Miscellaneous (Indian Polity and Governance) Part-II

Total Questions: 50

21. Which among the following is/are correct: [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2002]

1. High Courts hold their office till the age of 62 years.
2. A political party, which has been recognized in four or more states, is a national party.
3. The speaker of the Lok Sabha decides whether a Bill is a Money Bill or not.
4. Cognizable offence is an offence, for which one can be arrested without any warrant.
Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2, 3, and 4
Solution:According to Article 217(1) of the Constitution of India, a Judge of the High Court can hold his office till the age of 62 years. The Election Commission has provided the rule that only a political party that has recognition in at least 4 or more States in the country can be considered a National Party. According to Article 110(3) of the Constitution, the speaker of the Lok Sabha can authenticate which bill brought before the House is a money bill. A cognizable offence is an offence for which a person can be arrested without a warrant.

22. What is that crime, which when tried is punishable, but when done the culprit crime doer cannot be punished? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1991]

Correct Answer: (c) Suicide
Solution:

When the question was asked Suicide was a crime. Suicide was such a crime which if done, the culprit is not available for punishment. Although it's attempt was punishable earlier and under section 309 of IPC. But Law Commission of India in its 210th report recommended deleting Section 309 of I.P.C. and which was supported by 18 states and 4 Union Territory to delete Section 309 of IPC from the statute book.

23. Which one of the pairs given below is not correctly matched? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]

Correct Answer: (b) Altering the name : Power of a State of a State Legislature
Solution:

Only the Parliament of India is empowered to change the name of any of the States. Besides, Parliament has the power to make changes in the area or alter the boundary of any State.

About Indian Parliament

  • The Parliament of India, also known as the Sansad, is the legislative organ of the Union Government.
  • The Constitution of India has envisaged the Parliament or the Sansad as the supreme legislative body of the country.
  • As per its assigned constitutional jurisdiction, the Parliament of India enacts laws, holds the government accountable, and serves as a symbol of India's vibrant democratic spirit.

24. What is true about gallantry award 'Param Vir Chakra'? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2021]

Correct Answer: (b) On its medal, four replicas of 'Indra Vajra' are embossed
Solution:

The Param Vir Chakra is India's highest military decoration. The medal was instituted on 26th January, 1950. On its medal, four replicas of 'Indra Vajra' are embossed. This award can be given to individual once or more than once in his/her lifetime. Till 31st December, 2021, only 21 people have been awarded with Param Vir Chakra.

25. Consider the following statements in respect of Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards : [I.A.S. (Pre) 2021]

1. Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are titles under the Article 18(1) of the Constitution of India.
2. Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, were suspended only once.
3. The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of five in a particular year.
Which of the above statements are not correct?
Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Solution:The conferment of titles of "Bharat Ratna", "Padma Vibhushan", "Padma Shri", etc. are said to be not prohibited under Article 18 as they merely denote State recognition of good work by citizens in the various fields of activity. Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, is announced every year on the occasion of Republic Day except for brief interruption during the years 1978 to 1979 and 1993 to 1997.

Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the country. It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/ performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour. It is treated on a different footing from Padma award. The recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President of India. No formal recommendations for Bharat Ratna are necessary. The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of three in a particular year.

26. Who was among following to receive first Bharat Ratna? [66th B.P.S.C. (Pre) (Re-Exam), 2020]

Correct Answer: (d) S. Radhakrishnan
Solution:

The provision of Bharat Ratna was introduced in 1954. Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, Dr. Sarvepalli Radha Krishnan and C.V. Raman were awarded Bharat Ratna in 1954. Thus, option (d) is the correct answer.

About Bharat Ratna

  • The Bharat Ratna Award is the highest civilian award in India.
    Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conferred in recognition of "exceptional service/performance of the highest order".
  • It is bestowed upon individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the nation in various fields, such as arts, literature, science, and public service.
  • However, the Government, in 2011, expanded the criteria to include "any field of human endeavour".
    The recommendations for the award are made by the Prime Minister to the President.
  • The recipients receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a peepal leaf-shaped medallion with no monetary grant associated with the award.
  • Bharat Ratna recipients rank seventh in the Indian order of precedence.
  • There is no formal provision that recipients of the Bharat Ratna should be Indian citizens.
  • It has been conferred on one naturalized citizen, Mother Teresa, and on two non-Indians: Abdul Ghaffar Khan (born in British India and later a citizen of Pakistan) and Nelson Mandela, a citizen of South Africa.

27. At present, the highest Civilian award of the 'Republic of India' is— [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2021]

Correct Answer: (d) Bharat Ratna
Solution:At present, the highest Civilian award of the 'Republic of India' is 'Bharat Ratna'. The Government of India instituted two civilian awards—Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan in 1954.

About Bharat Ratna

  • The Bharat Ratna Award is the highest civilian award in India.
    Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conferred in recognition of "exceptional service/performance of the highest order".
  • It is bestowed upon individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the nation in various fields, such as arts, literature, science, and public service.
  • However, the Government, in 2011, expanded the criteria to include "any field of human endeavour".
    The recommendations for the award are made by the Prime Minister to the President.
  • The recipients receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a peepal leaf-shaped medallion with no monetary grant associated with the award.
  • Bharat Ratna recipients rank seventh in the Indian order of precedence.
  • There is no formal provision that recipients of the Bharat Ratna should be Indian citizens.
  • It has been conferred on one naturalized citizen, Mother Teresa, and on two non-Indians: Abdul Ghaffar Khan (born in British India and later a citizen of Pakistan) and Nelson Mandela, a citizen of South Africa.

28. Which institution in India has been selected for Gandhi Peace Award 2021? [Raj. P.C.S. (Pre) 2023]

Correct Answer: (a) Geeta Press, Gorakhpur
Solution:The Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2021 was conferred to Gita Press, Gorakhpur. Gandhi Peace Prize is an annual award instituted by the Government of India in 1995, on the occasion of 125th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi as a tribute to the ideals espoused by Mahatma Gandhi. The award is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or gender. The award carries an amount of Rs. 1 crore, a citation, a plaque and an exquisite traditional handicraft/handloom item. Gita Press, established in 1923, is one of the world’s largest publishers, having published 41.7 crore books in 14 languages.

29. Match the following lists: [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2013]

List-XList-Y
A. Arun Jaitley(i) 2009
B. Karan Singh(ii) 2012
C. Sharad Yadav(iii) 2011
D. Murli Manohar Joshi(iv) 2010

 

ABCD
(a)(iv)(iii)(ii)(i)
(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)
(c)(ii)(i)(iv)(iii)
(d)(ii)(i)(iii)(iv)
Correct Answer: (a)
Solution:The outstanding Parliamentarian Award is given by the Indian Parliamentary Group to an outstanding sitting Member of the Indian Parliament for overall contribution in the Indian Parliament. It was instituted in 1994. Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi in 2009, Arun Jaitley in 2010, Karan Singh in 2011 and Sharad Yadav received the award in 2012.

30. Which among the following States has a record of formation of maximum Coalition Governments between 1967 to 1971? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]

Correct Answer: (c) Bihar
Solution:Record nine coalition governments were formed in Bihar between 1967 to 1971.

The features of a Coalition Government are highlighted below:
1. Coalition is formed for the sake of reward, material or psychic
2. A coalition implies the existence of a least two partners
3. The underlying principle of a coalition system stands on the simple fact of temporary conjunction of specific interest.
4. Coalition politics is not a static but a dynamic affair as coalition players and groups can dissolve and form new ones
5. The keynote of coalition politics is compromise and rigid dogma has no place in it.
6. A coalition works on the basis of a minimum programme, which may not be ideal for each partner of the coalition.
7. Pragmatism and not ideology is the hall-mark of coalition politics. In making political adjustments, principles may have to be set aside.
8. The purpose of a coalition adjustment is to seize power.