UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Political poker

Q1. In the administration of the Union Territory of Puducherry, the office of the 'Lieutenant Governor' is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. The designation of the Administrator appointed by the President to administer the Union Territory, who functions as the Centre's representative
  • B. A constitutional head directly elected by the people of the Union Territory along with the Assembly
  • C. A head chosen by the Puducherry Legislative Assembly from among its nominated members
  • D. The presiding officer of the Legislative Assembly, performing functions equivalent to a Speaker

Q2. The All India N.R. Congress (AINRC), the dominant regional party of Puducherry, was founded in 2011 by which one of the following leaders, following a split from the Indian National Congress?

  • A. N. Rangasamy
  • B. V. Narayanasamy
  • C. A. Namassivayam
  • D. R. Siva

Q3. In the context of Puducherry politics, the AINRC is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A regional party, founded in 2011, that has led the NDA government in the Union Territory
  • B. The Puducherry unit of the Indian National Congress that always contests every Assembly seat in the territory
  • C. A nationally recognised party with an organisational presence in all the southern States
  • D. The Puducherry state unit of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

Q4. What is the total sanctioned strength of the Puducherry Legislative Assembly, including nominated members?

  • A. 30
  • B. 32
  • C. 33
  • D. 34

Q5. In the decades since Puducherry became part of the Indian Union, approximately how many times have local-body (municipal/panchayat) elections been held in the Union Territory?

  • A. Once
  • B. Twice
  • C. Four times
  • D. Six times

Q6. Under the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, the 'nominated members' of the Puducherry Legislative Assembly are best defined as persons who are—

  • A. nominated by the Central Government, enjoying voting rights on par with elected members
  • B. nominated by the Lieutenant Governor in his sole discretion
  • C. nominated by the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers
  • D. nominated by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly

Q7. In March 2026 the Prime Minister inaugurated and dedicated projects worth over Rs 2,700 crore in Puducherry. Which of the following are correctly identified as among those projects?

  1. e-buses under the PM e-Bus Seva scheme
  2. An Integrated Command and Control Centre under the Smart City Mission
  3. Tenements for the Economically Weaker Sections under the CITIIS initiative
  4. A new greenfield airport terminal under the UDAN regional connectivity scheme
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q8. Among the Union Territories of India, which one was the FIRST to be granted a Legislative Assembly with a Council of Ministers?

  • A. Puducherry
  • B. National Capital Territory of Delhi
  • C. Jammu and Kashmir
  • D. Chandigarh
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