Constitution & Political System (Part-I)

Total Questions: 60

1. Which of the following is/are extra-constitutional and extralegal device(s) for securing cooperation and coordination between the States in India? [1995]

1. The National Development Council

2. The Governor's Conference

3. Zonal Councils

4. Inter-State Council

(a) 1 & 2
(b) 1,2 & 3
(c) 3 & 4
(d) 4 only

Correct Answer: (b) 1,2 & 3

Solution:Best answer is 1, 2 and 3. Because only Inter State Council is a constitutional body under article 263. So option 4 should not be included.

The NDC was officially established on August 6, 1952, through an executive resolution of the Government of India.

Section 15 of the States Reorgnization Act 1956 provides that there shall be a Zonal Council for each of the five zones of the country.

2. Which of the following are matters on which a constitutional amendment is possible only with the ratification of the legislature of not less than one-half of the states? [1995]

1. Election of the President

2. Representation of states in the Parliament

3. Lists in the 7th Schedule

4. Abolition of the Legislature Council in a State

(a) 1, 2 & 3
(b) 1,2 & 4
(c) 1.3 & 4
(d) 2, 3 & 4

Correct Answer: (a) 1, 2 & 3

Solution:Under Article 169(1) of constitution of India. Parliament may by law provide for the abolition of the Legislative Council of a State having such a council or for the creation of such a council in a state having no such council, if the Legislative Assembly of the state passes a resolution to that effect by a majority of the total membership of the Assembly and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of the Assembly present and voting.

3. Article 156 of the Constitution of India provides that a Governor shall hold office for a term of five year from the date on which he enters upon his office. Which of the following can be deduced from this? [1995]

1. No Governor can be removed from office till completion of his term

2. No Governor can continue in office beyond five years

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 & 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution:According to Article 156, the Governor shall hold office during the pleasure of the President, the Governor may, by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign his office.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this article, a Governor shall hold for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office.

Provided that a Governor shall, notwithstanding the expiration of his term, continue to hold office until his successor enters upon his office.

4. What is not explicitly stated in the Constitution of India but followed as a convention? [1995]

(a) The Finance Minister is to be a Member of the Lower House
(b) The Prime Minister has to resign if he loses the majority in the Lower House
(c) All sections of India are to be represented in the Councils of Ministers
(d) If both the President and the Vice-President demit office simultaneously before the end of the tenure, Speaker of the Lower House of the Parliament will officiate as the President

Correct Answer: (a) The Finance Minister is to be a Member of the Lower House

Solution:A person who is not a member of either House of Parliament can also be appointed as a minister. But, within six months, he must become a member (either by election or by nomination) of either House of Parliament, otherwise, he ceases to be a minister. So long as the Prime Minister enjoys the majority support in the Lok Sabha, he cannot be dismissed by the President. However, if he loses the confidence of the Lok Sabha, he must resign or the President can dismiss him.
When vacancies occur in the offices of the president and the vice president simultaneously, owing to removal, death, resignation of the incumbent or otherwise, the chief justice-or in their absence, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court of India available discharges the functions of the president. Thus Statement (c) is correct.

5. Which one of the following was not proposed by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment in the area of Panchayati Raj? [1995]

(a) Thirty percent seats in all elected rural local bodies will be reserved for women candidates at all level
(b) The States will constitute their Finance Commissions to allocate resources to Panchayati Raj institutions
(c) The Panchayati Raj functionaries will be disqualified to hold their offices if they have more than two children
(d) The elections will be held in six months time if Panchayati Raj bodies are superceded or dissolved by the State government

Correct Answer: (a) Thirty percent seats in all elected rural local bodies will be reserved for women candidates at all level

Solution:Statement given under option (c) is not mentioned in 73rd amendment act. But this norm is applied in Haryana, Rajasthan, MP, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. The act provides for the reservation of not less than one-third of the total number of seats for women (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging the SCs and STs). Further, not less than one-third of the total number of offices of chairpersons in the panchayats at each level shall be reserved for women. Hence statement (a) is wrong. Thus both statements (a) and (c) were not proposed by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment.

6. Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R). [1997]

Assertion (A): Reservation of thirty-three percent of seats for women in Parliament and State Legislature does not require any Constitutional amendment:

Reason (R): Political parties contesting elections can allocate thirty-three percent of seats they contest to women candidates without any Constitutional amendment.

In the context of the above two statements which one of the following is correct?

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true

Correct Answer: (d) A is false but R is true

Solution:Assertion is wrong as reservation for women in Parliament and state legislature would require a constitutional amendment.

7. Which of the following are/is stated in the Constitution of India? [1997]

1. The President shall not be a member of either House of Parliament

2. The Parliament shall consist of the President and two Houses

Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:

(a) Neither 1 nor 2
(b) Both 1 & 2
(c) Only 1
(d) Only 2

Correct Answer: (b) Both 1 & 2

Solution:Statement 1 is correct as per provisions under Article 59. Statement 2 is correct as according to Article 79, Parliament shall consist of the President and two Houses.

8. In the following quotation, [1997]

"WE THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic and to secure to all its citizens:

JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief faith and worship;

EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all; FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and the integrity of the Nation.

In our Constituent Assembly this 'X' do hereby adopt, enact and give to ourselves this Constitution.",

'X' stands for:

(a) twenty-sixth day of January, 1950
(b) twenty-sixth day of November, 1949
(c) twenty-sixth day of January, 1949
(d) None of the above

Correct Answer: (b) twenty-sixth day of November, 1949

Solution:The Constitution of India was enacted on Nov. 26, 1949 but it was commenced on Jan. 26, 1950.

9. Which one of the following schedules of the Constitution of India contains provisions regarding anti-defection Act? [1997]

(a) Second Schedule
(b) Fifth Schedule
(c) Eighth Schedule
(d) Tenth Schedule

Correct Answer: (d) Tenth Schedule

Solution:Tenth schedule was added by the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985. It provides for anti-defection law.

10. The Constitution of India recognises: [1999]

(a) only religious minorities
(b) only linguistic minorities
(c) religious and linguistic minorities
(d) religious, linguistic and ethnic minorities

Correct Answer: (c) religious and linguistic minorities

Solution:The Constitution of India recognizes religious and linguistic minorities under article 29 and 30 (Cultural and Educational rights). However it does not define the term Minority.

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