Panchayati Raj & Public Policy

Total Questions: 34

21. With reference to Indian public finance, consider the following statements: [2004]

1. Disbursements from Public Accounts of India are subject to the Vote of the Parliament

2. The Indian Constitution provides for the establishment of a Consolidated Fund, a Public Account and a Contingency Fund for each State

3. Appropriations and disbursements under the Railway Budget are subject to the same form of parliamentary control as other appropriations and disbursements

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Correct Answer: (b) 2 & 3
Solution:The Indian Constitution provides for the establishment of a Consolidated Fund and a Public Account under Article 266 and a Contingency Fund for each State under Article 267. Disbursements from Public Accounts of India are not subject to a Vote of Parliament.

All revenues received by the Government by way of taxes like Income Tax, Central Excise, Customs and other receipts flowing to the Government in connection with the conduct of Government business i.e. Non-Tax Revenues are credited into the Consolidated Fund constituted under Article 266 (1) of the Constitution of India.

22. The Archaeological Survey of India is an attached office of the Department/Ministry of: [2004]

Correct Answer: (a) Culture
Solution:The Archaeological Survey of India, established in 1861 is a department of the Government of India attached to the Ministry of Culture. ASI is responsible for archaeological studies and the preservation of archaeological heritage of the country in accordance with the various acts of the Indian Parliament.

About Archaeological Survey of India

  • ASI, under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, is a premier organisation for archaeological research and protection of the tangible heritage of the nation.
  • It was established in 1861 by Sir Alexander Cunningham, with its headquarters in New Delhi.
  • After independence, it was established as a statutory body under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (AMASR Act).
  • The prime concern of ASI is the maintenance of ancient monuments, archaeological sites, and remains of national importance.
  • Besides, it regulates all archaeological activities in the country as per the provisions of the AMASR Act.
  • It also regulates the Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972.
  • The organization has a large workforce of trained archaeologists, conservators, epigraphists, architects, and scientists for conducting archaeological research projects through its Circles, Museums, Excavation Branches, Prehistory Branch, Epigraphy Branches, Science Branch, Horticulture Branch, Building Survey Project, Temple Survey Projects, and Underwater Archaeology Wing.

23. Assertion (A): The Central Rural Sanitation Programme was launched in 1986 to improve the quality of life of rural people in India. [2004]

Reason (R): Rural sanitation is a subject in the Concurrent List in the Constitution of India.

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

Correct Answer: (c) A is true but R is false
Solution:Rural sanitation is not a subject in the Concurrent List. Public Health and Sanitation comes under the State List. Personal and food hygiene have been major cause of many diseases in developing countries. It was in this context that the central Rural Sanitation Programmer (CRSP) was launched in 1986.
Rural Sanitation in India
  • Improvement: In the past decade, improving sanitation coverage has been observed.
  • SDG 6: Access to water and sanitation is Goal 6 in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals envisaged by the United Nations.
  • Central Rural Sanitation Programme (CRSP): Public sanitation programmes began with the launch of the CRSP in 1986.
  • Total Sanitation Campaign: The Campaign in 1999 marked a shift from a high subsidy regime to a low subsidy one and a demand-driven approach.
  • Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G): The public sanitation programme evolved as a mission in 2014 under the SBM-G to make India Open Defecation Free (ODF) by October 2019.

24. Consider the following: [2005]

1. Disputes with mobile cellular companies

2. Motor accident cases

3. Pension cases

For which of the above are Lok Adalats held?

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Solution:Lok Adalats have been given statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Under the said Act, the award (decision) made by the Lok Adalats is deemed to be a decree of a civil court and is final and binding on all parties and no appeal against such an award lies before any court of law. If the parties are not satisfied with the award of the Lok Adalat though there is no provision for appeal against such an award, but they are free to initiate litigation by approaching the court of appropriate jurisdiction by filling a case by following the required procedure, in exercise of their right to litigate.

National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) along with other Legal Services Institutions conducts Lok Adalats. Lok Adalat is one of the alternative dispute redressal mechanisms, it is a forum where disputes/cases pending in the court of law or at pre-litigation stage are settled/compromised amicably.

25. Consider the following statements: [2006]

1. There is no provision in the Constitution of India to encourage equal pay for equal work for both men and women.

2. The Constitution of India does not define backward classes.

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

Correct Answer: (b) 2 only
Solution:Statement 1 is incorrect as equal pay for equal work for both men and women is provided under Article 39(d) in Directive Principles of the State Policy under Part IV of the Constitution. Under Article - 340 of the Indian constitution, it is obligatory for the government to promote the welfare of the other Backward classes (OBC).
Gender Wage Gap in India
According to the Report "Women and Men in India 2022" released by the National Statistical, wage disparity between men and women has widened over the past decade, with the gap opening up further at higher wage levels.
Men in India capture 82% of labour income, while women earn just 18%, according to the first-ever estimates of the gender inequality in global earnings presented in the World Inequality Report 2022 released.
To address the gender pay gap, there is a need for greater awareness and advocacy around the issue, as well as policy measures that promote gender equality and economic empowerment of women.

26. Consider the following statements: [2007]

1. The nation-wide scheme of the National Child Labour Projects (NCLP) is run by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

2. Gurupadswamy Committee dealt with the issues of child labour.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (b) 2 only
Solution:National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme was launched by the government of India in 1988 for rehabilitation of Child Labour. The scheme focuses on
  • All the child labours below the age of 14 yeas, identified in the target area.
  • All the adolescent labours below the age of 18 years, occupied in hazardous occupations or processes.
  • Families of such children mentioned in the above points.
  • Gurupadaswamy Committee dealt with the issues of child labour. The responsibility is jointly handed to the respective state governments and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

27. Consider the following statements: [2011-1]

In India, a Metropolitan Planning Committee:

1. is constituted under the provisions of the Constitution of India.

2. prepares the draft development plans for metropolitan area.

3. has the sole responsibility for implementing Government sponsored schemes in the metropolitan area.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
Solution:Article 243ZE Committee on Metropolitan Planning does not have a sole responsibility for implementing Government sponsored schemes in metropolitan area. Metropolitan planning committee is constituted under the provisions of the constitution of India.

According to the constitution of India, every Metropolitan area shall have a Metropolitan planning committee to prepare a draft development plan.

28. Consider the following statements: [2013-1]

The parliamentary Committee on public accounts

1. consists of not more than 25 Members of the Lok Sabha

2. scrutinizes appropriation and finance accounts of the Government

3. examines the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
Solution:At present the Public Accounts committee consists of 22 members (15 from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha. The function of the committee is
1. To examine the annual audit reports of the comptroller and auditor general of India (CAG), which are laid before the Parliament by the President.
2. To examine the appropriation accounts and the finance accounts of the Union government and any other accounts laid before the Lok-Sabha.

29. Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan' is a national campaign to : [2016-1]

Correct Answer: (c) eradicate the practice of manual scavenging and rehabilitate the manual scavengers
Solution:(i) It is a campaign for eradication of inhuman practice of manual scavenging and comprehensive rehabilitation of manual scavengers in India. Ashif Shaikh is well known for his role in the campaign (Rashatriya Garima Abhiyan) through various campaigns of Jan Sahas. (ii) Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan is an NGO-led movement for manual scavengers.

30. Consider the following statements: [2019-1]

1. As per law, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority exists at both National and State levels.

2. People's participation is mandatory in the compensatory afforestation programmes carried out under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (a) 1 only
Solution:This act establishes the National and State Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authorities to manage the National and State Funds.

But, in the bare act there is no mention of mandatory People's participation so, #2 is wrong. Thus answer A: only 1 correct.
Major provisions of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016 can be seen as follows:

  • It established the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund (NCAF) under the Public Account of India and the State Compensatory Afforestation Funds (SCAFs) under the Public Accounts of States.

  • The fund will be used for compensatory afforestation, additional compensatory afforestation, penal compensatory afforestation, net present value, catchment area treatment plan or any money for compliance of conditions stipulated by the Central Government while according to approval under the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.