UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Autumn of a socialist

Q1. With reference to Nitish Kumar's recent political career, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. He took oath as Chief Minister of Bihar for a record tenth time in November 2025.
  2. In the 2025 Bihar Assembly election the JD(U) won more seats than the BJP within the NDA.
  3. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2026 before relinquishing the office of Chief Minister.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. Nitish Kumar entered the Rajya Sabha in 2026 as a representative of Bihar. The members of which body cast the votes that elect a State's representatives to the Rajya Sabha?

  • A. The elected members of the State Legislative Assembly
  • B. All members of both Houses of the State Legislature
  • C. The Lok Sabha members elected from that State
  • D. The members of the State Legislative Council

Q3. With reference to the Samata Party and the Janata Dal (United), consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Samata Party was founded in 1994 by George Fernandes and Nitish Kumar after a split from the Janata Dal.
  2. George Fernandes became the first president of the Samata Party.
  3. The Janata Dal (United) was constituted in 1994, in the same year as the Samata Party.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. When Samrat Choudhary was installed as Bihar's first BJP Chief Minister in April 2026, the oath of office was administered to him by which constitutional functionary?

  • A. The Governor of Bihar
  • B. The Chief Justice of the Patna High Court
  • C. The Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly
  • D. The President of India

Q5. With reference to Samrat Choudhary in comparison with his predecessor Nitish Kumar, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Samrat Choudhary is the first Chief Minister of Bihar belonging to the BJP.
  2. He is the only Other Backward Class (OBC) leader ever to have held the office of Bihar Chief Minister.
  3. Before becoming Chief Minister he held the Home portfolio as a Deputy Chief Minister in the outgoing government.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. In the 2025 Bihar Assembly election, which party emerged as the single largest party for the first time in the State's electoral history?

  • A. Bharatiya Janata Party
  • B. Janata Dal (United)
  • C. Rashtriya Janata Dal
  • D. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas)

Q7. In the BJP-led Bihar government formed after Nitish Kumar's exit, which leader was named Deputy Chief Minister alongside Samrat Choudhary?

  • A. Vijay Kumar Sinha
  • B. Sanjay Kumar Jha
  • C. Chirag Paswan
  • D. Tejashwi Yadav

Q8. According to the Bihar caste survey cited in the 2025 election context, Other Backward Classes and Extremely Backward Classes together account for approximately what share of the State's population?

  • A. About 36%
  • B. About 50%
  • C. About 63%
  • D. About 75%

Q9. The election to the Rajya Sabha through which Nitish Kumar reached the Upper House in 2026 is conducted by which authority?

  • A. The Election Commission of India
  • B. The Rajya Sabha Secretariat
  • C. The Bihar Legislative Assembly Secretariat
  • D. The Governor of the State

Q10. The composition of the Rajya Sabha and the representation of States in it — the route by which a regional leader like Nitish Kumar shifted from State to Union politics — is laid down under which Article of the Constitution?

  • A. Article 80
  • B. Article 79
  • C. Article 81
  • D. Article 75

Q11. In the context of the 2025 Bihar Assembly election results, the term 'Mahagathbandhan' refers to:

  • A. The RJD-led opposition alliance
  • B. The BJP–JD(U)-led ruling coalition
  • C. The alliance fronted by the Jan Suraaj Party
  • D. The bloc of members nominated to the Legislative Council