UPSC Essentials : Daily subject-wise quiz | Polity and Governance MCQs on Sixth Schedule, Article 368 and more (Week 67)

1. Governor of the Constituent State

2. Chief Minister of the Constituent State

3. Three Members to be nominated by the President of India

4. The Home Minister of India

Select the Correct answer using the code given below: (UPSC 2024)

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 1, 3 and 4 only

(c) 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

— The Parliament amended the NEC Act in 2002. The ‘North Eastern Areas’ presently include the states of Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Mizoram.

— The membership of the council comprises the Governors of the aforementioned States, the Chief Ministers of those States, and three Members appointed by the President.

— The President shall nominate the Chairman of the Council, and he does not have to be chosen from among the other members. The North Eastern Council (Amendment) of 2002 required the NEC to serve as a regional planning body.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: necouncil.gov.in)

QUESTION 2

With reference to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, consider the following statements:

1. This Schedule contains provisions regarding the administration of tribal areas only in the states of Assam and Meghalaya.

2. Inclusion under this Schedule would allow a State/U.T. to create Autonomous District and Regional Councils.

3. It provides the power to make laws on subjects such as forest management, agriculture and administration of villages.

4. It does not provide the power to collect land revenue and impose taxes.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

— This Sixth Schedule contains provisions regarding the administration of tribal areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Inclusion under this Schedule would allow a State or U.T. to create Autonomous District and Regional Councils (ADCs and ARCs) — elected bodies with the power to administrate tribal areas. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The schedule includes the power to make laws on subjects such as forest management, agriculture, administration of villages and towns, inheritance, marriage, divorce and social customs. A majority of the population in Ladakh belongs to Scheduled Tribes. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— The Schedule also gives ARCs and ADCs the power to collect land revenue, impose taxes, regulate money lending and trading, collect royalties from licences or leases for the extraction of minerals in their areas, and establish public facilities such as schools, markets, and roads. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

— The ADCs and ARCs may also form village councils or tribunals to resolve conflicts between Scheduled Tribes members, as well as select personnel to oversee the implementation of the laws they pass. In circumstances where the offences are punishable by death or more than five years in jail, the Governor of the state may grant the ADCs and ARCs the authority to trial them under the country’s criminal and civil laws.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

With reference to the indelible ink – used during elections, consider the following statements:

1. The ink contains silver nitrate which becomes visible when exposed to ultraviolet light.

2. The indelible ink is mentioned in the Representation of the People Act (RoPA) of 1951.

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

— Indelible ink contains silver nitrate. It is a colourless compound which becomes visible when exposed to ultraviolet light, including sunlight. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The Representation of the People Act (RoPA) of 1951 mentions the ink. Section 61 states that rules may be made under the Act “for the marking with indelible ink of the thumb or any other finger of every elector who applies for a ballot paper or ballot papers for the purpose of voting at a polling station before delivery of such paper or papers to him.” Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— According to the government’s MyGov website, “This water-based ink also contains a solvent like alcohol to allow its faster drying… The precise protocol for making this ink including its chemical composition and the quantity of each constituent is, however, not known to many people.”

— The indelible ink was first manufactured at the ECI’s request by the government’s Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR).

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

With reference to Article 371 of the Constitution of India, consider the following pairs:

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

As per Article 368 of the Constitution of India, the Parliament may amend any provision of the Constitution by way of:

1. Addition

2. Variation

3. Repeal

Select the correct answer using the code given below: (UPSC 2024)

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

— Article 368 of the Constitution of India provides for the power of Parliament to amend the Constitution and its procedure.

— Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, Parliament may in exercise of its constituent power amend by way of addition, variation or repeal any provision of this Constitution in accordance with the procedure laid down in this article.

— An amendment of this Constitution may be initiated only by the introduction of a Bill for the purpose in either House of Parliament, and when the Bill is passed in each House by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of that House present and voting, [it shall be presented to the President who shall give his assent to the Bill and thereupon] the Constitution shall stand amended in accordance with the terms of the Bill.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Source: Constitution of India)

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 66)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 66)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 66)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 66)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 66)

Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.

Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RziHTJ1-4jI?si=Urlkqw3P7wsoO_9k