UPSC Essentials : Daily subject-wise quiz | Polity and Governance MCQs on Lok Sabha, parliamentary sessions and more (Week 78)

1. It was constituted for the first time in 1951.

2. The maximum strength of the House envisaged by the Constitution is 545.

3. The term of the Lok Sabha can be dissolved.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— According to Article 79 of the Indian Constitution, the House of the People, or Lok Sabha, is the lower house of parliament. The Lok Sabha is made up of people’s representatives who are elected directly using adult suffrage.

— The maximum strength of the House envisaged by the Constitution is 552. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— As Per Article 81 of the Constitution, Subject to the provisions of article 331 ,the House of the People shall consist of—

(a) not more than five hundred and thirty members chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the States, and

(b) not more than [twenty members] to represent the Union territories, chosen in such manner as Parliament may by law provide.

— The Lok Sabha (Lower House of the People) was duly formed for the first time on 17 April 1952, following the first General Elections, which were held between 25 October 1951 and 21 February 1952. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— At present, the strength of the House is 543. The term of the Lok Sabha, unless dissolved, is five years from the date appointed for its first meeting. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— However, while a proclamation of emergency is in effect, Parliament may extend this period by law for a period not exceeding one year at a time and not exceeding six months after the proclamation has ceased to operate.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: sansad.in)

QUESTION 2

Consider the following statements about parliamentary sessions:

1. The Constitution specifies that six months should not elapse between two parliamentary sessions.

2. The framers of the Constitution borrowed this provision from the Government of India Act of 1947.

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

— The government determines the date and duration of parliamentary sessions. The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs takes this decision.

— It currently has ten Ministers, including those for Defence, Home, Finance, Agriculture, Tribal Affairs, Parliamentary Affairs, and Information and Broadcasting.

— The Law Minister and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs have been invited as special guests to the Committee. The decision of the Committee is communicated to the President, who then convenes Members of Parliament for the session.

— The Constitution specifies that six months should not elapse between two parliamentary sessions. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— This provision is a colonial legacy. The framers of the Constitution borrowed it from the Government of India Act of 1935. It allowed the British Governor General to call a session of the central legislature at his discretion, requiring that the gap between two sessions should not be more than 12 months. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

Consider the following statements about the autonomous district councils (ADCs):

1. The council can make regulations regarding land, forest and mining.

2. Manipur has the maximum number of ADCs.

3. These councils have powers to form courts to hear cases where both parties are members of Scheduled Tribes.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

— Candidates from all parties in Assam’s tribal-majority Diphu Lok Sabha constituency have committed to execute Article 244(A) of the Constitution, which would create an autonomous state within a state’.

— The Sixth Schedule was adopted under Article 244 of the Constitution with provisions for formation of autonomous administrative divisions within a state.

— Article 244(A) was inserted by The Constitution (Twenty-second Amendment) Act, 1969, which enabled Parliament to pass an Act to “form within the State of Assam an autonomous State comprising (whether wholly or in part) all or any of… [certain specified] tribal areas”, including Karbi Anglong.

— The autonomous councils under the Sixth Schedule have elected representatives for more decentralised governance of these tribal areas, but they have limited legislative powers, do not have control over law and order, and have only limited financial powers.

— According to the Sixth Schedule, the ADCs administering a region within a state have 30 members with a term of five years and can make laws, rules and regulations with regard to land, forest, water, agriculture, village councils, health, sanitation, village and town level policing, inheritance of property, marriage and divorce, social customs, and mining, among other issues. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— ADCs also have powers to form courts to hear cases where both parties are members of Scheduled Tribes and the maximum sentence is less than 5 years in prison. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Currently, there are 10 ADCs under the Sixth Schedule in the North East, with three each in Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram, and one in Tripura. Manipur has six ADCs, but these came into existence in 1971 under an act of Parliament. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

With reference to the Members of Parliament (MPs), consider the following statements:

1. A defamation suit can be filed against a member of parliament for a statement made in the House.

2. Members of Parliament are exempted from legal action for any statement made in the course of their duties.

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 105 of the Constitution deals with “powers, privileges, etc of the Houses of Parliament and of the members and committees thereof”, and has four clauses. It reads:

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution and to the rules and standing orders regulating the procedure of Parliament, there shall be freedom of speech in Parliament.

(2) No member of Parliament shall be liable to any proceedings in any court in respect of any thing said or any vote given by him in Parliament or any committee thereof, and no person shall be so liable in respect of the publication by or under the authority of either House of Parliament of any report, paper, votes or proceedings.

(3) In other respects, the powers, privileges and immunities of each House of Parliament, and of the members and the committees of each House, shall be such as may from time to time be defined by Parliament by law, and, until so defined, shall be those of that House and of its members and committees immediately before the coming into force of section 15 of the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978.

(4) The provisions of clauses (1), (2) and (3) shall apply in relation to persons who by virtue of this Constitution have the right to speak in, and otherwise to take part in the proceedings of, a House of Parliament or any committee thereof as they apply in relation to members of Parliament.

— Members of Parliament are exempted from any legal action for any statement made or act done in the course of their duties. For example, a defamation suit cannot be filed for a statement made in the House. Hence, statement 1 is not correct and statement 2 is correct.

— This immunity extends to non-members as well, such as the Attorney General for India or a Minister who may not be a member but speaks in the House.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

Which of the following Articles of the Constitution of India deals with special provisions with respect to the State of Mizoram?

(a) Article 371-F

(b) Article 371

(c) Article 371-B

(d) Article 371-G

Explanation

— Articles 371, 371A, 371B, 371C, 371D, 371E, 371F, 371G, 371H, and 371J define special provisions with regard to another state (or states).

Article	State	Article	State
371	Maharashtra and Gujarat	371-D	Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
371-A	Nagaland	371-E	Andhra Pradesh
371-B	Assam	371-F	Sikkim
371-C	Manipur	371-G	Mizoram
371-H	Arunachal Pradesh	371-J	Karnataka

— Article 371I deals with Goa, but it does not include any provision that can be deemed ‘special’.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 77)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 77)

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

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 77)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 77)

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