Indian Polity Quiz: Day 89

August 19, 2022

Which of the following statement is incorrect in context of Parliamentary privileges?

(A) Parliamentary privileges are special rights, immunities and exemptions enjoyed by the two Houses of Parliament, their committees and their members.
(B) These privileges are mentioned under Article 105 of the Indian Constitution.
(C) Parliament has made a special law to exhaustively codify all the privileges.
(D) The members enjoy freedom from arrest in any civil case 40 days before and after the adjournment of the house and also when the house is in session.

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ANSWER: C

Parliamentary privileges are special rights, immunities and exemptions enjoyed by the two Houses of Parliament, their committees and their members. These privileges are defined in Article 105 of the Indian Constitution.

Under these privileges, the members of Parliament are exempted from any civil liability (but not criminal liability) for any statement made or act done in the course of their duties.

The members enjoy freedom from arrest in any civil case 40 days before and after the adjournment of the house and also when the house is in session.

No member can be arrested from the limits of the parliament without the permission of the house to which s/he belongs so that there is no hindrance in performing their duties.

The members of the house have the power and right to exclude strangers who are not members of the house from the proceedings. This right is very essential for securing free and fair discussion in the house.

Consider the following pairs: Articles of the Constitution relating to Scheduled Tribes – Subject Matter
1. Art. 332: Reservation of seats for STs in State Legislatures
2 Art. 334: 10 years period for reservation
3. Art. 243: Special provisions in respect of the Northeastern States and Sikkim
4. Art. 371: Reservation of seats in Panchayat
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 3 and 4 only
(C) 1, 2 and 4 only
(D) All of the above

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ANSWER: A

According to Part IX-A of the Indian constitution, who among the following persons can be provided with representation in a municipality?

(A) Members of the Lok Sabha representing constituencies that comprise wholly or partly the municipal area.
(B) Persons having special knowledge or experience in municipal administration.
(C) Members of the Rajya Sabha registered as electors within the municipal area.
(D) All of the above

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ANSWER: D

The Legislature of a State may, by law, provide –

for the representation in a Municipality of –

Persons having special knowledge or experience in Municipal administration.
The members of the House of the People and the members of the Legislative Assembly of the State representing constituencies which comprise wholly or partly the Municipal area.
The members of the Council of States and the members of the Legislative Council of the State registered as electors within the Municipal area.

Which of the following committee/commission is associated with Fundamental Duties?
1. Punchii Commission
2. Swaran Singh Committee
3. Justice Verma Committee
Code:

(A) 2 and 3 only
(B) 1 and 2 only
(C) 2 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3

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ANSWER: A

The Sardar Swaran Singh Committee was set up in 1976, to make recommendations about fundamental duties, as the need was felt during the operation of the internal emergency (1975-77). The Swaran Singh Committee suggested the incorporation of eight Fundamental Duties in the Constitution, the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act (1976) included ten Fundamental Duties.
The Verma Committee on Fundamental Duties of the Citizens (1999) was set up to identify the existence of legal provisions for the implementation of some of the Fundamental Duties.

Which of the following statements are incorrect with reference to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)?
1. The CAG is the guardian of the public purse of both central and the state governments.
2. The CAG is appointed by the president of India by a warrant under his hand and seal.
Code:

(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) None of the above

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ANSWER: D

The Constitution of India (Article 148) provides for an independent office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). He is the head of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department. He is the guardian of the public purse and controls the entire financial system of the country at both the levels—the Centre and the state.
The CAG is appointed by the president of India by a warrant under his hand and seal.

Which of the following statement is/are correct in context of federalism in India?
1. The Indian federal system is based on the Australian model of federation.
2. Federal character of the Constitution has been included in the basic structure of the constitution.
Code:

(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) None of the above

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ANSWER: B

The Indian federal system is based on the ‘Canadian model’ and not on the ‘American model’. The ‘Canadian model’ differs fundamentally from the ‘American model’ in so far as it establishes a very strong centre.
In Bommai case (1994), the Supreme Court laid down that the Constitution is federal and characterised federalism as its ‘basic feature’. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Which of the following statement is/are correct?
1. Fundamental rights under Article 19 are suspended only on the grounds of armed rebellion.
2. Article 359 authorizes the President to suspend all the Fundamental Rights.
Code:

(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2

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ANSWER: D

Article 358 deals with the suspension of the Fundamental Rights guaranteed by Article 19, while Article 359 deals with the suspension of other Fundamental Rights (except those guaranteed by Articles 20 and 21).
According to Article 358, when a proclamation of national emergency is made, the six Fundamental Rights under Article 19 are automatically suspended. No separate order for their suspension is required. The 44th Amendment Act of 1978 restricted the scope of Article 358 . The six Fundamental Rights under Article 19 can be suspended only when the National Emergency is declared on the ground of war or external aggression and not on the ground of armed rebellion.

Which of the following provisions in the Indian Constitution has/have been borrowed from the British Constitution?
1. Cabinet system
2. Joint-sitting of the two Houses of Parliament
3. First Past the Post form of election in the Lower House.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(A) 1 only
(B) 1 and 2 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) 3 only

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ANSWER: C

British Constitution

Parliamentary government, Institution of the Speaker and her/his role, First Past the Post System of elections, Rule of Law, legislative procedure, single citizenship, cabinet system, prerogative writs, parliamentary privileges and bicameralism.

Which of the following languages was/were originally recognized by the Constitution as enacted on 26th January 1950?
1. Kashmiri
2. Maithili
3. Konkani
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(A) 1 only
(B) 1 and 2 only
(C) 2 only
(D) 3 only

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ANSWER: A

The Eight Schedule of the Constitution consists of the languages as recognized by the Constitution
of India. Originally, it had 14 languages but presently there are 22 languages.
They are: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri (Dongri), Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Mathili (Maithili), Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi,Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.
Sindhi was added by the 21st Amendment Act of 1967; Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were added by the 71st Amendment Act of 1992; and Bodo, Dongri, Maithili and Santhali were added by the 92nd Amendment Act of 2003. Oriya was renamed as ‘Odia’ by the 96th Amendment Act of 2011. Hence the correct answer is option (a).

Consider the following statements:
1 A Constitutional amendment is required to increase the retirement age of the Judges of the High Courts.
2. A Constitutional amendment is required to increase the salaries of the Judges of the High Courts.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2

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ANSWER: A

The 15th Constitutional Amendment Act 1963 : Raised retirement age of High Court judges from 60 to 62.
The Constitution has empowered the Parliament to enact a law to determine the service conditions of the Judges of the courts. Accordingly, the Parliament has enacted the High Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1954. The recent amendment to this act was made in 2017. Hence the salaries of the judges of the High Court is increased by a legislative process and not through Constitutional Amendment. Hence statement 2 is not correct.