UPSC Essentials : Daily subject-wise quiz | Polity and Governance (Week 40)Premium Story

UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of daily subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Each day, we cover one new subject. Attempt today’s subject quiz on Polity and Governance to check your progress. Come back tomorrow to solve the History, Culture, and Social Issues MCQs. Don’t miss checking the answers and explanations at the end of the quiz.

Consider the following statements about Rajya Sabha:

1. The members shall be elected by the elected members of state Assemblies through a system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.

2. The third schedule of the Constitution of India allocates Rajya Sabha seats to the states and Union Territories.

3. The seats in Rajya Sabha are not based on the population of state.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(d) None

With reference to the Delimitation Commission, consider the following statements:

1. Delimitation Commission is appointed by the President of India.

2. The orders of the Commission can be questioned before any court.

3. The Commission determines the number of seats and describes the boundaries of constituencies.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(d) None

Consider the following statements about appropriation bills:

1. No money shall be withdrawn from the consolidated fund of India except under appropriation made by law passed in accordance with articles 115 and 116.

2. Amendment can be proposed to any such Bill in either House of Parliament which will have the effect of varying the amount or altering the destination of any grant.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Which of the following is not a fundamental duty mentioned in the Constitution of India?

(a) To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institution.

(b) To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.

(d) To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture.

Which of the following articles of the Constitution of India provides for promotion of educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections?

(a) Article 45

(b) Article 47

(d) Article 46

FYI:

— Rajya Sabha is a permanent House and cannot be dissolved. The term of a member is six years.

— To ensure continuity, under Article 83(1) of the Constitution, one-third of its members retire after every second year, and “biennial elections” are held to fill these vacancies.

— Out of the 245 members, 12 are nominated by the President and 233 are representatives of the States and Union territories of Delhi and Puducherry.

— Under Article 80(3), the 12 nominated members should have special knowledge or practical experience in matters like literature, science, art etc. A nominated member may join a party within six months of taking a seat.

— Rajya Sabha MPs are elected by MLAs through an indirect election. Article 80(4) provides that members shall be elected by the elected members of state Assemblies through a system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The Fourth Schedule to the Constitution provides for allocation of Rajya Sabha seats to the states and Union Territories. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The allocation of seats is done on the basis of the population of each state. For instance, there are 31 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh and 1 in Goa. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— Delimitation is the act of redrawing boundaries of Lok Sabha and state Assembly seats to represent changes in population.

— Under Article 82, Parliament is to enact a Delimitation Act after every Census. Once the Act is in force, the Union government sets up the Delimitation Commission.

— The main objective of delimitation is to provide equal representation to equal segments of a population.

— Delimitation is carried out by an independent Delimitation Commission, appointed by the Government of India under provisions of the Delimitation Commission Act.

— The Delimitation Commission is appointed by the President of India and works in collaboration with the Election Commission of India. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— It is composed of the following: a retired Supreme Court judge, the Chief Election Commissioner of India and respective State Election Commissioners.

— The Delimitation Commission is to work without any executive influence. The Constitution mandates that the Commission’s orders are final and cannot be questioned before any court as it would hold up an election indefinitely. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The Commission is supposed to determine the number and boundaries of constituencies in a way that the population of all seats, so far as practicable, is the same. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— The Commission is also tasked with identifying seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— Article 114 of part V of the Constitution of India deals with Appropriation Bills.

— Appropriation bills are introduced as soon as the grants under Article 113 have been made by the House of the People required to meet —

(a) the grants so made by the House of the People, and

(b) the expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of India but not exceeding, in any case, the amount shown in the statement previously laid before Parliament.

— No amendment shall be proposed to any such Bill in either House of Parliament which will have the effect of varying the amount or altering the destination of any grant so made or of varying the amount of any expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of India, and the decision of the person presiding as to whether an amendment is inadmissible under this clause shall be final. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— Subject to the provisions of articles 115 and 116, no money shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of India except under appropriation made by law passed in accordance with the provisions of this article. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Source: Constitution of India)

FYI:

— The fundamental duties were incorporated in Part IV-A of the Constitution by The Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976, during Indira Gandhi’s Emergency.

— Article 51(A) describes 11 fundamental duties — 10 came with the 42nd Amendment; the 11th was added by the 86th Amendment in 2002, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime Minister.

— These duties are not enforceable by law. However, a court may take them into account while adjudicating on a matter.

— Article 51(A) says it shall be the duty of every citizen of India:

(a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem;

(b) to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;

(d) to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;

(e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;

(f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;

(g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures;

(h) to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;

(i) to safeguard public property and to abjure violence;

(j) to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement;

(k) who is a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or, as the case may be, ward between the age of six and fourteen years.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— Article 46 of the Constitution of India provides for promotion of educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections.

— The State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and, in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Source: Constitution of India)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 39)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 39)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 39)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 39)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 39)

Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.