2025 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2025 · GS Paper I

Question 54: Polity and Governance

Consider the following statements :

  1. IThe Constitution of India explicitly mentions that in certain spheres the Governor of a State acts in his/her own discretion.
  2. IIThe President of India can, of his/her own, reserve a bill passed by a State Legislature for his/her consideration without it being forwarded by the Governor of the State concerned.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

aI only
bII only
cBoth I and II
dNeither I nor II

AnswerThe answer is (a).

Under Article 163 the Governor acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers except where the Constitution requires the Governor to act in his or her own discretion, and the Constitution names such spheres, for example in the Sixth Schedule for tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. So Statement I is correct. A Bill passed by a State Legislature can be reserved for the President only by the Governor under Article 200; the President cannot reserve it of his or her own accord, so Statement II is wrong.

  • I. The Constitution names certain spheres, such as the Sixth Schedule, where the Governor acts in his own discretion.
  • II. A Bill is reserved for the President only by the Governor under Article 200.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement I is correct, (b) and (d) go: each of them leaves I out.

    What you needed to know: The Constitution names certain spheres, such as the Sixth Schedule, where the Governor acts in his own discretion.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement II is not correct, (c) goes: it includes II.

    What you needed to know: A Bill is reserved for the President only by the Governor under Article 200.

Only (a) is left. This one needs every statement.

This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Right: the Constitution does mention discretionary spheres; only the Governor can reserve a Bill.
  • (b) Wrong: the President cannot reserve a State Bill on his or her own.
  • (c) Wrong: Statement II is incorrect.
  • (d) Wrong: Statement I is correct.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

Practise this paper timedPrevious questionNext question

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2025, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.