Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) with answers on “Role of Civil Services in Modern India” for Civil Services Examination preparation

1. What is the primary role of civil services in India?

• a) Political representation
• b) Policy implementation and administration
• c) Foreign diplomacy
• d) Business management
  Answer: b) Policy implementation and administration

2. Which of the following services is considered the “steel frame” of Indian administration?

• a) Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
• b) Indian Police Service (IPS)
• c) Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
• d) Indian Revenue Service (IRS)
  Answer: c) Indian Administrative Service (IAS)

3. The recruitment to the Indian Civil Services is primarily through:

• a) Direct appointment by the President
• b) State government appointments
• c) Competitive examination conducted by UPSC
• d) Political nominations
  Answer: c) Competitive examination conducted by UPSC

4. Which body conducts the civil services examination in India?

• a) Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
• b) Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
• c) National Testing Agency (NTA)
• d) All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)
  Answer: b) Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

5. The civil services in India are governed by which set of rules?

• a) Civil Services Act
• b) Indian Constitution
• c) National Governance Act
• d) Administrative Procedure Code
  Answer: b) Indian Constitution

6. What is the main responsibility of an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer at the district level?

• a) Conducting foreign trade
• b) Managing district administration and development
• c) Overseeing national defense
• d) Regulating stock markets
  Answer: b) Managing district administration and development

7. Which of the following is not a function of the Indian Police Service (IPS)?

• a) Maintaining law and order
• b) Conducting criminal investigations
• c) Overseeing financial management
• d) Ensuring public safety
  Answer: c) Overseeing financial management

8. What is the key function of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS)?

• a) Managing public health
• b) Conducting diplomatic relations and representing India abroad
• c) Regulating education policies
• d) Overseeing local government administration
  Answer: b) Conducting diplomatic relations and representing India abroad

9. Which of the following services deals primarily with revenue collection and financial administration?

• a) Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
• b) Indian Revenue Service (IRS)
• c) Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IAAS)
• d) Indian Forest Service (IFS)
  Answer: b) Indian Revenue Service (IRS)

10. The role of civil services in policy formulation is mainly:

• a) Formulating new laws
• b) Implementing and advising on policies
• c) Managing legislative debates
• d) Conducting judicial proceedings
  Answer: b) Implementing and advising on policies

11. What is the term used for the Indian civil servant’s role in ensuring implementation of government schemes?

• a) Policy drafting
• b) Scheme execution
• c) Strategic planning
• d) Legislative review
  Answer: b) Scheme execution

12. Which civil service is responsible for the administration of the judicial system in India?

• a) Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
• b) Indian Police Service (IPS)
• c) Indian Legal Service (ILS)
• d) Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IAAS)
  Answer: c) Indian Legal Service (ILS)

13. What is the role of the Indian Forest Service (IFS)?

• a) Managing urban infrastructure
• b) Overseeing forest conservation and wildlife protection
• c) Conducting international trade
• d) Regulating education systems
  Answer: b) Overseeing forest conservation and wildlife protection

14. The principle of “impartiality” in civil services means:

• a) Favoring political affiliations
• b) Providing unbiased and neutral service
• c) Favoring personal interests
• d) Ignoring government policies
  Answer: b) Providing unbiased and neutral service

15. The role of civil services in disaster management involves:

• a) Only post-disaster relief
• b) Pre-disaster planning and post-disaster response
• c) Only administrative tasks
• d) Legislative changes
  Answer: b) Pre-disaster planning and post-disaster response

16. The concept of “district administration” primarily involves:

• a) Managing central government affairs
• b) Overseeing local governance and development in a district
• c) Regulating international trade
• d) Managing national defense
  Answer: b) Overseeing local governance and development in a district

17. The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is responsible for:

• a) Conducting international negotiations
• b) Implementing policies and managing government administration
• c) Regulating stock markets
• d) Conducting elections
  Answer: b) Implementing policies and managing government administration

18. Which civil service is tasked with conducting audits of government expenditures?

• a) Indian Revenue Service (IRS)
• b) Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
• c) Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IAAS)
• d) Indian Forest Service (IFS)
  Answer: c) Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IAAS)

19. In the context of civil services, what does “accountability” mean?

• a) Being answerable for actions and decisions
• b) Conducting private business activities
• c) Ignoring public feedback
• d) Only reporting to political leaders
  Answer: a) Being answerable for actions and decisions

20. Which civil service role involves significant interaction with international organizations?

• a) Indian Revenue Service (IRS)
• b) Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
• c) Indian Police Service (IPS)
• d) Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
  Answer: b) Indian Foreign Service (IFS)

21. The “District Magistrate” (DM) is an official position held by:

• a) An Indian Police Service (IPS) officer
• b) An Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer
• c) An Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer
• d) An Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer
  Answer: b) An Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer

22. Which body provides training and induction to new civil service officers in India?

• a) National Defence Academy (NDA)
• b) Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)
• c) Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA)
• d) Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA)
  Answer: c) Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA)

23. What role does the civil service play in economic planning?

• a) Setting monetary policy
• b) Implementing government economic policies and programs
• c) Conducting international trade negotiations
• d) Regulating stock markets
  Answer: b) Implementing government economic policies and programs

24. The role of civil services in social justice includes:

• a) Enforcing social laws and ensuring equitable distribution of resources
• b) Only focusing on economic policies
• c) Managing foreign relations
• d) Regulating private businesses
  Answer: a) Enforcing social laws and ensuring equitable distribution of resources

25. What is the primary duty of an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer?

• a) Overseeing financial policies
• b) Maintaining public order and safety
• c) Conducting trade negotiations
• d) Managing educational policies
  Answer: b) Maintaining public order and safety

26. The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers are involved in:

• a) Directing international policy
• b) Running local administration and implementing central policies
• c) Conducting scientific research
• d) Regulating technology sector
  Answer: b) Running local administration and implementing central policies

27. The “All India Services” include which of the following?

• a) Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
• b) Indian Police Service (IPS)
• c) Indian Revenue Service (IRS)
• d) Indian Army Service (IAS)
  Answer: b) Indian Police Service (IPS)

28. The role of civil services in health care involves:

• a) Creating new medicines
• b) Implementing health policies and managing health services
• c) Conducting international health research
• d) Regulating private health insurance
  Answer: b) Implementing health policies and managing health services

29. The concept of “administrative neutrality” in civil services implies:

• a) Active political involvement
• b) Unbiased service regardless of political or personal affiliations
• c) Focusing only on personal benefits
• d) Ignoring public grievances
  Answer: b) Unbiased service regardless of political or personal affiliations

30. Which civil service role is most directly involved with the implementation of environmental policies?

• a) Indian Revenue Service (IRS)
• b) Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
• c) Indian Forest Service (IFS)
• d) Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IAAS)
  Answer: c) Indian Forest Service (IFS)

These MCQs cover various aspects of the role of civil services in modern India, including their functions, responsibilities, and the different services that contribute to effective governance and administration.