UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz: Polity and Governance MCQs on joint committee of parliament, Right to Property and more (Week 109)

QUESTION 1

Which of the following statements with reference to the composition of the Joint Committee is/are correct?

1. The Chairperson of the Committee is the Prime Minister.

2. The Committee has 15 members, with 10 chosen by the Lok Sabha and 5 elected by the Rajya Sabha.

3. The Committee, once formed, continues to function after the Lok Sabha is dissolved.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

— The Parliament forms a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for a specific purpose, such as conducting a thorough examination of a subject or Bill. As the name implies, it includes members from both Houses, as well as representatives from the government and opposition parties. It is disbanded when its tenure expires or its task is done.

— The Committee has 15 members, with 10 chosen by the Lok Sabha and 5 elected by the Rajya Sabha. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The Chairperson of the Committee is selected from among its members. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The Committee, once formed, continues to function till the Lok Sabha is dissolved. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

Which of the members given below are members of the drafting committee?

1. B.R. Ambedkar

2. Mohammad Saadulla

3. Mahatma Gandhi

4. J.B. Kriplani

Select the correct answer using the codes:

(a) 1, 2 and 4

(b) 1, 3 and 4

(c) 1 and 2 only

(d) 1 and 4 only

Explanation

— The Drafting Committee, led by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, met for the first time on August 30, 1947, and completed a draft of the Indian Constitution within 165 days. The committee required 11 sessions stretched over 165 days to bring about 395 articles, eight schedules, 7,635 amendments (tabled) and 2,473 amendments (moved).

— Ambedkar submitted this draft to the Constituent Assembly on November 4, 1948. He discussed why the parliamentary style of government was favoured over the presidential type used in the United States. India was likewise to have a federal structure, but with more power allocated to the Union.

— The members of the drafting committee include Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar, N. Gopalaswami; B.R. Ambedkar, K.M Munshi, Mohammad Saadulla, B.L. Mitter and D.P. Khaitan.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

With reference to the questions asked in the parliament, consider the following statements:

1. Unstarred questions are answered through written replies which are placed on the Table of the House.

2. Starred questions are answered orally on the floor of the House.

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

— Questions are of three kinds, viz., starred, unstarred and short notice questions.

Starred Questions

— These are answered orally on the floor of the House and with reference to the reply given; members are entitled to ask supplementary questions. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Unstarred Questions

— These call for written replies which are placed on the Table of the House and no supplementary are asked in respect of such replies. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Short Notice Questions

— These may be put only in regard to matters of the public importance of an urgent character at shorter notice than provided for in the Rules of the two Houses and are answered orally as starred questions.

— The Rajya Sabha/Lok Sabha Secretariat gives at least five days’ notice to the Minister concerned to answer a question.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: mpa.gov.in)

QUESTION 4

What was the exact constitutional status of India on 26th January, 1950?

(a) A Democratic Republic

(b) A Sovereign Democratic Republic

(c) A Sovereign Secular Democratic Republic

(d) A Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic

Explanation

— On January 26, 1950, the newly drafted Constitution of India came into effect, replacing the Act of 1935 as the supreme governing document of the country.

— The preamble of the Constitution serves as a statement clarifying the guiding principles and purpose behind the Constitution of India. When the Constitution first came into force on January 26, 1950, the Preamble stated:

— WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

What is the position of the Right to Property in India? (UPSC 2021)

(a) Legal right available to citizens only

(b) Legal right available to any person

(c) Fundamental Right available to citizens only

(d) Neither Fundamental Right nor legal right

Explanation

The right to property is a human right and a constitutional right and no person can be deprived of his or her property without being paid adequate compensation.

“Right to Property ceased to be a Fundamental Right by the Constitution (Forty-Fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, however, it continues to be a human right in a welfare State, and a constitutional right under Article 300-A of the Constitution. Article 300-A of the Constitution provides that no person shall be deprived of his property save by authority of law.

The State cannot dispossess a citizen of his property except in accordance with the procedure established by law,” a bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan said in its judgement.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 108)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 108)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 108)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 108)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 108)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 108)

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.