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.

With reference to the preamble, consider the following statements:

1. The ideals behind the preamble were first laid down in the Objectives Resolution.

2. The preamble is “justiciable”.

3. The 44th Amendment to the Constitution replaced the words “sovereign democratic republic” with “sovereign socialist secular democratic republic”.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Consider the following statements:

1. The Asoka Mehta Committee recommended that an agency should be set up at the village level, which would represent the village community’s interests, and carry out the government’s development programmes.

2. The Balwantrai Mehta Committee suggested changing the concept of Panchayati Raj to a political institution.

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

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Consider the following statements:

1. A Censure Motion is a motion for discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration.

2. An Adjournment Motion is a motion moved against the Government censuring its policy in some direction or an individual minister or ministers of the Government.

3. Subsidiary Motions depend upon or relate to other motion or follow upon some proceedings in the House.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Consider the following statements about the Indian Parliamentary Group:

1. It is an autonomous body formed in the year 1949.

2. Membership of the Indian Parliamentary Group is open to only ex-Members of Parliament.

3. The group arranges visits to foreign countries to develop contacts with Members of other Parliaments.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Which of the following articles of the Constitution of India provides for Power of the President to consult Supreme Court?

(a) Article 142

(b) Article 144

(c) Article 143

(d) Article 145

FYI:

— A preamble serves as an introduction to a document and contains its basic principles and goals.

— When the Indian Constitution was being drafted, the ideals behind the preamble were first laid down in the Objectives Resolution, adopted by the Constituent Assembly in 1947. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Additionally, the violation of any principle mentioned in the preamble cannot be a reason to go to court, meaning the preamble is “non-justiciable” — however, judgments of courts can cite it as an additional factor in their reasoning, given that it constitutes the spirit of the Constitution. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The 42nd Amendment to the Constitution, passed in 1976 when the Emergency was in place, replaced the words “sovereign democratic republic” with “sovereign socialist secular democratic republic”. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— The amendment also changed “unity of the nation” to “unity and integrity of the nation”.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— The Constitution 73rd and 74th Amendment Acts, enacted when P V Narasimha Rao was Prime Minister, mandated the reservation of one-third of seats for women in Panchayati Raj institutions and offices of the chairperson at all levels of Panchayati Raj institutions, and in urban local bodies respectively.

Balwantrai Mehta Committee

— In 1957, the Balwantrai Mehta Committee recommended that an agency should be set up at the village level, which would represent the village community’s interests, and carry out the government’s development programmes. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The Committee suggested the early establishment of elected local bodies and the devolution of necessary resources, power, and authority to them.

Asoka Mehta Committee

— In 1977, the Asoka Mehta Committee suggested changing the concept of Panchayati Raj to a political institution. The Committee observed that Panchayati Raj Institutions had failed to live up to their promise, and suggested measures to strengthen the system. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The Committee attributed the institution’s demise on an uncaring bureaucracy, a lack of political will, and a lack of clarity about its role.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— An Adjournment Motion is a Motion for discussing ‘a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration’. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— It can be moved by any member of the House and is in the nature of emergency motion of censure upon the Government.

— A Censure Motion is a motion moved against the Government censuring its policy in some direction or an individual minister or ministers of the Government. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— A substantive motion is a self-contained, independent proposal submitted for the approval of the House and drafted in such a way as to be capable of expressing a decision of the House, e.g. all resolutions are substantive motions.

— Motions moved in substitution of the original motion for taking into consideration a policy or situation or statement or any other matter are called substitute motions.

— Subsidiary Motions depend upon or relate to other motion or follow upon some proceedings in the House. They by themselves have no meaning and are not capable of stating the decision of the House without reference to the original motion or proceedings of the House. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Subsidiary motions can be further divided into:—

(1) Ancillary Motions;

(2) Superseding Motions; and

(3) Amendments

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: sansad.in)

FYI:

— The Indian Parliamentary Group is an autonomous body formed in the year 1949 in pursuance of a Motion adopted by the Constituent Assembly (Legislative) on 16 August, 1948. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Membership of the Indian Parliamentary Group is open to all Members of Parliament and ex-Members of Parliament. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The aims and objects of the Indian Parliamentary Group are:

(i) To encourage personal contact amongst Members of Parliament;

(ii) To research issues of public concern that are expected to come before Parliament, and to organise seminars, talks, and orientation courses; and to bring

(iii) To organise lectures on political, defence, economic, social, and educational issues by Members of Parliament and distinguished persons; and

(iv) To organise visits to foreign countries with the goal of developing contacts with Members of other Parliaments. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Source: sansad.in)

FYI:

— Article 143 of the Constitution of India provides for Power of the President to consult Supreme Court.

— If at any time it appears to the President that a question of law or fact has arisen, or is likely to arise, which is of such a nature and of such public importance that it is expedient to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court upon it, he may refer the question to that Court for consideration and the Court may, after such hearing as it thinks fit, report to the President its opinion thereon.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: Constitution of India)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 40)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 40)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 40)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 40)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 40)

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