UPSC Essentials : Daily subject-wise quiz | Polity and Governance MCQs on Legislative Council, Article 371G and more (Week 77)

1. The total number of members in the Legislative Council of a State should be one-sixth of the total number of members in the Legislative Assembly of that State.

2. One-third of the members shall be elected by electorates consisting of members of municipalities, district boards and such other local authorities in the State.

3. There are eight states which have Legislative Councils.

4. The minimum strength of the Legislative Council of a State shall not be less than thirty.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

— The total number of members in the Legislative Council of a State having such a Council shall not exceed [one-third] of the total number of members in the Legislative Assembly of that State. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The total number of members in the Legislative Council of a State shall in no case be less than forty. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

— Of the total number of members of the Legislative Council of a State—

(i) one-third shall be elected by electorates consisting of members of municipalities, district boards and such other local authorities in the State; Hence, statement 2 is correct.

(ii) one-twelfth shall be elected by electorates consisting of persons residing in the State who have been for at least three years graduates of any university in the territory of India or have been for at least three years in possession of qualifications prescribed by or under any law made by Parliament;

(iii) one-twelfth shall be elected by electorates consisting of persons who have been for at least three years engaged in teaching in such educational institutions within the State, not lower in standard than that of a secondary school, as may be prescribed by or under any law made by Parliament;

(iv) one-third shall be elected by the members of the Legislative Assembly of the State from amongst persons who are not members of the Assembly; and

(v) the remainder shall be nominated by the Governor

— The members to be nominated by the Governor shall consist of persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as the following, namely:— Literature, science, art, co-operative movement and social service.

— India has six states with Legislative Councils,: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: Constitution of India)

QUESTION 2

As per Article 371G of the Constitution of India, special provisions have been made with respect to the state of Mizoram. Accordingly, no Act of Parliament shall apply on certain matters unless the Legislature Assembly of Mizoram so decides by a resolution. Which one of the following matters is not covered under this article? (UPSC CDS-II 2024)

(a) Religious or social practices of the Mizos

(b) Mizo customary law and procedures

(c) Administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Mizo customary law

(d) Ownership and transfer of natural resources

Explanation

— Article 371G of the Constitution of India provides for the special provision with respect to the State of Mizoram.

— Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution,—

(a) no Act of Parliament in respect of—

(i) religious or social practices of the Mizos;

(ii) Mizo customary law and procedure;

(iii) administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Mizo customary law;

(iv) ownership and transfer of land;

shall apply to the State of Mizoram unless the Legislative Assembly of the State of Mizoram by a resolution.

— Nothing in this clause shall apply to any Central Act in force in the Union territory of Mizoram immediately before the commencement of the Constitution (Fifty-third Amendment) Act, 1986.

(b) the Legislative Assembly of the State of Mizoram shall consist of not less than forty members.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: Constitution of India)

QUESTION 3

The Constitution (71st Amendment) Act, 1992 amends the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution to include which of the following languages?

1. Assamese

2. Nepali

3. Manipuri

4. Sindhi

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 2 and 3

(b) 1 and 4

(c) 1 and 3

(d) 2 and 4

Explanation

— The Constitutional provisions relating to the Eighth Schedule occur in article 344(1) and 351 of the Constitution.

— The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution consists of the following 22 languages:-

— (1) Assamese, (2) Bengali, (3) Gujarati, (4) Hindi, (5) Kannada, (6) Kashmiri, (7) Konkani, (8) Malayalam, (9) Manipuri, (10) Marathi, (11) Nepali, (12) Oriya, (13) Punjabi, (14) Sanskrit, (15) Sindhi, (16) Tamil, (17) Telugu, (18) Urdu (19) Bodo, (20) Santhali, (21) Maithili and (22) Dogri.

— Of these languages, 14 were first incorporated into the Constitution. The Sindhi language was added in 1967. Three additional languages, Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali, were added in 1992. Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, and Santhali were added in 2004.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

With reference to the Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) Scheme, consider the following statements:

1. All the members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are eligible for this scheme.

2. This scheme was announced by the Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— MPLAD is a central government scheme, under which MPs can recommend development programmes involving spending of Rs 5 crore every year in their respective constituencies.

— The scheme was announced by the Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao on December 23, 1993 in Lok Sabha. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The Members of Parliament Local Area Development Division is entrusted with the responsibility of implementation of Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS). MPs from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including nominated ones, can do so. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— MPs do not receive any money under these schemes. The government transfers it directly to the respective local authorities.

— The legislators can only recommend works in their constituencies based on a set of guidelines. For the MPLAD Scheme, the guidelines focus on the creation of durable community assets like roads, school buildings, etc.

— Non-durable asset recommendations can only be made in certain circumstances. For example, last month, the government authorised the use of MPLAD funds to purchase personal protection equipment, coronavirus testing kits, and other items.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

Which of the following articles of the Constitution of India provides for protection of monuments and places and objects of national importance?

(a) Article 50

(b) Article 47

(c) Article 48

(d) Article 49

Explanation

— Article 49 of the Constitution of India provides for the protection of monuments and places and objects of national importance.

— It shall be the obligation of the State to protect every monument or place or object of artistic or historic interest, [declared by or under law made by Parliament] to be of national importance, from spoliation, disfigurement, destruction, removal, disposal or export, as the case may be.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Source: Constitution of India)

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 76)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 76)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 76)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 76)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 76)

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