About this quiz
Democracy, human rights, UDHR, covenants and NHRC.
This Lok Sewa practice set has 50 multiple-choice questions (Subject: Constitution and Governance · For: Nayab Subba, Kharidar, Section Officer · Level: Medium). Take the quiz above first; after that, use the study list below to revise every question with its correct answer and a short explanation.
Study list: all 50 questions with answers and explanations
In Nepali, democracy is:
- A) लोकतन्त्र ✔
- B) राजतन्त्र
- C) सैनिकतन्त्र
- D) अधिनायकवाद
Why: Democracy in Nepali is लोकतन्त्र (लोक = people, तन्त्र = system): rule by the people.
"Government of the people, by the people, for the people" was said by:
- A) Abraham Lincoln ✔
- B) Karl Marx
- C) Aristotle
- D) Gandhi
Why: US President Abraham Lincoln gave this famous definition of democracy in his Gettysburg Address in 1863.
In direct democracy:
- A) People decide laws themselves ✔
- B) Only kings decide
- C) Only judges decide
- D) Elections are banned
Why: In direct democracy, people vote on laws and decisions themselves, as in ancient Athens or Swiss referendums, instead of through representatives.
Nepal follows which type of democracy?
- A) Representative, parliamentary democracy ✔
- B) Direct democracy only
- C) Presidential system like the USA
- D) Absolute monarchy
Why: Nepal has a representative, parliamentary democracy: citizens elect Parliament, and the government is formed from the majority in the House of Representatives.
In a parliamentary system, the executive is:
- A) Accountable to Parliament ✔
- B) Accountable to no one
- C) Directly elected president only
- D) Appointed by courts
Why: In a parliamentary system the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers come from Parliament and stay in office only while they keep its confidence.
The USA follows a:
- A) Presidential system ✔
- B) Parliamentary system
- C) Monarchy
- D) One-party system
Why: The USA has a presidential system: the President is elected separately from Congress for a fixed term and is not accountable to the legislature in the same way.
The voting age in Nepal is:
- A) 18 years ✔
- B) 16 years
- C) 21 years
- D) 25 years
Why: Nepali citizens aged 18 or above can vote, under universal adult franchise.
Universal adult franchise means:
- A) All adult citizens can vote ✔
- B) Only rich people vote
- C) Only men vote
- D) Only educated people vote
Why: Universal adult franchise means every adult citizen can vote, without discrimination by caste, sex, religion, wealth or education.
Which is a feature of democracy?
- A) Free press ✔
- B) Censorship
- C) One-party rule
- D) Rule by force
Why: A free press is a key feature of democracy, because people need free information and the right to criticise government.
Separation of powers divides power among:
- A) Legislature, executive and judiciary ✔
- B) Army, police and courts
- C) Federal, provincial and local only
- D) Parties only
Why: Separation of powers, explained by Montesquieu, divides state power among the legislature (makes laws), executive (runs government) and judiciary (interprets laws).
The Rana rule ended with the revolution of:
- A) 2007 BS ✔
- B) 2046 BS
- C) 2017 BS
- D) 2063 BS
Why: The revolution of 2007 BS ended 104 years of Rana rule. Democracy was announced on Falgun 7, 2007, now Democracy Day.
The first general election in Nepal was held in:
- A) 2015 BS ✔
- B) 2007 BS
- C) 2048 BS
- D) 2064 BS
Why: Nepal's first general election was held in 2015 BS (1959 AD) under the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal, 2015.
Nepal's first elected Prime Minister was:
- A) B. P. Koirala ✔
- B) Matrika Prasad Koirala
- C) Tanka Prasad Acharya
- D) Ganesh Man Singh
Why: B. P. Koirala became the first elected Prime Minister after the Nepali Congress won a two-thirds majority in the 2015 election.
The Panchayat system lasted from:
- A) 2017 to 2046 BS ✔
- B) 2007 to 2017 BS
- C) 2046 to 2062 BS
- D) 2063 to 2072 BS
Why: King Mahendra dismissed the elected government on Paush 1, 2017 and started the partyless Panchayat system, which lasted until the 2046 People's Movement.
Multiparty democracy was restored by the People's Movement of:
- A) 2046 BS ✔
- B) 2062/63 BS
- C) 2007 BS
- D) 2017 BS
Why: The People's Movement of 2046 BS (Jana Andolan I) ended the Panchayat and restored multiparty democracy, followed by the Constitution of 2047.
Nepal was declared a federal democratic republic on:
- A) 2065 Jestha 15 ✔
- B) 2072 Asoj 3
- C) 2063 Baisakh 11
- D) 2047 Kartik 23
Why: The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly declared Nepal a federal democratic republic on Jestha 15, 2065, ending the monarchy. It is Republic Day.
The Constitution of Nepal was promulgated on:
- A) 2072 Asoj 3 ✔
- B) 2065 Jestha 15
- C) 2047 Kartik 23
- D) 2063 Magh 1
Why: The Constitution of Nepal was promulgated on Asoj 3, 2072 (20 September 2015) by the second Constituent Assembly. Asoj 3 is Constitution Day.
Human rights are rights people have because they are:
- A) Human ✔
- B) Citizens of rich countries
- C) Government officials
- D) Adults only
Why: Human rights belong to every person simply because they are human, based on equal dignity, not given by the state.
"Inalienable" human rights means they:
- A) Cannot be taken away ✔
- B) Can be sold
- C) Apply only sometimes
- D) Belong to the state
Why: Inalienable means human rights cannot be taken away or given up, though some can be limited by law in special situations.
Right to vote and freedom of speech are:
- A) First-generation (civil and political) rights ✔
- B) Second-generation rights
- C) Third-generation rights
- D) Not rights
Why: Civil and political rights, such as voting, free speech and a fair trial, are called first-generation rights. They mainly protect people from state interference.
Right to education and health are:
- A) Second-generation (economic, social, cultural) rights ✔
- B) First-generation rights
- C) Third-generation rights
- D) Duties
Why: Economic, social and cultural rights, such as education, health, food and work, are second-generation rights. The state must act to provide them.
Right to a clean environment and development are:
- A) Third-generation (collective) rights ✔
- B) First-generation rights
- C) Second-generation rights
- D) Military rights
Why: Collective (solidarity) rights, such as development, peace and a clean environment, are third-generation rights, belonging to communities and peoples.
The UDHR was adopted on:
- A) 10 December 1948 ✔
- B) 24 October 1945
- C) 16 December 1966
- D) 10 December 1966
Why: The UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Paris on 10 December 1948.
How many articles does the UDHR have?
- A) 30 ✔
- B) 20
- C) 50
- D) 100
Why: The UDHR has 30 articles. Article 1 says all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
Human Rights Day is observed on:
- A) 10 December ✔
- B) 24 October
- C) 1 May
- D) 8 March
Why: Human Rights Day is on 10 December, the day the UDHR was adopted in 1948.
ICCPR deals with:
- A) Civil and political rights ✔
- B) Economic rights only
- C) Trade
- D) Climate
Why: ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) protects rights such as life, free speech, religion, fair trial and voting.
ICESCR deals with:
- A) Economic, social and cultural rights ✔
- B) Civil and political rights
- C) Military affairs
- D) Trade disputes
Why: ICESCR (International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) covers rights such as work, health, education and an adequate standard of living.
ICCPR and ICESCR were adopted in:
- A) 1966 ✔
- B) 1948
- C) 1991
- D) 2006
Why: The UN General Assembly adopted both covenants in 1966. They came into force in 1976.
UDHR, ICCPR and ICESCR together form the:
- A) International Bill of Human Rights ✔
- B) UN Charter
- C) Geneva Conventions
- D) Paris Agreement
Why: Together, the UDHR and the two 1966 covenants are called the International Bill of Human Rights.
Nepal became a party to ICCPR and ICESCR in:
- A) 1991 ✔
- B) 1955
- C) 2006
- D) 2015
Why: Nepal acceded to both ICCPR and ICESCR in 1991, soon after democracy was restored in 2046 BS.
CEDAW is a convention on the rights of:
- A) Women ✔
- B) Children
- C) Workers
- D) Refugees
Why: CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women), adopted in 1979, protects women's rights. Nepal ratified it in 1991.
CRC is a convention on the rights of:
- A) Children ✔
- B) Women
- C) Prisoners
- D) Farmers
Why: The Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) protects the rights of children under 18. Nepal ratified it in 1990.
CRPD protects the rights of:
- A) Persons with disabilities ✔
- B) Children only
- C) Soldiers
- D) Companies
Why: The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), adopted in 2006, protects the rights of people with disabilities.
The UN Human Rights Council is based in:
- A) Geneva ✔
- B) New York
- C) Paris
- D) Kathmandu
Why: The UN Human Rights Council was set up in 2006, replacing the Commission on Human Rights, and is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Universal Periodic Review is carried out by the:
- A) UN Human Rights Council ✔
- B) World Bank
- C) SAARC
- D) IMF
Why: Under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the UN Human Rights Council reviews every UN member's human rights record about every 4–5 years.
Fundamental rights in Nepal's Constitution are in Articles:
- A) 16 to 46 ✔
- B) 1 to 9
- C) 50 to 55
- D) 74 to 100
Why: Fundamental rights are in Part 3, Articles 16 to 46. Article 47 is about implementing them and Article 48 lists citizens' duties.
How many fundamental rights does Nepal's Constitution list?
- A) 31 ✔
- B) 21
- C) 10
- D) 46
Why: The Constitution lists 31 fundamental rights (Articles 16–46), from the right to live with dignity to the right to constitutional remedy.
The right to constitutional remedy is in Article:
- A) 46 ✔
- B) 16
- C) 48
- D) 133
Why: Article 46 gives the right to constitutional remedy: anyone can go to the Supreme Court or High Court (Articles 133 and 144) to enforce their fundamental rights.
The right to live with dignity is in Article:
- A) 16 ✔
- B) 46
- C) 18
- D) 27
Why: Article 16 is the first fundamental right: the right to live with dignity. It also bans the death penalty.
The NHRC of Nepal was first formed in:
- A) 2057 BS ✔
- B) 2072 BS
- C) 2046 BS
- D) 2063 BS
Why: The National Human Rights Commission was first formed in 2057 BS (2000 AD) under the Human Rights Commission Act, 2053. It became a constitutional body in 2063.
The NHRC is now provided in Articles:
- A) 248–249 ✔
- B) 238–239
- C) 242–243
- D) 252–253
Why: Articles 248–249 of the Constitution provide for the National Human Rights Commission: its chair, members and functions.
A main function of the NHRC is to:
- A) Investigate human rights violations and recommend action ✔
- B) Conduct elections
- C) Collect revenue
- D) Make laws
Why: The NHRC investigates human rights violations, recommends action against those responsible, and promotes human rights awareness.
A human rights challenge in Nepal is:
- A) Caste discrimination and violence against women ✔
- B) Too many rights
- C) No laws
- D) No courts
Why: Caste-based discrimination and violence against women, including domestic violence and trafficking, are continuing human rights challenges in Nepal.
Transitional justice in Nepal relates to:
- A) Conflict-era human rights cases ✔
- B) Customs duties
- C) Exams
- D) Bank loans
Why: Transitional justice deals with human rights violations during the 2052–2063 armed conflict, through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission on Disappeared Persons.
Majority rule with protection of minority rights is a feature of:
- A) Democracy ✔
- B) Dictatorship
- C) Monarchy
- D) Anarchy
Why: Democracy means majority rule, but the majority cannot take away the basic rights of minorities.
Peaceful transfer of power happens through:
- A) Elections ✔
- B) Coups
- C) Wars
- D) Inheritance only
Why: In a democracy, power changes hands peacefully through regular, free and fair elections.
Indivisible human rights means:
- A) All rights are equally important and linked ✔
- B) Rights can be divided by caste
- C) Only some rights matter
- D) Rights can be sold
Why: Indivisible means all rights are equally important and linked: for example, the right to education helps people use free speech and vote well.
Right against untouchability is a fundamental right in:
- A) Article 24 ✔
- B) Article 48
- C) Article 76
- D) Article 133
Why: Article 24 gives the right against untouchability and discrimination. The Caste-based Discrimination and Untouchability (Offence and Punishment) Act, 2068 enforces it.
Accountability and transparency are:
- A) Features of democracy ✔
- B) Features of dictatorship
- C) Not needed
- D) Military values
Why: Accountability (answering for actions) and transparency (open information) are features of democratic governance.
The People's Movement II (2062/63) ended:
- A) Direct royal rule ✔
- B) Rana rule
- C) Panchayat
- D) Federalism
Why: People's Movement II in 2062/63 BS ended King Gyanendra's direct rule, restored the House on 11 Baisakh 2063, and led to the republic.