Indian Polity Quiz: Day: 108

Answer: (c)

• The Constitution authorizes the Parliament to determine the qualifications of members of the commission and the manner in which they should be selected.
• Accordingly, the Parliament has specified the qualifications of the chairman and members of the commission.
• Finance Commission is required to make recommendations to the president of India on the principles that should govern the grants-in-aid to the states by the Centre (i.e., out of the consolidated fund of India).
• The recommendations made by the Finance Commission are only of advisory nature and hence, not binding on the government. It is up to the Union government to implement its recommendations on granting money to the states.

Answer: (d)

The Government of India Act 1935 proposed for an All-India Federation of British India, Princely states, and the Commissioners provinces.

The women were given the right to vote in the provincial legislature, thus expanding the franchise. The members of the provincial legislature were to be directly elected

Government of India drew its material from:

• Indian Statutory Commission Report (popularly known as Simon Commission report),
• The report of the All-Parties Conference (the Nehru Report),
• A white paper issued after the discussions at the three round table conferences in 1933, which gave details of the working basis of the new constitution of India i.e. dyarchy at the Centre and responsible government.

Answer: (a)

• The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987
• It provides free legal services to weaker sections of Indian society.
• The Chief Justice of India is the Patron-in-Chief and the Senior most Hon’ble Judge, Supreme Court of India is the Executive Chairman of the authority.
• Free legal aid is the provision of free legal services in civil and criminal matters for those poor and marginalized people who cannot afford the services of a lawyer for the conduct of a case or a legal proceeding in any Court, Tribunal, or Authority.

Answer: (b)

• PM CARES registered as a Public Charitable Trust. The trust deed of PM CARES Fund has been registered under the Registration Act, 1908.
• The Prime Minister is Chairperson (ex-officio) of the PM CARES Fund and Minister of Defence, Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Finance, Government of India are ex-officio Trustees of the Fund.

The primary objectives of the PM CARES Fund Trust are: –

• To undertake and support relief or assistance of any kind relating to a public health emergency or any other kind of emergency, calamity or distress, either man-made or natural, including the creation or upgradation of healthcare or pharmaceutical facilities, other necessary infrastructure, funding relevant research or any other type of support.

The PM CARE fund is exempted from paying Income Tax as per Section 10(23)(c) of Income Tax Act, 1961.

PM CARES Fund has received exemption from operation of all provisions of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010.

PM CARES Fund is audited by an independent auditor.

Answer: (d)

• Article 123 of the Constitution empowers the President to promulgate ordinances during the recess of Parliament.
• President can promulgate an ordinance only when either of the two Houses of Parliament is not in session or when both the Houses of Parliament are not in session. An ordinance can also be issued when only one House is in session because a law can be passed by both the Houses and not by one House alone.
• In Cooper case, (1970), the Supreme Court held that the President ‘s satisfaction can be questioned in a court on the ground of malafide. Thus, the President ‘s satisfaction is justiciable on the ground of malafide.
• An ordinance like any other legislation may modify or repeal any act of Parliament or another ordinance. It can alter or amend a tax law also. However, it cannot be issued to amend the Constitution.

Answer: (b)

• The Cabinet Secretariat functions directly under the Prime Minister.
• The administrative head of the Secretariat is the Cabinet Secretary. She/He is appointed by the Union Government.
• Cabinet Secretary is the ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board.

Answer: (d)

• Purpose:

Announced to reach out to the poorest of the poor, with food and money in hands, so that they do not face difficulties in buying essential supplies and meeting essential needs.

• Benefits:

Insurance cover of Rs 50 Lakh per health worker fighting COVID-19 provided under Insurance Scheme.

80 crore poor people get 5 kg wheat or rice and 1 kg of preferred pulses for free every month for the three months.

The foodgrains were distributed to all the beneficiaries under the targeted public distribution system (TPDS) for Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and priority household (PHH) ration cardholders.

20 crore women Jan Dhan account holders to get Rs 500 per month for three months.

Answer: (a)

The Constitution has constituted the Supreme Court as the guarantor and defender of the fundamental rights of the citizens. The Supreme Court is empowered to issue writs including habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo-warrento and certiorari for the enforcement of the fundamental rights of an aggrieved citizen. In this regard, the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in the sense that an aggrieved citizen can directly go to the Supreme Court, not necessarily by way of appeal. However, the writ jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is not exclusive. The high courts are also empowered to issue writs for the enforcement of the Fundamental Rights. It means, when the Fundamental Rights of a citizen are violated, the aggrieved party has the option of moving either the high court or the Supreme Court directly.

Answer: (c)

The Constitution contains the following provision in respect of the official language of the Union.

Hindi written in Devanagari script is to be the official language of the Union. But, the form of numerals to be used for the official purposes of the Union has to be the international form of Indian numerals and not the Devanagari form of numerals.

The Constitution does not specify the official language of different states. In this regard, it makes the following provisions.

The legislature of a state may adopt any one or more of the languages in use in the state or Hindi as the official language of that state. Until that is done, English is to continue as official language of that state.

Answer: (a)

Article 327:  Power of Parliament to make provision with respect to elections to Legislatures Subject to the provisions of this constitution, Parliament may from time to time by law made provision with respect to all matters relating to, or in connection with, elections to either House of Parliament or to the House or either House of the Legislature of a State including the preparation of electoral rolls, the delimitation of constituencies and all other matters necessary for securing the due constitution of such House or Houses