Government & Administration (India & World) (Part-II)

Total Questions: 50

41. With reference to the Union Government, consider the following statements: [2015-1]

1. The Department of Revenue is responsible for the preparation of Union Budget that is presented to the Parliament.

2. No amount can be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of India without the authorization from the Parliament of India.

3. All the disbursements made from Public Account also need the authorization from the Parliament of India.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct?

Correct Answer: (c) 2 only
Solution:
  • The department of economic affairs under the ministry of finance is responsible for the preparation of union Budget that is presented to the parliament.
  • Consolidated fund of India is a fund to which all receipts are credited and all payments are debited.
  • No money can be appropriated (issued or drawn) out of the consolidated fund of India without the authorization from the parliament of India.

Public account of India is operated by executive action, that is, the payments from this account can be made without parliamentary appropriation. Such payments are mostly in the nature of banking transactions.

42. There is a Parliamentary System of Government in India because th [2015-1]

Correct Answer: (d) Council of Ministers is responsible to the Lok Sabha
Solution:The executive in a Parliamentary system is responsible I to the legislature for all its actions. The ministers are answerable to the parliament and responsible to the Lok Sabha. The Council of Ministers remains in office as long as they enjoy the support and confidence of the Lok Sabha.

Parliamentary Form of Government Features
• Real and Nominal Executives: The President acts as the formal or nominal executive, while the Prime Minister serves as the actual (de facto) executive. In this arrangement, the President represents the State, whereas the Prime Minister runs the government’s day-to-day affairs.
• Dual Membership: The executive (Prime Minister and Council of Ministers) is drawn from the legislature (Parliament). Members of Parliament elect the Prime Minister and other cabinet ministers, linking the executive and legislative branches closely.
• Collective Responsibility: The Council of Ministers is collectively accountable to the legislature. This principle ensures that all ministers share responsibility for government policies and decisions, even if individual ministers are directly responsible for their departments.
• Secret Procedure: Cabinet discussions and deliberations are conducted in private and are not disclosed publicly, allowing for open and candid decision-making among ministers.
• Leadership under the Prime Minister: The Prime Minister heads the government and exercises leadership over the Council of Ministers, guiding policy and administration.
• Majority Party Rule: The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the party that holds a majority in the lower house of the legislature, ensuring stability and alignment between the executive and legislative branches.
• Bicameral Legislature: Most parliamentary democracies have a bicameral legislature, consisting of two chambers, typically an upper house and a lower house, which provide checks and balances on lawmaking.
• Political Homogeneity: Members of the Council of Ministers usually share similar political ideologies, as they belong to the same party. In coalition governments, ministers are bound by coalition agreements to maintain unity.
• No Fixed Term: The government’s tenure depends on maintaining the confidence of the lower house. If a motion of no-confidence succeeds, the Council of Ministers must resign, triggering elections and the formation of a new government.

43. Consider the following statements: [2015-1]

1. The Rajya Sabha has no power either to reject or to amend a Money Bill.

2. The Rajya Sabha cannot vote on the Demands for Grants.

3. The Rajya Sabha cannot discuss the Annual Financial Statement.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (b) 1 & 2 only
Solution:A Money Bill cannot be introduced in Rajya Sabha. Rajya Sabha has no power either to reject or amend a Money Bill. It can only make recommendations on the Money Bill. Rajya Sabha can discuss the budget but cannot vote on the demands for grants which is the exclusive privilage of the Lok-Sabha.
• According to the Constitution of India, a bill is considered a Money Bill if it contains only provisions dealing with all or any of the following matters:
• The imposition, abolition, remission, alteration, or regulation of any tax.
• The regulation of the borrowing of money or the giving of any guarantee by the Government of India.
• The custody of the Consolidated Fund or the Contingency Fund of India, the payment of money into or the withdrawal of money from any such fund.
• The appropriation of money out of the Consolidated Fund of India.
• The declaring of any expenditure to be expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of India or the increasing of the amount of any such expenditure.
• The receipt of money on account of the Consolidated Fund of India or the public account of India or the custody or issue of such money

44. When a bill is referred to a joint sitting of both the Houses of the Parliament, it has to be passed by [2015-1]

Correct Answer: (a) a simple majority of members present and voting
Solution:In India, if a bill has been rejected by any house of the parliament and if more than six months have elapsed, the President may summon a joint session for purpose of passing the bill. The bill is passed by a simple majority of a joint sitting. Joint sitting is an extra-ordinary machinery provided by the constitution to resolve a deadlock between the two houses over the passage of a bill.

If the bill in dispute is passed by a majority of the total number of member both the houses present and voting in the joint sitting, the bill is deemed to have been passed by both the houses.

45. Consider the following statements: [2015-1]

1. The Executive Power of the Union of India is vested in the Prime Minister.

2. The Prime Minister is the ex officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution:The Executive powers of the Union of India is vested in the President. The Cabinet Secretary (and not the Prime Minister) is the ex-officio head of the Civil Services Board.
• A Prime Minister is the head of government in India's political setup. He is the de facto head of state.
• The Prime Minister is appointed by the President of India and is the leader of the party or coalition that holds the majority of seats in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India's parliament.
• The Prime Minister is responsible for the administration of the government and serves as the chief spokesperson for the government's policies.
• Under Article 75, the Council of Ministers shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.
• Also, Article 74(1) states that there shall be a Council of Ministers with a Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President. Thus, other ministers work under the direction of the Prime Minister.

46. Consider the following statements: [2016-1]

1. The Chief Secretary in a State is appointed by the Governor of that State.

2. The Chief Secretary in a State has a fixed tenure.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution:Chief secretary is appointed by CM, but has no fixed tenure. After the exam, experts were divided over the first statement- that all executive action of the state is done in the name of De-jure head Governor so first statement ought to be correct. But, in its official Answerkey, UPSC has kept "d" as the answer.
• The post of Chief Secretary is the senior-most position in the civil services of the states and union territories of India.
• The position is a cadre post for the Indian Administrative Services.
• The Chief Secretary is the chief advisor to the Chief Minister in all matters of the cabinet.
• The office of Chief Secretary has been excluded from the operation of the tenure system.
• There is no fixed tenure for this post.

47. Democracy's superior virtue lies in the fact that it calls into activity [2017-1]

Correct Answer: (a) the intelligence and character of ordinary men and women.
Solution:The take-off point for a democracy is the idea of consent, i.e. the desire, approval and participation of people. It is the decision of people that creates a democratic government and decides about its functioning.

So, since democracy requires voters' decision making- hence intelligence and character are called in. hence answer "A"

48. One of the implications of equality in society is the absence of : [2017-1]

Correct Answer: (a) Privileges
Solution:First step towards bringing about equality is of course ending the formal system of inequality and privileges. The caste system in India prevented people from the 'lower' castes from doing anything except manual labour. In many countries only people from some families could occupy high positions. Attainment of equality requires that all such restrictions or privileges should be brought to an end.

49. Which of the following are not necessarily the consequences of the proclamation of the President's rule in a State? [2017-1]

1. Dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly

2. Removal of the Council of Ministers in the State

3. Dissolution of the local bodies

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: (b) 1 & 3 only
Solution:When the President's Rule is imposed in a state, the President dismisses the state council of ministers headed by the chief minister. The state governor, on behalf of the President, carries on the state administration with the help of the chief secretary of the state or the advisors appointed by the President. Meaning "2" is definitely the consequence of proclamation. Hence all options involving "2" are wrong. Hence by elimination we are left with answer "B": 1 and 3 only.

50. Which one of the following is not a feature of Indian federalism? [2017-1]

Correct Answer: (d) It is the result of an agreement among the federating units.
Solution:Indian federation is not the result of an agreement among the states unlike the American federation. So, "D" is not the feature of Indian federalism.
The general features of federalism are
• Division of power: Federalism divides power between a central government and regional governments, with each level having its own specific responsibilities and areas of authority.
• Supremacy of Constitution: Federalism is based on a written Constitution that defines the powers and responsibilities of the central and regional governments and establishes a system of checks and balances to ensure that neither level of government becomes too powerful.
• Independent judiciary: Federalism typically includes an independent judiciary that can interpret the Constitution and resolve disputes between different levels of government.
• Bicameral legislature: Federalism often features a bicameral legislature, with one chamber representing the people and the other representing the regional governments.
• Flexibility: Federalism allows for flexibility in the sharing of powers between central and regional governments and allows for adjustments as circumstances change.