2025 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2025 · GS Paper I

Question 88: Polity and Governance

Consider the following statements :

  1. IIf any question arises as to whether a Member of the House of the People has become subject to disqualification under the 10th Schedule, the President’s decision in accordance with the opinion of the Council of Union Ministers shall be final.
  2. IIThere is no mention of the word ‘political party’ in the Constitution of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

AnswerThe answer is (d).

Under paragraph 6 of the Tenth Schedule, a question of disqualification on the ground of defection is decided by the Speaker or Chairman of the House, not by the President acting on the advice of the Council of Ministers, though the decision is open to judicial review. Statement I is wrong. The term 'political party' does appear in the Constitution, in the Tenth Schedule, so Statement II is wrong as well. Neither statement is correct.

  • I. The presiding officer, not the President, decides under the Tenth Schedule.
  • II. The Tenth Schedule uses the term 'political party'.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement I is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes I.

    What you needed to know: The presiding officer, not the President, decides under the Tenth Schedule.

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

    What you needed to know: The Tenth Schedule uses the term 'political party'.

Only (d) 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) Wrong: the Speaker, not the President, decides defection cases.
  • (b) Wrong: the Tenth Schedule uses the term 'political party'.
  • (c) Wrong: both statements are incorrect.
  • (d) Right: the Speaker decides disqualification and the Constitution does use 'political party'.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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