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Constitutional Provision

Article 72

Asked 3 times across 2 UPSC exams over 6 years (2018–2024), peaking in 2018.
3
PYQs
2
Exams
3
Years active
2018–2024
Span
2018
Peak
3/3
Answers
📅 Full chronological timeline →

Key insights

  • Most tested in LDCE — 2 of 3 PYQs
  • Most asked in 2018
  • Recurs across 3 years (2018–2024)

How it travelled across exams

First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CAPF 2018 LDCE 2023

How the concept evolved

118
123
124
Rising — more than half its appearances (3 of 3) are since 2016.

Related concepts

Ideas UPSC tests alongside this one — keep exploring.

Sample questions

You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
LDCE2024
Which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India empowers the President to grant pardons of punishment to any person ?
  1. A Article 27
  2. B Article 41
  3. C Article 72 ✓
  4. D Article 91
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Polity & Governance › Union & State Executive
LDCE2023

Which of the following does not come under the power of the President of India to pardon?

  1. Commutation of punishment or the sentence of any person
  2. Remission of punishment or the sentence of any person
  3. Continuation of punishment or the sentence of any person

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. A 1, 2 and 3
  2. B 2 only
  3. C 3 only
  4. D 1 only ✓
✓ Correct answer: (D)
Polity & Governance › Union & State Executive
CAPF2018
Which one of the following statements relating to the power of the President of India to grant pardon is not correct?
  1. A The President has the power to grant pardon where punishment or sentence is by a Court Martial.
  2. B The President can grant pardon in all cases where the sentence is a sentence of death.
  3. C The Court's power of judicial review is very limited in relation to the decision of the President on mercy petition.
  4. D The power to grant pardon by the President is the power that the sovereign never exercises against its own judicial mandate. ✓
✓ Correct answer: (D)
Polity & Governance › Union & State Executive

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