UPSC Essentials : Daily subject-wise quiz | Polity and Governance MCQs on fundamental duties, removal of the Vice-President and more (Week 88)

1. Article 67 of the Constitution says that the Vice-President may be removed from office with a resolution passed by a majority of members in the Rajya Sabha.

2. The Lok Sabha does not have any role in the removal of the Vice-President.

3. The resolution should be moved with at least 30 days’ notice.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— The Opposition is set to move a no-trust motion against Rajya Sabha chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar in the ongoing Winter Session. This is the second such attempt this year.

— Article 67 of the Constitution says that the Vice-President may be removed from office with a resolution passed by a majority of members in the Rajya Sabha. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The House of the People or the Lok Sabha has to agree to the resolution as well. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The resolution, however, should be moved with at least 14 days’ notice. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

With reference to Article 39(b) of the Constitution of India, consider the following statements:

1. It provides for the ownership and control of the material resources of the community so distributed as best to subserve the common good.

2. The government can acquire and redistribute all privately owned properties deeming them “material resources of the community”.

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

Explanation

— Article 39(b) of the Constitution of India provides for the ownership and control of the material resources of the community are so distributed as best to subserve the common good. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— A 9-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court held that the government cannot acquire and redistribute all privately owned properties deeming them “material resources of the community”, as mentioned in Article 39(b) of the Constitution. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The Bench, which included Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices Hrishikesh Roy, BV Nagarathna, Sudhanshu Dhulia, JB Pardiwala, Manoj Misra, Rajesh Bindal, Satish Chandra Sharma, and Augustine George Masih, was deliberating on two critical matters.

— First, determine if Article 31C, the key constitutional article dealing with the right to property, still exists notwithstanding subsequent revisions and judicial orders invalidating the amendments.

— Second, interpret Article 39C of the Constitution.

— The landmark decision has far-reaching ramifications for how we define property, the right to possess property, and its connection to society as whole.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

With reference to the Fundamental Duties, consider the following statements:

1. The fundamental duties of the citizen has a direct bearing on the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution.

2. They are intended to serve as a constant reminder to every citizen.

3. The fundamental duties were incorporated in Part V of the Constitution by The Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976.

4. The fundamental duties are enforceable by law.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

— The fundamental duties were incorporated in Part IV-A of the Constitution by The Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976, during Indira Gandhi’s Emergency. Article 51(A) describes 11 fundamental duties — 10 came with the 42nd Amendment; the 11th was added by the 86th Amendment in 2002, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime Minister. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— The fundamental obligations of citizens have a direct impact on the fundamental rights protected by Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the constitution. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The Fundamental Duties are intended to serve as a constant reminder to all citizens that, while the Constitution grants them specific Fundamental Rights, it also requires citizens to follow certain basic norms of democratic conduct and behaviour because rights and duties are inextricably linked. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— These duties are not enforceable by law. However, a court may take them into account while adjudicating on a matter. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

— They were made a part of the Constitution to emphasise the obligation of the citizen in return for the fundamental rights that he or she enjoys. The Russian Constitution has the concept of fundamental duties.

— Article 51(A) says it shall be the duty of every citizen of India:

“(a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem;

(b) to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;

(c) to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;

(d) to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;

(e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;

(f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;

(g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures;

(h) to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;

(i) to safeguard public property and to abjure violence;

(j) to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement;

(k) who is a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or, as the case may be, ward between the age of six and fourteen years.”

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

Who among the following addresses both Houses of Parliament at the commencement of the first session after each general election?

(a) President

(b) Prime Minister

(c) Speaker of the Lok Sabha

(d) Vice-President

Explanation

— Article 87 of the Constitution of India provides for a special address by the President.

— At the commencement of the first session following each general election to the House of the People, and at the start of the first session of each year, the President should address both Houses of Parliament together and inform Parliament of the reasons for its summons.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: Constitution of India)

QUESTION 5

The definition of “Money Bills” is provided in:

(a) Article 109

(b) Article 110

(c) Article 111

(d) Article 108

Explanation

— Article 110 of the Constitution of India provides for the definition of “Money Bills”.

— A Bill shall be deemed to be a Money Bill if it contains only provisions dealing with all or any of the following matters, namely:—

(a) the imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax;

(b) the regulation of the borrowing of money or the giving of any guarantee by the Government of India, or the amendment of the law with respect to any financial obligations undertaken or to be undertaken by the Government of India;

(c) the custody of the Consolidated Fund or the Contingency Fund of India, the payment of moneys into or the withdrawal of moneys from any such Fund;

(d) the appropriation of moneys out of the Consolidated Fund of India;

(e) the declaring of any expenditure to be expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of India or the increasing of the amount of any such expenditure;

(f) the receipt of money on account of the Consolidated Fund of India or the public account of India or the custody or issue of such money or the audit of the accounts of the Union or of a State; or

(g) any matter incidental to any of the matters specified in sub-clauses (a) to (f).

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: Constitution of India)

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 88)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 87)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 87)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 87)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 87)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 87)

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