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 Public Accounts Committee, consider the following statements:

1. In 1909, the Committee on Public Accounts was initially established following the Morley-Minto Reforms.

2. The Public Accounts Committee consists of not more than 22 members.

3. The member from the Opposition in Lok Sabha can not appointed as the Chairman of the Committee.

4. A Minister is allowed to become a member of the Committee.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Consider the following:

1. Fundamental Duties

2. Directive Principles of State Policy

3. Fundamental Rights

How many of the above have the provision for early childhood care and education to children?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

With reference to the no-confidence motion, consider the following statements:

1. It is mentioned in the rules of Lok Sabha.

2. Any Member of Parliament (MP), who can garner the support of 100 colleagues, can, at any point of time, introduce a motion of no-confidence against the Council of Ministers.

3. The first motion of no confidence was moved by Morarji Desai against the government headed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

With reference to the Question Hour, consider the following statements:

1. It is during the Question Hour that the members can ask questions on every aspect of administration and Governmental activity.

2. It is the first hour of a sitting of Lok Sabha.

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

Which of the following articles of the Constitution of India provides for protection of monuments and places and objects of national importance?

(a) Article 48

(b) Article 49

(c) Article 50

(d) Article 47

FYI:

— The Committee on Public Accounts was first set up in 1921 in the wake of the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— During the days of the Interim Government, the then Finance Minister acted as the Chairman of the Committee, and later on, after the attainment of Independence in August, 1947, the Finance Minister became the Chairman.

— The Public Accounts Committee is presently formed annually under Rule 308 of the Lok Sabha’s Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business.

— The Public Accounts Committee is made up of no more than 22 members, 15 of whom are elected by Lok Sabha every year using the proportional representation principle and a single transferable vote, and no more than 7 Rajya Sabha members who are elected in the same manner. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— In 1967, however, for the first time, a member from the Opposition in Lok Sabha, was appointed as the Chairman of the Committee by the Speaker. This practice continues till date. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— The term of office of members of the Committee does not exceed one year at a time.

— A Minister is not elected as a member of the Committee, and if a member is made a Minister after being elected to the Committee, he no longer serves on the Committee as of the date of such appointment. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: sansad.in)

FYI:

— Article 21A provides for Right to Education. The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years in such manner as the State may, by law, determine.

— Article 45 of the Constitution provides for provision for early childhood care and education to children below the age of six years.

— The State shall endeavour to provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete the age of six years.

— In fundamental duties, Article 51A provides for 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.

(Other Source: Constitution of India)

FYI:

— In a parliamentary democracy, a government can be in power only if it commands a majority in the directly elected House. Article 75(3) of our Constitution embodies this rule by specifying that the Council of Ministers are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.

— For testing this collective responsibility, the rules of Lok Sabha provide a particular mechanism – a motion of no-confidence. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Any Lok Sabha MP, who can garner the support of 50 colleagues, can, at any point of time, introduce a motion of no-confidence against the Council of Ministers. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— A no confidence motion can only be moved in the Lok Sabha.

— However, the no confidence motion has historically been used as a strategic tool to force a discussion on a certain topic or issue. The Opposition knows that it does not have the numbers but still has moved the motion to force the government to address their concerns about the situation in Manipur.

— It was during the third Lok Sabha in 1963 that the first motion of no confidence was moved by Acharya J B Kripalani against the government headed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— Generally, the first hour of a sitting of Lok Sabha is devoted to the Questions and this hour is called the Question Hour. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— It is during the Question Hour that the members can ask questions on every aspect of administration and Governmental activity. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Questions enable Ministries to gauge the popular reaction to their policy and administration.

— The Question Hour is an interesting aspect of Parliamentary proceedings. Although a question is primarily intended to elicit information and facts about a certain issue, there are often spirited and quicksilver exchanges between the Members asking the questions and the Ministers responding them.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: sansad.in)

FYI:

— Article 49 of the Constitution of India provides for protection of monuments and places and objects of national importance.

— It shall be the obligation of the State to protect every monument or place or object of artistic or historic interest, [declared by or under law made by Parliament] to be of national importance, from spoliation, disfigurement, destruction, removal, disposal or export, as the case may be.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Source: Constitution of India)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 48)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 48)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 48)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 48)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 48)

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