UPSC Essentials : Daily subject-wise quiz | Polity and Governance (Week 48)

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:

Statement 1:

A defamation suit cannot be filed for a statement made in the House.

Statement 2:

Members of Parliament are not exempted from legal action for any statement made in the course of their duties.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is the correct explanation for Statement 1.

(b) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is not the correct explanation for Statement 1.

(d) Statement 1 is incorrect Statement 2 is correct

Consider the following states:

1. Haryana

2. Telangana

3. Goa

4. Arunachal Pradesh

What is the correct chronological order for the formations of these states?

(a) 1 — 4 — 3 — 2

(b) 3 — 4 — 1 — 2

(d) 1 — 3 — 4 — 2

Consider the following statements:

1. The provision of Deputy CM is mentioned in the Constitution of India.

2. The Deputy CM enjoys the same pay and perks as a Cabinet Minister.

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

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Consider the following statements:

1. The Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the President

2. The advice tendered by Ministers to the President cannot be inquired in any court.

3. The total number of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Council of Ministers shall not exceed 10 per cent of total members.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(d) None

Which of the following Articles of the Constitution of India deals with special provisions with respect to the State of Manipur?

(a) Article 371-F

(b) Article 371

(d) Article 371-B

FYI:

— Article 105 of the Constitution deals with “powers, privileges, etc of the Houses of Parliament and of the members and committees thereof”, and has four clauses. It reads:

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution and to the rules and standing orders regulating the procedure of Parliament, there shall be freedom of speech in Parliament.

(2) No member of Parliament shall be liable to any proceedings in any court in respect of any thing said or any vote given by him in Parliament or any committee thereof, and no person shall be so liable in respect of the publication by or under the authority of either House of Parliament of any report, paper, votes or proceedings.

(3) In other respects, the powers, privileges and immunities of each House of Parliament, and of the members and the committees of each House, shall be such as may from time to time be defined by Parliament by law, and, until so defined, shall be those of that House and of its members and committees immediately before the coming into force of section 15 of the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978.

(4) The provisions of clauses (1), (2) and (3) shall apply in relation to persons who by virtue of this Constitution have the right to speak in, and otherwise to take part in the proceedings of, a House of Parliament or any committee thereof as they apply in relation to members of Parliament.

— Members of Parliament are exempted from any legal action for any statement made or act done in the course of their duties. For example, a defamation suit cannot be filed for a statement made in the House. Hence, statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is not correct.

— This immunity extends non-members as well such as the Attorney General for India or a Minister who may not be a member but speaks in the House.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

FYI:

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Source: Constitution of India)

FYI:

— The appointment of a deputy chief minister, which has long been a feature of Indian politics, represents a political compromise that frequently occurs following the formation of a coalition government or when no single leader commands unchallenged authority in the party in power or loyalty across all of the state’s major interest groups.

— Article 163(1) of the Constitution says “there shall be a Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister at the head to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his functions”.

— The post of Deputy CM is understood as being equivalent in rank to that of Cabinet Minister (in the state). The Deputy CM enjoys the same pay and perks as a Cabinet Minister. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— At least 13 other states in the country apart from Bihar currently have Deputy CMs. The highest of these is in Andhra Pradesh, with Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy having five Deputies.

— The provision of Deputy CM is not mentioned in the Constitution of India. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The first Deputy CM in India was Anugrah Narayan Sinha, an upper caste Rajput leader from Aurangabad, who was the most important leader of the Congress in Bihar after the first Chief Minister of the state, Dr Srikrishna Singh (Sinha). Karpoori Thakur became the second Deputy CM of Bihar in 1967.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— Article 74 of the Constitution of India states that “There shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President who shall, in the exercise of his functions, act in accordance with such advice.”

— The President may require the Council of Ministers to reconsider such advice, either generally or otherwise, and the President shall act in accordance with the advice tendered after such reconsideration.

— The question of whether any and if so what, advice was tendered by Ministers to the President shall not be inquired into in any court. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The Prime Minister shall be appointed by the President and the other Ministers shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.

— The total number of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Council of Ministers shall not exceed fifteen per cent of the total number of members of the House of the People. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— The Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the President. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: Constitution of India)

FYI:

— Articles 371, 371A, 371B, 371C, 371D, 371E, 371F, 371G, 371H, and 371J define special provisions with regard to another state (or states).

— Article 371I deals with Goa, but it does not include any provision that can be deemed ‘special’.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 47)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 47)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 47)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 47)