Total valid votes ÷ 2) + 1, with fractions ignored.
If no candidate reaches this quota in the initial count, votes of the candidate with the least first-preference support are redistributed based on second preferences. This process continues until one candidate meets the quota.
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