ANSWER: D

• The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971prohibits the desecration of or insult to the country’s national symbols, including the national flag, the Constitution, the national anthem and the Indian map. Punishment is extended with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
• Flag Code of 2002: On July 20, 2022, the Centre amended the Flag Code of India, allowing the national flag to be flown both in the day and at night if it is displayed in the open or on the house of a member of the public. Earlier, the tricolor could be hoisted only between sunrise and sunset. In an earlier amendment dated December 30, 2021, the government had allowed the use of machine-made and polyester flags. Previously, such flags were not allowed to be used.
• Part IV-A of the Constitution: According to Article 51A (a), It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem.

ANSWER: C

• Rights are legal and moral entitlements or claims of a person over other fellow beings, over society and over the government.
• Fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution are, in the absence of specific constitutional provisions, mainly enforceable against the State.
• Rights are claimed by the citizens against the state has to protect the citizens from oppression by society.

ANSWER: A

Fundamental rights available to both citizens and foreigners (except enemy aliens) –

• Article 14 – Equality before the law and equal protection of laws.
• Article 20 – Protection in respect of conviction for offences.
• Article 21 – Protection of life and personal liberty.
• Article 21A – Right to elementary education.
• Article 22 – Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases.
• Article 23 – Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour.
• Article 24 – Prohibition of employment of children in factories etc.
• Article 25 – Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion.
• Article 26 – Freedom to manage religious affairs.
• Article 27 – Freedom from payment of taxes for promotion of any religion.
• Article 28 – Freedom from attending religious instruction or worship in certain educational institutions.

ANSWER: C

• The second backward class committee was appointed in 1979 by the government of India. It was established by the Janata Party government under Prime Minister Morarji Desai with a mandate to identify the socially or educationally backward classes of India.
• National Front government with V. P. Singh as Prime Minister was formed in 1989. It lasted till 1990.
• LPG reforms were introduced by the Narsimha-Rao government in 1991.
• Sarkaria Commission was appointed in 1983.

ANSWER: C

• Independent India’s first elections (including Lok Sabha and state assemblies’ elections) were held from October 25, 1951, to February 21, 1952.
• All the other institutions/offices like that of the President of India, the Vice President of India and Rajya Sabha came after the general and assembly elections.
• Elections were held to the Rajya Sabha as well as Presidential and vice-presidential election was held in 1952. Those were not a part of simultaneous elections.

ANSWER: B

• Statement 1 is incorrect. National population register is a Register of usual residents of the country. It is conducted under provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003. It is being prepared at the local (Village/sub-Town), sub-District, District, State and National level.
• Statement 2 is correct. It is conducted by the Office of the Registrar General and census commissioner under ministry of Home affairs. It is mandatory for every usual resident of India to register in the NPR.

ANSWER: B

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The Budget Division of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) in the finance ministry is the nodal body responsible for producing the Budget.
• Statement 2 is correct. The Constitution states that ‘no money shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of India except under appropriation made by law’. Accordingly, an appropriation bill is introduced in the parliament to provide for the appropriation, out of the Consolidated Fund of India. It should be noted in this context that the voting of demands for grants is the exclusive privilege of the Lok Sabha, that is, the Rajya Sabha has no power of voting the demands.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. Provident Fund deposits, savings bank deposits, remittances etc are credited to the Public Account and this account is operated by the executive action i.e., payment from this account can be made without Parliamentary appropriation.

ANSWER: C

• There is no mention of a No-Confidence Motion in the Constitution of India. However, Rule 198 of the Rules of Procedure and conduct of Lok Sabha specifies the procedure for moving a no-confidence motion.
• A Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to Lok Sabha and it remains in office till it enjoys confidence of majority of the members in Lok Sabha. Thus, A no-confidence motion can be moved only in the Lok Sabha (or state assembly as the case may be). A no-confidence motion can be moved by any member of the House.

ANSWER: A

• The Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 are made by the President of India under Article 77 of the Constitution for the allocation of business of the Government of India.

Article 77 provides for:

• All executive action of the Government of India shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the President.
• The President shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of India, and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business.
• The Cabinet Secretariat is responsible for the administration of the Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rules, 1961 and the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules 1961, facilitating smooth transaction of business in Ministries/Departments of the Government by ensuring adherence to these rules.

ANSWER: A

• The song Jana-gana-mana, composed originally in Bangla by Rabindranath Tagore, was adopted in its Hindi version by the Constituent Assembly as the National Anthem of India on January 24, 1950. It was first sung on December 27, 1911, at the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress.
• The complete song consists of five stanzas. It was translated into English as ‘Morning song of India and was given tune by Margaret Cousins.’ She had carefully studied the meaning of each line and composed the musical notes, which Tagore approved.
• The song Vande Mataram, composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra Chatterji, was a source of inspiration to the people in their struggle for freedom.
• The Saka Era marked the beginning of the Saka Samvat, a historic Hindu calendar which was later introduced as ‘Indian National Calendar’ in 1957.